US reports 1.1 million Covid cases in a day, shatters global record

The United States reported at least 1.13 million new coronavirus infections on Monday, according to a Reuters tally, the highest daily total of any country in the world as the spread of the highly contagious Omicron variant showed no signs of slowing. The previous record was 1.03 million cases on Jan. 3. A large number of cases are reported each Monday due to many states not reporting over the weekend. Some states were yet to report on Monday so the final figure is likely to be even higher. Despite the Omicron strain being reported as a less severe variant, the new variant of concern has driven the hospitalisations to an all-time high in the US. The number of hospitalised Covid-19 patients have doubled in three weeks, reported Reuters, surpassing the record of 132,051 hospitalisations set in January last year. The highly transmissible variant has strained the healthcare systems, forcing many hospitals in the United States to suspend elective surgeries amid an increase in Covid hospitalisations and staff shortages. According to Our World in Data, the United States is reporting over 2,130 daily Covid-19 cases per million people, quickly catching up with the United Kingdom. 

The surge in cases has disrupted schools, which are struggling with absences of staff, teachers and bus drivers. Chicago canceled classes for a fourth day as the district and teachers failed to agree on how to deal with increased infections. New York City suspended service on three subway lines due to a large number of workers out sick, according to its Twitter account. Companies' plans for workers to return to office have also been derailed. Deaths are averaging 1,700 per day, up from about 1,400 in recent days but within levels seen earlier this winter.