Forbes - 50 million cases

Plus: CDC gives Italy ‘avoid travel’ warning

Today, the United States became the first country in the world to surpass 50 million confirmed Covid cases. This milestone was reached as concerns grow over the spread of the omicron variant, which now already accounts for 3% of all Covid cases in the U.S. For the past two weeks, the U.S. has confirmed over 100,000 cases per day and infections are increasing in 41 out of 50 states. The rise in cases and the omicron variant so far don’t seem to be changing individual behavior, with a new poll finding that the new variant has had no effect on willingness to get a vaccine or booster dose. That attitude may have a cost: new research by the Kaiser Family Foundation suggests that just since June, over 160,000 deaths from Covid could have been prevented by vaccines. 

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More Covid News

A real-world study in South Africa suggests that two doses of Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine seem to provide just 33% protection against infection with the omicron coronavirus variant but still give strong protection against severe illness.

Philadelphia became the latest city to mandate that customers show proof of Covid vaccination before dining indoors at a restaurant.

Cornell University is closing facilities to students effective immediately, moving exams online and shutting down all school activities due to a rapid spread of Covid-19 among the student population.

Apple will require customers to wear masks inside its U.S. stores, making it the first major U.S. retailer to do so during the current surge of cases.

Major professional sports leagues across North America and Europe are grappling with their worst Covid-19 outbreaks since vaccinations became widely available to players.

The largest bank in the United States, JPMorgan, is directing unvaccinated staff based in Manhattan to work remotely "until alternative solutions are considered."

The U.S. Air Force has discharged 27 active-duty personnel who have refused to get vaccinated against Covid-19. 

What Else We Are Reading

• Mesoblast shares tank after Novartis abandons a partnership for the biotech's potential Covid-19 treatment (Endpoints News)

• Waning COVID super-immunity raises questions about Omicron (Nature)

• Scientists see a ‘really, really tough winter’ with Omicron (Science)