Delta Peak Surpassed, Will It Exceed 1 Million This Year... US Tense Over Omicron Spread

[Asia Economy Reporter Seulgina Jo] As the new variant Omicron rapidly spreads, the average daily number of COVID-19 cases in the United States has surpassed the peak recorded during the Delta variant period. Observers predict that the number could soar to 1 million by the end of the year if the current trend continues.

According to the New York Times (NYT) on the 23rd (local time), the average daily number of COVID-19 cases over the past week was 168,409. This exceeds the previous maximum of 164,418 recorded during the Delta variant surge in September.

The highly contagious Omicron variant has recently shown a steep, almost vertical increase centered around major metropolitan areas such as Washington DC and New York. With cases doubling in just 2 to 3 days, it is expected that the all-time record of 251,232 cases in January during the second major surge will soon be broken. Some analyses even suggest that the average daily cases could reach 1 million by the end of the year.

Although initial studies from the UK and South Africa indicate that the Omicron variant has a lower fatality rate than the Delta variant, concerns remain. The rapid increase in cases amid an already insufficient number of hospital beds makes it difficult to respond effectively. The NYT reported that "hospitals nationwide are nearly full" and that "a shortage of medical staff is worsening the situation." Dr. Danny Hackner of the Southcoast Hospital Group in Massachusetts said, "Next month will be a very difficult month."

In particular, the surge in travel across the United States during the year-end holiday season is also cited as a factor that could accelerate the spread. According to the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA), as of the previous day, 2,081,297 passengers boarded airplanes during the holiday period. This is nearly double the number from the same period last year and even exceeds pre-pandemic levels.

Experts are emphasizing the need for vaccination and booster shots. The vaccination rate in the U.S. (fully vaccinated) stands at 62%, which is relatively low compared to other major developed countries. The booster shot rate, which has just begun, is only 19%. U.S. President Joe Biden recently appealed to the public in a speech regarding the Omicron response, stating, "Vaccination is a patriotic duty," and urged, "Please get vaccinated."

Meanwhile, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Pfizer’s oral COVID-19 treatment 'Paxlovid' the day before, and on the 23rd approved Merck & Company (MSD)’s 'Molnupiravir.'