The United States recorded over 122,000 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, marking the largest single-day spike since early February, according to data analyzed by The New York Times. This surge comes amid the rapid spread of the more contagious Delta variant, which has become the dominant strain in the US.
This significant increase in new cases hasn’t been observed since February 11, when over 100,000 infections were reported in a single day. The 122,674 new cases recorded on Friday are the highest since February 5, when more than 129,000 infections were identified. The record for the highest number of new cases in a single day was set in early January, with over 259,000 cases.
Despite a decline in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths due to the successful rollout of vaccines, the Delta variant has triggered a resurgence. Over the last two weeks, hospitalizations have surged by 74%, while deaths have increased by 10%. This uptick is alarming, considering the significant progress made earlier in the year.
The director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Rochelle Walensky, described the ongoing surge as a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.” Although fully vaccinated individuals can still contract the virus through breakthrough infections, the vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness and death. According to Dr. Anthony Fauci, the majority of deaths are among the unvaccinated.
Due to new information regarding the Delta variant, the CDC updated its mask guidance, advising that even fully vaccinated individuals wear face masks in areas with high levels of COVID-19. This change comes after previous guidance allowed vaccinated individuals to forego masks in most settings.
CDC Director Walensky noted that some vaccinated people infected with the Delta variant might spread the virus to others. “This new science is worrisome and unfortunately warrants an update to our recommendations,” she stated.
As the US continues to navigate this latest surge in COVID-19 cases, health officials stress the importance of vaccination, wearing masks in high-risk areas, and following other recommended safety measures to curb the spread of the Delta variant and protect public health.
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