Category: Public Health

US cases hit another record; pediatric infections up 50% in December — 5 COVID-19 updates

The U.S. reported nearly 489,000 new COVID-19 cases Dec. 29, nearly twice as high as the worst days from last winter’s surge, according to The New York Timesss database. The new cases brought the seven-day average for new daily cases to more than 301,0…

16 most notable COVID-19 developments of 2021: A timeline

Looking back at a year of ever-evolving “new normals,” Becker’s has compiled some of the biggest U.S. healthcare developments related to the pandemic in 2021.

COVID-19 death rates rising for younger, white Americans — Here’s why

Younger Americans and white Americans account for an increasingly higher share of COVID-19 deaths than they did before all adults were eligible for vaccines, The New York Times reported Dec. 28.

17 COVID-19 related research findings

Here are 17 COVID-19-related research findings covered by Becker’s Hospital Review since Nov. 24:

New daily COVID-19 cases at all-time high in US

The U.S. reported the highest number of new daily COVID-19 cases during the pandemic Dec. 28, a record that comes as the highly contagious delta and omicron variants continue to spread nationwide. 

Omicron made up 59% new US cases last week; CDC revises past count

The omicron variant accounted for an estimated 58.6 percent of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. for the week ending Dec. 25, down from previous estimates, according to new data released Dec. 28 by the CDC.

Maryland Hospital Association asks governor to reinstate public health emergency

The Maryland Hospital Association on Dec. 28 called on Gov. Larry Hogan to reinstate a public health emergency in the state, The Baltimore Sun reported.

US reports 2 pediatric flu deaths; hospitalization rate nearly double last season’s

Two pediatric deaths associated with the flu have been reported, according to data from the CDC’s most recent FluView report.

10 states with highest, lowest COVID death rates in 2021

Oklahoma and Alabama had the nation’s worst COVID-19 death rates in 2021, according to data tracked by Baltimore-based Johns Hopkins University and cited by NBC’s LX.

Physicians are concerned about omicron’s paradox for hospitals

Omicron has been referred to by some as the variant of COVID-19 you want to get if you’re going to get it, due to a growing body of evidence that suggests it causes milder illness than earlier variants of COVID-19. That type of thinking has physicians …