The U.S. hit a seven-day average of 265,427 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, blowing past the country's previous record of about 252,000 daily cases, reported nearly a year ago on Jan. 11.The new peak, according to Johns Hopkins University data, comes amid a rapid acceleration of infections in the United States — and across the world — since last month.And experts predict the omicron variant — the most contagious strain of coronavirus yet — is going to make the start of 2022 very difficult."January is going to be a really, really hard month. And people should just brace themselves for a month where lots of people are going to get infected," said Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health.And the U.S. could "see half a million cases a day — easy — sometime over the next week to 10 days," CNN medical analyst Dr. Jonathan Reiner said Sunday.Most people who are vaccinated and boosted won't get severe illness, but that won't be true for the unvaccinated, Jha said."A lot of people who have not gotten a vaccine are going to end up getting pretty sick, and it's going to be pretty disruptive," Jha said. "My hope is as we get into February and certainly by the time we get into March, infection numbers will come way down, and it'll also start getting (into) spring, and the weather will start getting better. And that will also help."Despite calls from experts for Americans to get their vaccines and boosters, the rate of booster doses getting administered has fallen in recent weeks — while only 32.7% of the country's fully vaccinated population is boosted.In addition to getting vaccinated and boosted, people can protect themselves by taking precautions in public, Jha said."I would urge people to wear a higher quality mask any time they're in a place with lots of people and they're going to be indoors for any extended period of time," Jha said.A surgical mask might be fine for a quick grocery store trip in an empty store, but for other events, a well-fitting N95 or KF94 mask provides better protection, he said.Looking ahead to New Year's Eve on Friday, small gatherings of fully vaccinated people will be safe, Dr. Anthony Fauci said. But people should avoid large parties where they don't know the vaccination status of all guests, he said."When you are talking about a New Year's Eve party where you have 30, 40, 50 people celebrating, you do not know the status of the vaccination, I would recommend strongly: Stay away from that this year," said Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases. "There will be other years to do that. But not this year."Pediatric hospitalizations nearing previous recordHoliday gatherings, like those over Christmas and New Year's, have some health care workers worried about the impact on children in the coming weeks -- especially those who are too young to be vaccinated."We've just had all of these kids mixing together with everybody else during Christmas," said Dr. Claudia Hoyen, the director of pediatric infection control at UH Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Ohio."We have one more holiday to get through with New Year's, and then we'll be sending everybody back to school. Everybody is kind of waiting on the edge, wondering what we'll end up seeing."Nationwide, pediatric COVID-19 hospitalizations are nearing the record high set in September.On average, roughly 305 children were admitted to the hospital with COVID-19 on any given day over the week that ended Dec. 26, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Department of Health and Human Services.That's more than a 48% jump from the previous week's average and just 10.7% lower than the peak average of 342 children who were admitted to hospitals with the virus that was recorded at the end of August and early September.In New York City, where cases are surging and the average percent positivity rate is continuing to trend upward, pediatric hospitalizations increased five-fold over a three-week period.In Chicago, hospitalizations at one children's hospital have quadrupled. At Children's National Hospital in Washington, D.C., close to half the COVID-19 tests are coming back positive.At Texas Children's Pediatrics & Urgent Care in Houston, the chief medical officer is concerned about the current surge, he said."What's concerning on the (pediatric) side is that, unlike the adults -- where they're reporting for the number of adults getting infected relatively low numbers getting hospitalized — what we're really seeing, we think, is an increasing number of kids being hospitalized," Dr. Stanley Spinner said.Children are an easy target for the virus, said Dr. Juan Salazar, physician in chief at Connecticut Children's Medical Center in Hartford."It's affecting larger communities and it's certainly affecting children in a way that we hadn't seen before," he said. "And that's new compared to last year."CDC updates isolation guidelinesDays after updating its guidance on isolation time for health care workers who test positive for COVID-19, the CDC updated its guidance for the general population.The agency shortened the recommended time for isolation for people with COVID-19 to five days, if asymptomatic, followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others. The prior guidance advised 10 days of isolation."The change is motivated by science demonstrating that the majority of SARS-CoV-2 transmission occurs early in the course of illness, generally in the 1-2 days prior to onset of symptoms and the 2-3 days after," the CDC said in a statement about the updated guidelines.The new recommendations will allow asymptomatic people "to come back to work earlier, and safely, at very low risk," said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center."That will help us in the New Year begin to get our gears back into operation and to function better."The CDC also updated its recommended quarantine period for those exposed to someone with COVID-19.For those who are unvaccinated, have not had a second mRNA dose in more than six months or have not had a booster shot, the CDC recommends quarantining for five days followed by strict mask use for an additional five days.People who have gotten their booster shot do not need to quarantine if they are exposed to COVID-19, but they should wear a mask for 10 days after exposure, the CDC said.The shorter isolation and quarantine guidelines stem from "the extraordinary, unprecedented wave of infections" the United States is seeing and is likely to continue seeing over the next weeks, Fauci told CNN on Tuesday."There is the danger that there will be so many people who are being isolated who are asymptomatic for the full 10 days that you could have a major negative impact on our ability to keep society running," he said.

For the first time since June, the rate of new COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. is expected to decrease over the next four weeks, according to an ensemble forecast from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.And for the third week in a row, Wednesday's CDC forecast predicted that hospitalizations will decrease as well — a bit of hope as the more transmissible delta variant continues to spread.Currently, an average of nearly 2,000 people die and about 114,000 people are infected with COVID-19 every day, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.Dr. Scott Gottlieb, a former U.S. Food and Drug Administration commissioner, estimated that the delta wave of the pandemic could run its course by Thanksgiving, and COVID-19 could eventually become more of a seasonal nuisance than a devastating pandemic. But Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said that is dependent on getting a lot more people vaccinated.Of the entire U.S. population, 55.5% are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to data from the CDC. Health experts can't say for sure what proportion of the population would need to be vaccinated to control the spread, but Fauci estimates that it would have to be the "vast majority."Officials and experts are employing multiple strategies to try to increase vaccination protection.Schools, businesses and employers have implemented mandates for students and employees to be vaccinated against the virus. And the FDA has authorized booster doses to increase vaccine protection for vulnerable populations.Health experts are also waiting for Pfizer to request an emergency use authorization for a vaccine to protect children ages 5 to 11. While some parents are eager to have their children vaccinated, others are still hesitant.Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, said he understands the concern and urged parents to "wait until they see the data before they make a decision about getting the vaccine."Many health experts are hopeful more people will decide to get vaccinated as some regions strain to keep up with cases.Alaska's Yukon-Koshokwim Health Corporation announced Wednesday that it was preparing for the possibility of rationing services under Crisis Standards of Care due to a surge in COVID-19."We're doing the best for every single patient, regardless of what resources are available at any given time," chief of staff Dr. Ellen Hodges said in a written statement. "Unfortunately, however, as a result of the current surge in COVID-19 cases requiring hospitalization and limited resources statewide, we are now in a position of making these difficult decisions on a daily basis."West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Wednesday that he believes the state is in the "eye of the storm," and urged residents to get vaccinated to help decrease the surge."We're gonna lose a bunch more people, West Virginia, no question about that," said Justice during a Wednesday COVID-19 briefing. "All I can possibly do, with a good conscience, is continue to urge you, in every way, to get vaccinated."CDC urges pregnant people to get vaccinatedSome have been concerned over whether people who are pregnant or looking to become pregnant are safe to be vaccinated, but the CDC made an urgent recommendation Wednesday for them to be inoculated.People who are pregnant, have recently given birth, are planning to become pregnant or are breastfeeding should be vaccinated, the CDC said."CDC strongly recommends COVID-19 vaccination either before or during pregnancy because the benefits of vaccination outweigh known or potential risks," the agency said in a health alert."As of September 27, 2021, more than 125,000 laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported in pregnant people, including more than 22,000 hospitalized cases and 161 deaths."The risk is not just to the mother. COVID-19 in pregnancy can cause preterm birth or babies born so sick they have to go straight to the neonatal intensive care unit, or NICU."Other adverse pregnancy outcomes, such as stillbirth, have been reported," the CDC said."Pregnancy can be both a special time and also a stressful time — and pregnancy during a pandemic is an added concern for families. I strongly encourage those who are pregnant or considering pregnancy to talk with their healthcare provider about the protective benefits of the COVID-19 vaccine to keep their babies and themselves safe," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said in a statement.Vaccine mandates going into effectOn the local and federal level, officials are implementing vaccination mandates to increase protection.Earlier this month, President Joe Biden announced stringent new vaccine rules on federal workers, large employers and health care staff in a sweeping attempt to contain the latest surge of COVID-19.He directed the Labor Department to require all businesses with 100 or more employees ensure their workers are either vaccinated or tested once a week. Companies could face thousands of dollars in fines per employee if they don't comply.Those requirements are still weeks away from being implemented, but employers should expect them to come this year, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Wednesday.Employees of New York's hospital system are mandated to be vaccinated against the virus, and some employees are already facing the consequences of not complying.The St. Barnabas Hospital Health System had 58 employees who have failed to show proof of vaccination as of Wednesday, spokesman Steve Clark said.The employees are suspended and have until Monday morning to show proof of vaccination. If they don't, they'll be terminated, said Clark."Patient care has not been compromised at all," Clark said. "Schedules have been created accordingly. People will work overtime, or part-timers or agency personnel will be brought in when necessary."

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has once again overhauled its mask guidance this week, asking all Americans to go back to wearing face masks in indoor public spaces and in crowded outdoor areas, regardless of vaccination status. The agency's new mask recommendations come as the delta variant of COVID-19 continues to spread, leading to an uptick in new coronavirus cases across the United States. And since vaccines are still being observed in trials for children under 12, CDC officials also updated guidelines asking all students in grades K-12 to mask up while in school this fall.The delta variant is more contagious than other forms of COVID-19. People infected with this strain may carry up to 1,000 times more viral airborne particles in their airways than those infected with earlier versions, according to emerging data. While vaccines prevent most to all of the deadly symptoms associated with COVID-19 illnesses, CDC officials did also recently acknowledge that vaccinated people can indeed spread the disease to others around them. "The best recommendation would be, regardless of vaccination status, to continue wearing a mask to protect your loved ones and yourself against COVID as an added layer of protection," said Dr. Vivek Cherian, an internal medicine physician affiliated with the University of Maryland Medical System. But if you're still wearing the same face masks you rushed to purchase (or even sew yourself) back in the early months of the pandemic, it's important to know these masks are likely less protective than other options available now. What's the best mask to protect against the delta variant?Cloth masks made in the first half of 2020 weren't designed as stringently as they are now, and it wasn't until late 2020 and early 2021 that CDC officials began making more stringent mask recommendations to Americans (like in January, when officials asked Americans to consider double-masking). While cloth masks certainly are better than no mask at all when it comes to preventing the spread of COVID-19, the fit and construction of medical-grade surgical face masks are usually more comprehensive — and currently, they're readily available for consumers.Good Housekeeping Institute Textiles Director Lexie Sachs said that surgical masks are usually made by PPE manufacturers who adhere to strict quality standards that have been in place since long before the pandemic began. "We know they're typically safer in terms of filtration and fit," Sachs added, as opposed to cloth masks made by fashion retailers who don't usually deal with medical standards in construction. "They're often more breathable as well." Most crucially, you can rest assured that the medical-grade surgical mask you're wearing is tested to meet standards set forth by ASTM International, an industry group in charge of establishing safety minimums for many products, including face masks. "You'll know whether or not it's been tested to meet standards — in this case, ASTM Level 3 and more — rather than blindly guessing with most cloth options," Sachs said.There are also N95 and KN95 masks, otherwise known as respirators, which are known to be more protective than surgical masks. Why? Because they're carefully engineered to prevent large and small airborne particles from specifically penetrating the masks' front. Mayo Clinic officials clarify that while surgical masks can indeed offer filtration on par with or superior to cloth masks, they are primarily designed to prevent fluids and sprays from landing on the wearer in a clinical setting — not particles or aerosols.While N95 and KN95 masks were largely unavailable at the start of the pandemic — and officials at the Food and Drug Administration still maintain that PPE supply levels are low in crucial categories like respirators — there are more respirator masks available now than there were at the beginning of the outbreak.In fact, Scott Gottlieb, a former FDA commissioner, recently advised Americans to consider wearing N95 or KN95 masks, sourced from China, to best protect themselves from COVID-19 exposure in public. "If you're going to consider wearing a mask, the quality of the mask does matter," Gottlieb told CBS reporters. "So if you can get your hands on a KN95 mask, or an N95 mask, that's going to afford you a lot more protection." "There's no question that offer the best protection as they fit more securely and also offer high filtration abilities if you are able to secure those masks," Cherian said. "However, cloth masks are still an effective option ." What's the best mask for my child to wear?As N95s are classified as a respirator, you'll need to fit them tightly across your nose and mouth to ensure proper filtration and effectiveness. Product manufacturers usually include directions for mask wearers to ensure they're using an N95 or KN95 correctly, but depending on which respirator you choose, it may be harder to fit the mask properly, explained Dr. Charles C. J. Bailey, an infectious diseases specialist at Providence Mission Hospital in California.Because of their encompassing fit, Bailey and other experts caution against children using an N95 or KN95. Respirators can be much harder to breathe in than medical masks or cloth masks, which is especially challenging for kids in active settings or during physical activity. Surgical masks are better suited for children, especially those with respiratory issues or who are particularly active, over ill-fitting N95 or KN95 masks. Bailey adds that keeping a perfectly fitted N95 or KN95 on a child would be an impractical challenge, and wearing an ill-fitting respirator won't offer any extra protection over other mask choices (this is also true for adults!). Remember: CDC officials still recommend that any child under the age of two refrain from all masks at this time, including those children with pre-existing respiratory conditions that make masks potentially harmful.How can I shop for the best mask moving forward?If you're still using the same cloth masks you purchased in 2020, it may be time to consider swapping them out for a respirator or surgical mask — or, at the very least, a newer cloth-based mask, Sachs said. "The shelf life of a cloth-based mask is typically based on the number of washes, and the brands that conform to ASTM standards should be telling customers this information," she added.New ASTM International standards were drawn up to give designers and lifestyle brands more direction in creating safer non-PPE cloth face masks. These standards ensure the mask will properly fit over your nose and mouth, can filter airborne particles effectively, and are reasonably breathable for consumers, among other concerns. The Unicorn Breathing Mask is an example of a cloth mask that claims to have been tested and manufactured according to ASTM standards — you'll see clear language indicating this on the brand's digital storefront.Manufacturers are slowly adapting the way they make their masks so they can meet the standards set forth by the ASTM; if a favorite mask of yours doesn't yet display any ASTM classification, it may be that the masks aren't made sufficiently protective to qualify, Sachs explained.It's also always best to buy new face masks rather than try to repair a torn or stretched face mask. And if anything is clear, it's that the investment in properly constructed face masks will pay off in the end — it looks like these current CDC guidelines will be in place until all children become eligible for vaccines, and possibly until an overwhelming majority of Americans choose to sign up for a vaccine.