It was only a matter of time. The USA has officially broken the world record with over 1 million new cases of COVID-19 in one day.
The United States recorded 1,082,549 new coronavirus cases yesterday, January 3rd 2022. This figure may include some delayed cases reported over the holiday weekend but, of course, it is also hugely understated because (like here in Canada) many people are not able to find PCR tests, and are relying on rapid antigen tests (which are not included in the official figures), or no tests at all.
Either way, cases are at record levels, hospitalizations are increasing rapidly, and the death rate, although largely stable, is stable at an unconscionable 1,300 a day.
Meanwhile, a new COVID variant is spreading in France which is likely significantly more contagious (and provably vaccine-resistant) than the Omicron variant. The variant B.1.640.2, also dubbed "IHU" after the IHU Mediterraneé Hospital in Marseille, appears to have originated in Cameroon, and is limited so far to just 12 cases in the south of France, officially, at any rate. If it becomes a WHO variant of concern, it will probably be given the rather memorable Greek letter, pi.
But, make no mistake, this thing is going to get a lot worse before it gets better.
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