New cases of coronavirus in the US have fallen to pre-Thanksgiving levels, the head of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said Wednesday, and infection rates continue to drop.
“We now seem to be in a consistent downward trajectory” for both cases and hospitalizations, CDC director Rochelle WalenskyRochelle Walensky The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented By Facebook – Biden, GOP Senators Begin Talks; Dems Advances Overnight Health Care: White House Grants 0M To Step Up Home Test | Schumer Promises Senate Will Pass ‘Bold’ Coronavirus Bill | Biden Officials Defend A Two-Dose Strategy Amid Fear Of Variants Biden Officials Defend A Two-Dose Strategy Amid Fear Of Variants MORE told reporters during a White House COVID-19 briefing.
The number of cases has declined since it peaked on Jan. 8, dropping 13.4 percent to an average of nearly 144,000 a day from Jan. 26 to Feb. 1, Walensky said.
The number of deaths continues to increase, but the pace is slowing down. Deaths are a lagging indicator, so it will take time for them to reflect the lower infection and hospital admissions.
“The recent drop in hospital admissions gives us hope that the number of deaths will start to decline in the coming weeks,” said Walensky.
With the declining number of infections, states and cities have begun to roll back some of the restrictions in place since the December holiday season, such as the ban on indoor eating.
Despite the relatively positive news, infection rates are still twice as high as the highest rate during the summer, and the US still has an average of more than 3,000 deaths per day.
Walensky warned Americans not to be wary, especially as variants likely to have increased portability continue to multiply.
Experts say the best way to prevent the spread of the variants is for people to follow basic public health precautions, such as avoiding crowds, wearing masks and physically distancing themselves, and getting vaccinated as soon as possible.
Walensky specifically warned against people gathering in large groups indoors this weekend for Super Bowl parties, saying people should gather virtually or with direct household members instead.