Tuesday 7 June 2022 04:28 PM Daily Covid infections reach 120,000 mark for first time since February 16 trends now
The United States in averaging 120,000 recorded COVID-19 cases every day, the highest point the figure has reached since February 16, the backside of the devastating surge that struck much of the world over winter. The mortality of the virus has dropped 75 percent since then, though, with deaths being only a fraction of what they were when case counts were previously this high.
According to data from Johns Hopkins University, the U.S. is averaging 120,150 cases and 583 Covid deaths every day. While this is a 73 percent upward shift over the past week, the figure is still relatively low. For comparison, the country was recording 2,213 daily deaths on February 16.
While the current dominant strain of the virus, the BA 2.12.1 variant, is not believed to be more mild than its predecessors, the BA.1 and BA.2 strains, it is more infectious, which could play a role in shifting mortality rates.
These marks are reached as the FDA heads into a key advisory panel meeting to discuss the fate of the protein-based Novavax vaccine, a new but potentially unneeded shot
There are a few potential reasons for this change in mortality rates. First is the re-infection rate. Many people who were infected with the Omicron variant in December and January have had some of their natural antibodies against infection recede, but T-cells generated - which protect against hospitalization and death - do not wear off to the same effect.
Vaccines may be playing a role as well. Like infection, antibodies provided by the vaccines wear off over time, but the prevention against serious disease is virtually permanent.
A new vaccine could be just around the corner as well, with the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee (VRBPAC) meeting Tuesday to discuss the merits of the Novavax vaccine.
The long-awaited Novavax vaccine was seen as a 'gold standard' by many experts, as the two-dose vaccine uses the same technology used in the standard flu shot and other jabs people have received throughout their lives. The two most popular vaccines currently on the market, the Pfizer and Moderna shots, use an mRNA base.
While mRNA has been deemed safe and effective for use in vaccines by leading experts and regulators around the world, many have been hesitant to get the shots which use the relatively unused, unknown, technology as its base.
Some experts are hopeful that the more standard make-up of the protein-based shots will convince some who are still hesitant to get the jabs.
The committee will advise the FDA's decision on the shot, though VRBPAC's vote is not binding and there is always the
