Delta wave could peak in US soon, virus expected to be part of everyday life for years: Experts
According to Bhakti Hansoti, an associate professor of emergency medicine at John Hopkins University and a specialist in Covid critical care, the United States is on a similar path to India.
FollowThe newest coronavirus wave in the United States, led by the Delta variety, is expected to peak shortly, but scientists warn against complacency and anticipate the virus to stay a part of daily life for years to come. According to statistics gathered by the Covid Act Now tracker, the seven-day average of daily cases as of Monday was 172,000, the highest level of this surge even as the growth rate is decreasing and cases are on the decline in most states. However, more than 1,800 people are still dying every day, and over 100,000 people are still hospitalized with severe Covid – a sobering reminder of the difficulties authorities have encountered in vaccinating more Americans in the face of disinformation and a hostile political atmosphere.
According to Bhakti Hansoti, an associate professor of emergency medicine at John Hopkins University and a specialist in Covid critical care, the United States is on a similar path to India.
Western European countries have also experienced comparable declines in Delta surges. While Hansoti exhaled a sigh of relief after the spring wave passed, she acknowledged, "I'm a little nervous this time around."
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Angela Rasmussen, a virologist at University of Saskatchewan in Canada, added she was not certain the fourth wave was over. The probable appearance of novel types of worry, as well as the arrival of winter weather, which encourages more socializing indoors, might lead to a comeback, "unless we learn from the lessons of the fourth wave." Rapidly expanding the number of individuals vaccinated is critical to ensuring that benefits are sustained. Currently, 63.1 per cent of the eligible population over the age of 12, or 54 per cent of the overall population, is completely vaccinated.
Despite its availability of vaccines, the United States lags well behind worldwide leaders like Portugal and the UAE (81 and 79 per cent completely vaccinated, respectively).
President Joe Biden's administration unveiled several additional steps this week to ratchet up the vaccination drive, including new vaccine requirements for firms with more than 100 employees. Still, the impact has yet to be seen.
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