The novel coronavirus is returning to the northeastern regions of the United States with the BA.2 variant, which has become the dominant strain, officials said Wednesday, as Congress was lobbied to approve new funds to fight the disease, which is necessary so that the provision is not compromised. Future treatments and vaccines.
The country records an average of 28,600 cases per day, well below the recent peak of infections, with more than 800,000 infections per day on average in January. The deaths due to Covid-19 are about 900 deaths per day.
There are early signs of a new wave of infections, said Rochelle Wallinsky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“We have seen a slight increase in cases reported in New York State and New York City and some increases in the number of people being hospitalized in New England, specifically where the BA.2 variant has reached levels of 50% (prevalence),” he said.
The new variant does not appear to cause a more severe form of disease than the original micron, BA.1, and does not appear to escape immune protection, but it is more transmissible. Currently, 35% of cases nationwide are caused by the BA.2 variant, which is expected to become the dominant strain in the United States.
The novel coronavirus outbreak comes after Congress refused to add $22.5 billion in funding for the response to the virus in a bill passed last week. “At this point, our resources are exhausted,” Health Minister Xavier Becerra said.
The White House’s coronavirus response coordinator, Jeff Zents, said there are enough supplies to give the fourth dose of the vaccine in immunosuppressed and elderly people.
“However, if science shows that a fourth dose is necessary for the general population by the end of the year, we don’t have the supplies to ensure there are free, readily available doses for all Americans,” he added.
“Congress inaction will set us back, leave us less prepared and cost us more lives,” the official warned.
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