As the Omicron version of the virus continues to spread, the United States and France have seen their highest day-to-day increases in new Covid cases since the pandemic began.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the country saw over 440,000 new infections on Monday.
However, officials warned that the figures might be an “overestimation” owing to reporting delays during the holiday season. France reported Europe’s greatest ever total of new daily cases.
The virus has now infected 179,807 people in Europe as of late Monday night. French health minister Olivier Véran said on social media that “everything suggests” that France may see 250,000 new infections each day by the start of January.
In the United States, a CDC representative told Politico that the number was “very likely an underestimate” owing to test delays and center closures over the Christmas period, with case counts noting that they would “become more stable after the new year.”
On Tuesday, Greece, Portugal, and England all posted record increases. The World Health Organization appeared to confirm the epidemic’s worsening, warning in its weekly Covid report that the danger of Omicron “remains very high.”
The number of new Covid infections of all types increased by 57% in Europe throughout the week ending 26 December, according to Tuesday’s announcement. In the Americas region, infection rates increased by 30%.
The Omicron variant is believed to be less severe than Delta, with a 30% to 70 percent decreased risk of hospitalization in infected individuals.
Concerns that the large number of cases linked to the highly transmissible variant might overwhelm hospitals persist.
On December 27, the CDC announced that the number of new cases had increased by 441,278 on that day, an all-time high for daily occurrences.
The seven-day average increase in infections is now at its highest level since January 2021, according to USA Media.
However, Omicron’s presence in the US was also reduced, with officials claiming it affects 59% of patients rather than the previous figure of 73%.
The new estimate “may suggest that a significant part of current hospitalizations in the United States are still being driven by Delta,” according to the medical policy expert Scott Gottlieb.
On Tuesday, the French government announced a similarly large increase in infections. The most difficult weeks are yet to come, according to the French Hospital Federation.
The new restrictions, which were announced last week by Prime Minister Jean Castex, include at least three days a week compulsory working from home for individuals who can be beginning in January.
More than 23 million people have received a vaccine, with the country’s booster campaign now in full swing.
While many cities, including Paris, London and Berlin, have canceled official New Year’s events, some governments have been less willing to enact nationwide limitations.
The French city of Paris and the English town of London have advised people to use their common sense, while the Spanish capital Madrid has said it will proceed with its events despite a limit on visitors at Puerta del Sol square.
Outdoor performances are prohibited in Italy, while nightclubs have been closed. However, there are no limitations on personal gatherings.