NYT: How to Think About Covid Data Right Now

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(NYT) Coronavirus case counts have reached record highs in the United States and continue to climb. Hospitalizations have surpassed the height of the Delta wave. Deaths are just beginning to rise.

The overall pattern is familiar, but a fresh perspective on how to interpret these metrics is necessary as a faster but less severe variant tears through the country. Here’s how to think about the data in the coming days and weeks.

Case spikes show Omicron still has room to grow

In just a matter of days, coronavirus case counts have shattered previous records in the United States, as the Omicron variant spreads rapidly just about everywhere, including in communities with high vaccination rates. All but 13 states have seen record cases in the past week.

While these case counts are staggering, experts say they are not as alarming as they might have been a few months or a year ago. Instead, they should serve as a warning for the country, to adjust behaviors and policies to reduce infections and protect the most vulnerable. ................(more)

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/01/07/us/covid-data-explained.html