Cases have also become similar worldwide. “The most likely explanation is the more contagious variant of the virus, such as the B.1.1.7 variant, which was first detected in Britain,” writes David Leonhardt in The New York Times. Business Insider’s Jim Edwards points out that the increase in cases and deaths could be statistical noise, but notes that worrying new variants have also surfaced in California and New York.
“Given the counterbalance increases in both vaccinations and variants, coupled with the high probability that people will stop taking precautions, a fourth wave is highly likely this spring,” Apoorva Mandavilli reported to the Times, referring to a majority of 21 experts surveyed on the pandemic. “But they stressed that it is not an inevitable boom if government officials and individuals take a few more weeks’ precautions,” and “deaths from COVID-19 are unlikely to rise as sharply as in the past.”
theweek.com/speedreads/969094/covid19-cases-deaths-are-starting-rise- again- how- worry- must