The death toll due to the Omicron wave is increasing with each passing day, and experts say that this trend is likely to continue for the next few weeks. The weekly average, daily deaths reported in the US due to Covid-19, has crossed 2200 last week, and this has gone past the previous peak of 2100 during the Delta wave. Even though Omicron causes mild symptoms compared to Delta, it is more infectious and landing more people in hospitals.
Death Toll Higher In Omicron Wave Than Last Fall’s Delta Wave
Many people are not taking this wave too seriously as it causes only mild symptoms in most people. However, Omicron has caused breakthrough infections, and even those who are vaccinated are not safe from infection.
Many people are not taking this wave too seriously as it causes only mild symptoms in most people. However, Omicron has caused breakthrough infections, and even those who are vaccinated are not safe from infection.
Apart from that, there are still millions of people in the US who are not vaccinated, which does not give health experts a pleasant feeling. Older people and those with co-morbid conditions are more vulnerable in this situation.
Thousands have lost their lives due to this variant in the last few weeks, and it is important to be careful about the infection. One of the hospitals in Kansas ran out of refrigeration units to keep the bodies of dead people. The hospitals saw nearly 50 Covid deaths in a month since the beginning of the Omicron wave.
Even as many experts say that Omicron has already peaked in several states, the death numbers are likely to increase, according to them. Several states are likely to report increased death rates due to Omicron in the next few weeks.
The Biden administration wants to ramp up testing across the country and has made arrangements to distribute free test kits for the public. As per official sources, more than 240 million kits have been ordered so far, and shipping has already begun for these orders.
The testing centers are overcrowded across the country, and many people have to wait for long hours before getting tested. On the other hand, the at-home test kits can be used by anyone at home without the need for a specialist.
The results of the at-home test kits can be known within a short duration of time. In this way, infected people can take early treatment and avoid complications.
Similarly, the government is also distributing free N95 masks to the public. One of the popular pharmacy chains, Walgreens, said that they are offering such masks for free as the company has received the masks from the government.
The total death toll in the US due to Covid infection has already crossed the 800,000 mark. Experts say that the Omicron wave will push this number beyond one million in the next few weeks.
As of now, the US is the worst affected country in the world due to Covid 19. Despite having many treatment options and vaccines for Covid 19, the health system cannot bring down the mortality rate due to infection.
In the recent wave, it is evident that most people in ICUs are not vaccinated, which is why they are facing extreme symptoms of the Omicron variant.
Among the vaccinated lot, the symptoms are milder, and most of them do not need critical care. For this reason, the CDC is also pushing for booster doses to get additional protection against the Omicron variant.
Even though Omicron has infected those who have taken two doses of vaccines, experts feel that getting a booster dose can prevent Omicron to a large extent. However, the demand for a booster dose has been slowing down across the country in recent weeks, and less than half of the eligible people have taken the booster dose in the last few weeks.
