Americans ushered in 2022 with exploding COVID-19 cases, cancelled flights and quickly-filling hospital beds once again as the pandemic dragged into another calendar year.
Some of the year's most notable achievements against COVID-19 – vaccines and other treatments – weren't enough to stop the rapid spread of the omicron variant. While more transmissible, leading to record-breaking infections and the reemergence of mask mandates in some states, omicron is also less severe, according to early studies.
The U.S. reported more than 2 million cases in a single week for the first time this past week, outpacing the previous record of 1.7 million cases from Jan. 3-9, 2021, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data.
But a sense of hopefulness persists with many around the world saying they no longer feel the same sense of dread that marked the start of the pandemic.
At Expo 2020, the sprawling world’s fair outside Dubai, 26-year-old tourist Lujain Orfi prepared to throw caution to the wind on New Year’s Eve. "If you don’t celebrate, life will pass you by," she said. "I’m healthy and took two (vaccine) doses. We just have to enjoy."
The virus, which has been circulating for over two years, will have impacted four separate calendar years when 2022 begins – starting back in 2019, the year denoted by the name COVID-19.
Also in the news:
► Hawaii reported another day of near-record cases, ending the year with a surging infection rate and hospitals on edge. There were 3,290 new cases on Friday. The state more than doubled a previous delta variant record Thursday after reporting nearly 3,500 new cases.
► Flight cancellations continued throughout the holiday weekend with more than 3,200 on New Year's Eve and another 3,000 cancelled on New Year's Day, according to the flight-tracking website FlightAware.
📈Today's numbers: The U.S. has recorded more than 54 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 825,000 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. Global totals: More than 288 million cases and 5.4 million deaths. More than 205 million Americans – 62% – are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.
📘 What we're reading: 2020 was awful. 2021 wasn't much better. What's lurking around the corner in 2022? Read the full story.
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US children hospitalized with COVID in record numbers
The omicron-fueled surge that is sending COVID-19 cases rocketing in the U.S. is putting children in the hospital in record numbers, and experts lament that most of the youngsters are not vaccinated.
"It's just so heartbreaking," said Dr. Paul Offit, an infectious-disease expert at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. "It was hard enough last year, but now you know that you have a way to prevent all this."
During the week of Dec. 22-28, an average of 378 children 17 and under were admitted per day to hospitals with the coronavirus, a 66% increase from the week before, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Thursday.
The previous high over the course of the pandemic was in early September, when child hospitalizations averaged 342 per day, the CDC said.
On a more hopeful note, children continue to represent a small percentage of those being hospitalized with COVID-19: An average of nearly 10,200 people of all ages were admitted per day during the same week in December. And many doctors say the youngsters seem less sick than those who came in during the delta surge over the summer.
Two months after vaccinations were approved for 5- to 11-year-olds, about 14% are fully protected, CDC data shows. The rate is higher for 12- to 17-year-olds, at about 53%.
Some Georgia schools going virtual due to COVID-19 spike
Some of Georgia’s largest school districts will start the new year virtually amid the state’s surge in COVID-19 cases.
Fulton County and Dekalb County schools said Friday students will learn remotely when they resume classes next week and then return for in-person instruction on Jan. 10. Clayton County Public Schools and Rockdale County Public Schools previously announced the same plan.
All four districts are in the Atlanta area. Clayton is Georgia’s fifth-largest school system. It serves more than 50,000 students. Fulton and DeKalb are even larger.
RAPID TESTS, LOTS OF RAPID TESTS:How US schools plan to reopen amid omicron-fueled COVID surge
Georgia has hit new records for COVID infections, with state officials reporting a staggering 25,265 confirmed cases Thursday. The number stayed high on Friday, with more than 24,000 infections reported.
Six health care systems that serve metro Atlanta said in a combined statement this week they have experienced 100-200% increases in COVID-19 hospitalizations in eight days, with the vast majority of patients unvaccinated.
Tested positive for COVID during the holidays? Here's what to do.
Testing positive for COVID-19 starts a confusing, disruptive and at times frightening process – one that millions of Americans will likely go through in the coming weeks.
First, you need to isolate. That’s a more intense version of quarantining – it means cutting off contact with other people as much as possible so you reduce the chance of infecting them. This also means forgoing travel, not going to work and even limiting contact with people in your own household who aren't infected.
The CDC says isolating is a necessary step whether you’re vaccinated or unvaccinated, and whether you have symptoms or feel fine.
Everyone who tests positive for COVID-19 should monitor their symptoms. And people who are unvaccinated or at high risk for severe disease should be extra-vigilant for symptoms that might require emergency care. Call your doctor for early treatment options.
The CDC in late December shortened the time it recommends people isolate, saying "People with COVID-19 should isolate for 5 days and if they are asymptomatic or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours)." The recommendations also says people should wear a mask for 5 days after ending their isolation.
Read the CDC's full guidance on isolating and quarantining.
Contributing: Joel Shannon, USA TODAY; The Associated Press
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