US Daily Average COVID-19 Cases Around 63,000... "4th Wave Begins"

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] As the global resurgence of COVID-19 becomes clearly noticeable, experts in the United States have warned that the fourth wave has already begun.

On the 4th (local time), Michael Osterholm, director of the University of Minnesota's Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy, mentioned in an interview on NBC News' current affairs program 'Meet the Press' that the daily new cases in Michigan reached 8,400, stating, "It seems that the fourth wave is starting now, mainly in the Midwest."

Osterholm, who also served as an advisor to President Joe Biden's COVID-19 transition team, added, "The number of severe patients, hospitalized patients including those in intensive care units, especially those aged between 30 and 50 who have not yet been vaccinated, is increasing."

In an interview with 'Fox News Sunday' on the same day, he explained, "Due to the spread of various types of COVID-19 variants, we are entering a new pandemic in many ways. The only good news is that the current vaccines are effective against a specific variant called B.1.1.7 (the variant from the UK)."

However, Osterholm expressed concern, saying, "The UK variant seems to have much stronger transmissibility among children," and "Currently, the infection rate among children has reached the same level as that of adults."

Osterholm diagnosed that the next 2 to 3 months will be a critical period for the spread of the fourth wave and repeatedly emphasized the need to thoroughly practice personal prevention measures such as vaccination, wearing masks, social distancing, and hand washing.

The increase in COVID-19 cases in the United States is also reflected in recent statistics of new cases by state.

According to the internet media Axios, the seven-day average of new daily cases from the 23rd to the 30th of last month showed an increasing trend in 24 states including New York, Michigan, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, and Washington DC.

On average across the United States, the daily average number of new cases over the week reached approximately 63,000.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.