COVID-19: US Braces For Fourth Wave As Cases Spike, Herd Immunity Still Far Away

The United States is bracing for the fourth COVID-19 wave as an average 66,000 cases recorded per day over the last week, an increase of 20% from the previous two weeks, suggested data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Though 30% of American adults have been vaccinated so far, only 16% are fully protected and the new variant of the virus is spreading quickly. Herd immunity seemed a distant goal when compared to the United Kingdom which has increased vaccination rates and eased restrictions.

President Joe Biden called the situation "deadly serious." "If we let our guard down now, we can see the virus getting worse, not better. People are letting up on precautions, which is a very bad thing.” The country now has a total 30,147,895 cases.

"We have to give more shots in April than we did in March because we’re in the life-and-death-race for the virus that is spreading quickly with cases rising again," Biden said.

"New variants are spreading. And, sadly, some of the reckless behavior we’ve seen on television over the past few weeks means that more new cases are to come in the weeks ahead," Biden said. As per the CDC data, the new strain is responsible for an estimated 13% of new cases in Florida and 9% of cases in New Jersey.

In the country to achieve herd immunity, millions more must be vaccinated. “It’ll be at least another six to eight weeks before we get that kind of coverage,” said Celine Gounder, an infectious diseases specialist at New York University’s Grossman School of Medicine and a member of the Biden administration’s COVID-19 advisory board. “We’re almost there, it’s just not the time to give up.”

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Rochelle Walensky too made an emotional plea Monday: “I'm going to reflect on the recurring feeling I have of impending doom," Walensky said. "We do not have the luxury of inaction. For the health of our country, we must work together now to prevent a fourth surge."

Cases are rapidly rising in Michigan with the number of hospitalized younger adults increased by 633% for those aged 30–39 and by 800% for those aged 40–49, said a report by Detroit Free Press, citing data collected by Michigan Health & Hospital Association.

There is a steady increase in cases in New York, especially New York City. New Jersey, Connecticut and Pennsylvania are hot spots too.