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John Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center 1-02-21 8:30 PM
US Confirmed COVID Infections: 55,114,057 | US COVID Deaths: 826,060

USA – Pandemic Tsunami – Nearly 400,000 New Cases Daily
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“Americans ushered in 2022 with exploding COVID-19 cases, thousands of canceled flights and quickly-filling hospital beds once again as the pandemic dragged into another calendar year.” Newsweek

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Record Level American COVID Infections

“(CNN)The US rang in the new year amid a Covid-19 surge that experts warn is exploding at unprecedented speed and could alter daily life for many Americans during the first month of 2022. 'Omicron is truly everywhere,' Dr. Megan Ranney, a professor of emergency medicine at Brown University's School of Public Health, told CNN on Friday night. 'What I am so worried about over the next month or so is that our economy is going to shut down, not because of policies from the federal government or from the state governments, but rather because so many of us are ill.'

"The nation broke records at least five times this week for its seven-day average of new daily Covid-19 cases. The high case count is already causing disruptions in the country.”

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Global

“The latest surge, which has sent case numbers exploding across the globe, is fueled by the Omicron variant, the most contagious coronavirus strain yet, health experts say.

"The virus is now "extraordinarily contagious" and previous mitigation measures that used to help now may not be as helpful. Now, even a quick, transient encounter can lead to an infection,” Dr Reiner said, 'including if someone's mask is loose, or a person quickly pulls their mask down, or an individual enters an elevator in which someone else has just coughed.'”

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Missouri

“Missouri ends its emergency order; as St. Louis hospitals see the highest admission of COVID-19 patients. Missouri Governor Parson announced the state's emergency order would expire on December 31 and it will not be renewed, saying there's no longer a need for a state of emergency.

“The expiration of the order was announced the same day hospitals admitted the highest number of COVID patients in a single day since the beginning of the pandemic.” St Louis Post

“The state's now defunct emergency order allowed the Missouri National Guard to be activated for COVID-19 related missions, like assisting testing sites and mass vaccine clinics. The order also gave flexibility to health care providers across the state, allowing to expand care to patients. The emergency order "allowed expanded utilization of telehealth services, the ability to exceed licensed bed capacity when required by demand, and the opportunity to eliminate barriers to testing and treatment of COVID patients in partnership with the Department of Health and Senior Services" The Hill

“KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Kansas City Mayor Quinton Lucas announced that he tested positive for COVID-19 Friday. Lucas said he is fully vaccinated.” FOX News

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One Year Ago on this day: https://pbase.com/britestar/image/171316853