Topline
While record numbers of Covid-19 cases continue to be reported around the U.S. and the world, a handful of cities, states and countries are showing signs that the number of infections may have peaked or are close to.
People wait in line at the Staten Island Ferry Terminal to be tested for Covid-19 on January 05, … [+]
Key Facts
In the U.K.,the seven-day average of new Covid cases declined to 138,268 Monday, the most recent day data was available, from a high of 183,084 on January 2, according to the country’s Covid-19 tracking website.
Wednesday, researchers from the company Biobot tracking the viral load in wastewater in Boston reported that the city “has passed its Omicron peak,” roughly one month after the variant was first detected in waste from the area, however hospitalizations remain high, and cases have not yet dropped to a number below previous Covid-19 surges.
The seven-day average of new cases in Texas declined to 49,830 Tuesday, down slightly from a high of 53,116 on Saturday, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention—but modelers from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center predicted Wednesday that the state will reach its peak of new infections before the end of the month.
The seven-day average of new cases in New York City has plateaued over the last two weeks: it was at 36,560 on Tuesday, slightly down from 39,666 January 2, according to the CDC.
New Jersey seems to have plateaued as well: On Tuesday the seven-day average of new cases was 31,098, slightly up from 30,912 January 5, according to the CDC.
Big Number
797,216. That’s the number of new cases reported in the U.S. Tuesday, according to the CDC, down from a record 1.35 million Monday.
Key Background
The omicron wave is long past its peak in South Africa, where the variant was first classified by the World Health Organization on November 24. Wednesday, 5,688 confirmed cases were reported in the country, down from a a high of 37,875 cases on December 13, according to WHO data.
Further Reading
Omicron Appears to Have Peaked in U.K., Offering Hope the Wave Is Receding (Wall Street Journal)
Experts are seeing hopeful signs in the Boston area’s COVID-19 wastewater data (Boston.com)
U.S. Reports Record 1.48 Million New Covid Cases As Hospitalizations Near All Time High (Forbes)
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Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/marisadellatto/2022/01/13/heres-where-the-omicron-surge-may-have-peaked-or-seems-about-to/