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Covid: US and France report record daily case rises Covid: US reports record infections as Europe's Omicron cases also soar
(about 2 hours later)
France reported Europe's highest ever number of new daily cases on Tuesday, with 179,807 infectionsFrance reported Europe's highest ever number of new daily cases on Tuesday, with 179,807 infections
The US and France have reported their highest daily rises in new Covid cases since the pandemic began, as the Omicron variant continues to spread. The US and several European countries have reported their highest daily rises in Covid cases since the pandemic began, as the Omicron variant spreads.
According to the US Centers for Disease and Prevention (CDC) the country reported more than 440,000 new infections on Monday. More than 440,000 new cases were recorded in the US on Monday, health officials said.
However, officials said the numbers could be an "overestimate" due to reporting delays over Christmas. France, Italy, Greece, Portugal and England have also reported record numbers of daily infections.
France meanwhile reported Europe's highest ever number of new daily cases. Officials have said the high figures could be due in part to reporting delays over the Christmas period.
It saw 179,807 infections on Tuesday, with French health minister Olivier Véran earlier warning that "everything suggests" France could see as many as 250,000 daily cases by the start of January. Studies suggest that Omicron is milder than the previously dominant Delta variant, but fears remain that the sheer number of cases stemming from the highly infectious Omicron could overwhelm hospitals.
In the US however, a CDC spokesperson told news site Politico the figure was likely an "overestimate" due to lags in testing and test centre closures over the Christmas period, adding that case counts "will become more stable after the new year". The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the risk posed by Omicron "remains very high".
Italy, Greece, Portugal and England all also reported record rises on Tuesday. Poland on Wednesday recorded 794 Covid-related deaths, the highest number in its fourth wave of the pandemic, with more than three-quarters of the victims unvaccinated.
It comes as the World Health Organization (WHO) warned that the risk of the Omicron variant "remains very high" in its weekly Covid update. EXPLAINER: Omicron up to 70% less likely to need hospital care
According to the update published on Tuesday, the number of new Covid infections of all strains grew by 57% in Europe in the week before 26 December, and by 30% in the Americas region. IN CHARTS: Tracking the pandemic
Studies suggest the Omicron variant is milder than Delta, with a 30% to 70% lower chance of infected people ending up in hospital. But fears remain that the sheer number of cases stemming from the highly infectious variant could overwhelm hospitals. In the US, cases recorded by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) rose by 441,278 on 27 December - by far the highest number of daily cases ever reported to the agency.
The CDC data tracker says cases rose by 441,278 on 27 December, by far the highest number of daily cases ever reported to the agency. US media report the seven-day average rise in infections is now at its highest level since January 2021. The CDC data tracker says US media report the seven-day average rise in infections is now at its highest level since January 2021.
However, officials from the agency also revised down the prevalence of Omicron in the US, saying it accounts for 59% of cases rather than 73% as previously reported. A CDC spokeswoman told news site Politico that the latest infection figures could be overestimated due to lags in testing and test centre closures over the Christmas period, adding that case numbers would "become more stable after the new year".
Medical policy expert Scott Gottlieb said the new estimate could suggest that a "good portion of current hospitalisations" in the US are still being driven by the Delta variant. The health agency has also expanded its travel warnings for parts of Europe, adding Malta, Moldova and Sweden to a list of countries where travel poses a very high risk of infection.
Setting aside the question of how the initial estimate was so inaccurate, if CDC’s new estimate of #Omicron prevalence is precise then it suggests that a good portion of the current hospitalizations we’re seeing from Covid may still be driven by Delta infections. https://t.co/ZacVjEhk5x Travellers are asked to avoid these countries under the CDC's Level 4 criteria, which a destination receives if it reports more than 500 cases per 100,000 people.
Meanwhile France announced its own massive spike in infections on Tuesday. US infectious disease expert Amesh Adalja told the BBC that Omicron could "get round the protection afforded by vaccines" and "affect anybody at will".
"So we are going to see cases rise," he said. "The key is to keep this away from high-risk people... we're really going to have to focus on severe cases and hospitalisations."
Sharon Catron Sharp waits in a long queue for Covid testing in Memphis, Tennessee
According to a report published by the WHO on Tuesday, the number of new Covid infections of all variants grew by 57% in Europe in the week before 26 December, and by 30% in the Americas.
On Tuesday, France reported 179,807 new infections, Europe's highest ever number of daily cases.
French Health Minister Olivier Véran warned that "everything suggests" France could see as many as 250,000 daily cases by the start of January.
The French Hospital Federation has said that the "most difficult weeks are yet to come".The French Hospital Federation has said that the "most difficult weeks are yet to come".
Prime Minister Jean Castex announced new restrictions earlier this week including at least three days a week mandatory working from home for those who can from early January. Prime Minister Jean Castex announced new restrictions earlier this week. The country's booster rollout has ramped up, with more than 23 million people having received a booster to date.
The country's booster rollout has also ramped up, with more than 23 million having received a booster to date.
A number of other European countries also reported record daily cases on Tuesday:A number of other European countries also reported record daily cases on Tuesday:
Infections in Italy topped 78,000 cases, hitting a new record since the start of the pandemic. It also recorded 202 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 136,753Infections in Italy topped 78,000 cases, hitting a new record since the start of the pandemic. It also recorded 202 deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 136,753
Portugal recorded 17,172 new cases, a rise on Monday's total Portugal recorded 17,172 new cases
Greece's Health Minister, Thanos Plevris, called for calm after the country reported 21,657 cases Greece: Health Minister Thanos Plevris called for calm after the country reported 21,657 cases
Cyprus also recorded a single-day record high of infections, with 2,241 new cases Health authorities in England reported a record 117,093 cases. Full UK-wide Covid data has been unavailable over the Christmas period
Meanwhile, health authorities in England reported a record 117,093 cases. Full UK-wide Covid data has been unavailable over the Christmas period While a number of cities - including Paris, London and Berlin - have cancelled official New Year's celebrations, some governments have been less willing to bring in nationwide restrictions.
However, while a number of cities - including Paris, London and Berlin - have cancelled official New Year's celebrations, some governments have been less willing to bring in nationwide restrictions.
People in France and England have been asked to use their common sense, while the Spanish capital Madrid has said it will go ahead with its celebrations with a cap on the number of attendees at Puerta del Sol square.People in France and England have been asked to use their common sense, while the Spanish capital Madrid has said it will go ahead with its celebrations with a cap on the number of attendees at Puerta del Sol square.
Italy, meanwhile, has banned outdoor events and closed nightclubs but there are no restrictions on private gatherings.Italy, meanwhile, has banned outdoor events and closed nightclubs but there are no restrictions on private gatherings.
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