By David Hall
US hospitalizations due to Covid-19 exceeded 125,000 for the first time, as more cases of a rapidly spreading variant of the virus have emerged in parts of the country.
The United States reported more than 220,000 new cases of coronavirus on Wednesday, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The country reported more than 3,700 Covid-19 deaths on Wednesday, a record in a single day, as the total exceeded 342,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins. Globally, more than 1.8 million people died from Covid-19.
The increase in cases and deaths in the United States is probably attributable in part to delays in reporting as a result of the Christmas holiday. Experts said the numbers are expected to rise later in the week, after falling on Sunday and Monday.
Hospitals across the country have faced an increasing number of patients because of the disease, as hospitalizations have increased to 125,220, according to the Covid Tracking Project. Intensive care units were also under pressure, with 23,069 ICU patients.
In California, Governor Gavin Newsom confirmed that the new fast-spreading variant of Covid-19, which initially appeared in the UK, has reached southern California. Colorado officials said on Wednesday that a possible second case of the variant was identified in that state.
Staff at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said on Wednesday that they are still learning how the variant responds to various drugs and treatments, but have no reason to believe that vaccines do not protect them.
More than 12.4 million doses of vaccine were distributed across the United States on Wednesday morning, with 2.79 million people receiving their first injection, according to CDC data. Government officials said the low numbers reflect a delay in reporting by local health officials, and that vaccination efforts remain on target.