The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has warned that more than 66 million Americans are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
As of Friday, more than 112 million people in the U.S. – or 33.7 percent of the population – have received at least one vaccine dose, while 66.2 million people – or 19.9 percent of the population – have been fully vaccinated, the data shows of the CDC. .
That means “more than a quarter of all adult Americans are now fully vaccinated,” White House coronavirus response coordinator Jeff Zients said during a virtual press briefing on Friday.
But even though more and more Americans are getting stuck, the pandemic is still raging.
The current seven-day average of new business is about 2 percent higher than the previous seven-day period – more than 64,000 a day, said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the CDC, said during the briefing.
About 74,860 new cases of coronavirus were reported in the U.S. on Thursday, she added.
COVID-19-related hospital admissions are rising even faster.
The seven-day average of nationwide hospitalizations climbed to about 5,300 – an increase of about 7 percent from the previous seven-day period, CDC data show.
“On the one hand, we have so much reason for optimism and hope, and more Americans are being vaccinated and protected against COVID-19,” Walensky said. “On the other hand, cases and visits to emergencies are ongoing.”
The CDC director explained that the increase in cases is driven by younger adults, “most of whom have not yet been vaccinated.”
There has also been an increase in infections in some regions of the country, such as in the Middle East, ‘she added.
In states such as Michigan and Minnesota, there is an increasing number of virus cases associated with the highly contagious British variant known as B.1.1.7.
“In both of these states, there are concerns about the transfer of youth sports, as well as club sports and sports involving schools,” Walensky explained.
“What is happening in Minnesota and Michigan is similar to what we are seeing nationwide – increasing reports of cases involving youth sports.”
But, she added, ‘I want to be clear that as matters increase in the community, we expect issues identified in schools to increase as well. This is not necessarily an indication of transfer at school. ‘
Meanwhile, on the vaccine front, the U.S. now averages 3 million vaccinations a day, up from 2.9 million last week, Zients said.
A total of more than 28 million shots against vaccines were delivered to federal states, tribes and territories through federal channels this week alone, he noted.
This is ‘more than enough supply to maintain and increase our current seven-day average of 3 million shots per day,’ Zients continued.
But as a way to combat the unwelcome increase in cases, the federal government will prioritize and promote resources to countries hard hit.
The feeds will work with states “to make sure they use all the doses they have received,” Zients said.
“Today, millions of doses have been distributed, but not yet administered as a shot in the arms.”
In addition, staff members, including CDC response teams, will “train” staff to those states to support vaccination efforts and get more shots in the arms, increase testing capability and offer more “therapies and treatments,” the coronavirus response coordinator of the White House said.
“We are working to put this pandemic behind us as soon as possible,” Zients said. “We must all watch and complete this task.”
COVID-19-related deaths in the U.S. continue to decline, with a current seven-day average of 711, according to CDC data.