Many infectious disease experts in the United States are cautiously optimistic. Covid-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths have dropped dramatically in recent weeks as the country recedes from the deadliest rise to date and vaccination campaigns receive more shots in people’s arms. It’s warmer weather around the corner.
Still, the hard-earned progress against the coronavirus pandemic remains fragile, public health experts say. The case count is still high and it may be a plan; current levels of accumulated immunity are not enough to safely leave precautions; and more dangerous variants threaten to settle in the United States and exploit security lapses.
“It simply came to our notice then. Now is not the time to relax the restrictions, “Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, said Friday.” We can’t feel comfortable. “
Covid-19 cases in the United States have declined in recent weeks, with a seven-day average falling 74 percent since the Jan. 11 peak, Dr. Walensky said Monday. The average daily hospital admission, which is now 6,500 a day, has dropped by 60% and is at its lowest point since the fall.
Health officials say there is no single explanation for the falls, but the main contributor is likely to change behavior. People are likely to take more precautions after the holiday season and a deadly winter in which the United States exceeded 500,000 deaths from Covid-19. In addition, state and local authorities increased restrictions in response to the rising figures.