US Sets COVID-19 Infection Records as FDA Approves Boosters for Kids

The US reported a record 1 million COVID-19 infections on Monday amid changing federal guidance and FDA approval of boosters for immunocompromised 5–11-year-old children.

The US reported 1,080,211 COVID-19 infections on Monday as states cleared testing backlogs that accumulated over the holiday break.

This record-setting total is almost twice as large as the winter 2020-2021 peak. The seven-day average of infections is now 480,273.
However, the seven-day average of hospitalizations is at 105,138, below both the all-time pandemic peak of Jan. 10, 2021 (137,510) but higher than the Delta-variant peak in September (102,967). As the Wall Street Journal notes, spottier testing in 2021 and widespread testing shortages now complicate any comparisons.
According to CDC estimates, the Omicron variant was responsible for 95.4 percent of COVID cases over the past week. Less than one month ago, Omicron cases made up a mere 8.0 percent of US infections.
It’s important to note not all “COVID hospitalizations” are due to severe COVID-19 infections. Jackson Health System in Florida found half its COVID patients were admitted for “non-COVID reasons.” Anthony Fauci, Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) and Gov. Kathy Hochul (D-NY) have made similar statements along these lines in recent days.
Meanwhile, the CDC recommended Pfizer booster shots for children aged 5-11 with moderate to severely compromised immune systems after the FDA authorization was announced Monday.
This comes months after two top FDA scientists resigned in protest over efforts to authorize boosters for children.

David Leonhardt of the New York Times wrote about how American society “decided harming children was an unavoidable side effect of COVID-19” and the toll pandemic restrictions have taken on the nation’s children.
The Atlantic, previously the repository of the some of the most COVID-alarmist takes on the internet, now urges asymptomatic people to “stop wasting COVID tests” and reserve them for those who most need them.
The Washington Post cautioned that while the Omicron variant is bad news, lockdowns are not the answer.

National Review covered the “once-taboo ideas” newly embraced by public health experts and the Biden Administration’s testing failures.
Fox News argued that Biden’s “pandemic of the unvaccinated” rhetoric falls flat in the face of rising Omicron cases.
The Washington Examiner faults teachers unions for once again prioritizing teachers over what’s best for their students.

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