Daily new cases of coronavirus tumbled back more than 100,000 on Thursday after falling below that threshold for the first time since the fall earlier in the week.
The general trend over the past few weeks is still positive as the number of cases and hospital admissions has fallen from their January peak.
But the 103,000 cases on Thursday, as recorded by the COVID Tracking Project, remind us that the spread of the virus is still at an extremely high level and that more contagious variants are likely to trigger another surge.
The number of cases is 23 percent lower than last week and 57 percent from the peak in January. According to the COVID Tracking Project, hospital admissions are down 42 percent from their peak.
But the virus toll remains high, with about 3,000 people dying every day. Deaths are a lagging indicator, so it will take longer for the drop in the number of cases to occur.
And the threat of more contagious variants, particularly one first identified in the UK known as B.1.1.7, threatens to reverse downward trends.
There is essentially a race between the new variants and vaccinations. Experts say the sooner people can be vaccinated, the more it will do to prevent another spike in the variants.
Other precautions remain essential, including wearing a mask, avoiding indoor gatherings, and keeping a distance from others.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday stressed the importance of wearing a mask that fits properly, and said wearing a cloth mask over a medical procedure mask can significantly reduce transmission.