Extra youngsters are being hospitalized with the coronavirus, however some specialists say the omicron variant doesn’t look like extra extreme in youngsters than earlier strands. As an alternative, they blame the explosion in all circumstances, and the delay in vaccination for younger folks since vaccines for them have been launched nicely after adults started getting jabs.
The Policylab at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia reported in a weblog publish final week that nationwide there have been 1.1 general hospitalizations per 100,000 kids – low in comparison with a typical flu season that can attain 3-5 sufferers per 100,000 kids. Solely Ohio and Missouri had a pediatric census exceeding 3 sufferers per 100,000 kids, the Policylab mentioned.
The weblog publish added that the numbers will should be carefully monitored given the will increase in hospital census in all areas besides the West.
“I believe the necessary story to inform right here is that severity is manner down and the danger for important extreme illness appears to be decrease,” Dr. David Rubin, a researcher at Kids’s Hospital of Philadelphia, advised The New York Times.
Additionally within the information:
► The CDC now says it erred final week when it mentioned that greater than 70% of U.S. coronavirus circumstances within the week ending Dec. 18 have been the omicron variant. Seems the quantity was extra like 22%. However the fee of omicron is rising quick – the week ending Christmas Day the quantity was nearly 60%.
►On the heels of the CDC’s new pointers which have shortened the window of isolation for people who’ve examined optimistic for COVID-19, the NFL and NBA shortened the period of time that crew personnel should quarantine.
► COVID-19 antigen assessments could have “diminished sensitivity” in detecting the omicron variant, the Food and Drug Administration cautioned Tuesday.
📈Immediately’s numbers: The U.S. has recorded greater than 53.1 million confirmed COVID-19 circumstances and greater than 820,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. International totals: Greater than 282.8 million circumstances and 5.4 million deaths. Greater than 205 million Individuals – 61.9% – are absolutely vaccinated, according to the CDC.
📘 What we’re studying: Omicron may power many employees who check optimistic to quarantine below federal mandate, intensifying labor shortages.
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1,300 flights already imperiled Wednesday as airline woes proceed
Greater than 1,300 Wednesday flights throughout the nation have been both canceled or delayed earlier than the day barely bought began. There there are already 749 cancellations and 635 delays inside, into and out of the U.S. this morning, based on FlightAware, which tracks the standing of flights. 1000’s of flights have been delayed or canceled over the previous a number of days as airways grapple with depraved climate throughout components of the West and staffing shortages as a result of newest surge in coronavirus infections. On Tuesday alone nearly 1,300 flights have been canceled and over 7,400 have been delayed.
Smithsonian shutters 4 museums till Monday due to surge
The Smithsonian’s Nationwide Museum of African Artwork, the Nationwide Postal Museum, the Anacostia Group Museum and the Nationwide Museum of Asian Artwork (Freer Gallery of Artwork and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery) will not open in the present day however are scheduled to reopen Monday, the Washington, D.C.-based company mentioned. The Smithsonian mentioned in a press release that it has seen a rise in optimistic COVID circumstances and quarantines amongst employees. The closures of those 4 museums will permit the Smithsonian to reallocate employees and hold all different museums open, the assertion mentioned.
The nation’s capital has seen the most important enhance in COVID-19 circumstances inside the final week – circumstances have surged by 597% in comparison with the earlier week.
“The Smithsonian strives to maintain as lots of our museums open to the general public as attainable with out sacrificing the well being and security of our guests and employees,” the assertion mentioned.
Some excellent news on omicron
Two pieces of good news about omicron to take into the new year: It is probably not round for lengthy, and people who find themselves absolutely vaccinated needn’t fear, so long as they’ve a wholesome immune system. As a result of omicron is so extremely contagious, medical specialists say its peak is not more likely to final lengthy.
It is already burned via South Africa because it was first recognized the day earlier than Thanksgiving and circumstances are falling there. Within the week ending Dec. 26, the variety of newly identified had dropped practically 36% from their peak per week earlier, based on a USA TODAY evaluation of Johns Hopkins College information.
If the Northeast, which has been battered by COVID-19’s omicron variant over the previous two weeks, follows the identical sample, it may see falling case charges as quickly as mid-January, although since the U.S. is so massive, it is more likely to take time to maneuver throughout the nation, specialists say.
The information is even higher for folks with the vaccine. Though two photographs are not as protecting towards omicron as they have been towards earlier variants, vaccination and boosting appear to make a giant distinction in folks with a wholesome immune system.
– Karen Weintraub
2021 ending with day by day an infection data
The ultimate days of 2021 will likely be marked by the U.S. shattering its earlier file for day by day coronavirus circumstances. Monday’s depend of over 500,000 new circumstances was larger than the nation’s earlier file of greater than 303,000, a USA TODAY evaluation of Johns Hopkins College information reveals. Washington, D.C., together with seven states reported their worst weeks for brand new COVID-19 circumstances on Monday, Johns Hopkins College information reveals — even with Christmas interrupting testing. Each Georgia and Washington state eclipsed their earlier data for day by day COVID-19 circumstances on Tuesday, and hospitalizations soared in California and North Carolina.
California’s COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen 25% in final week, the Los Angeles Times reported, and North Carolina’s Division of Well being and Human Companies reported that just about 22% of assessments carried out on Sunday have been optimistic.
Examined optimistic for COVID through the holidays? This is what to do.
Testing optimistic for COVID-19 begins a complicated, disruptive and at occasions scary course of – one which tens of millions of Individuals will seemingly undergo within the coming week.
First, that you must isolate. That’s a extra intense model of quarantining – it means slicing off contact with different folks as a lot as attainable so that you scale back the prospect of infecting them. This additionally means forgoing journey, not going to work and even limiting contact with folks in your personal family who aren’t contaminated.
The CDC says isolating is a mandatory step whether or not you’re vaccinated or unvaccinated, and whether or not you will have signs or really feel superb.
Everybody who assessments optimistic for COVID-19 ought to monitor their signs. And people who find themselves unvaccinated or at excessive threat for extreme illness ought to be extra-vigilant for signs which may require emergency care. Name your physician for early therapy choices.
How lengthy must you isolate? How lengthy will I be contagious? What in case you are in shut contact with somebody who examined optimistic? Here’s what you should know about omicron and COVID-19 this holiday season.
Contributing: Mike Stucka, USA TODAY; The Related Press
