Omicron Update: COVID Deaths Escalating Despite Decrease In Infections 

Although increasing evidence suggests that the Omicron variant is milder than previous variants, death tolls are still on the rise despite a decrease in case totals.

The good news is that average daily infections are down around 300,000 to under 425,000 in the U.S., according to data compiled by The New York Times. Deaths, however, still appear to be on the rise, as the virus is killing over 2,500 people per day. According to the Times, the COVID death rate in the U.S. surpasses all other affluent countries.

The massive majority of COVID deaths come from those who are unvaccinated, according to a graphic from Our World in Data.

Data from the CDC show that the virus is 60 times more likely to kill someone who hasn't been vaccinated or boosted.

A descendant of the Omicron variant also appears to be on the rise, dubbed BA.2, according to the World Health Organization. A study conducted in Denmark has concluded that it is around 30% more contagious than the original variant, although there is no evidence to prove that it is more deadly.