'Remain Vigilant': CDC Discusses 'Mild' Covid As Cases Peak 

Data from the Department of Health and Human Services shows that there are almost 160,000 patients nationwide hospitalized with COVID-19.

As various health experts believe that the spread of the Omicron variant could be shorter compared to the variants that came before it, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky clarified that​​"milder does not mean mild,” adding that “we cannot look past the strain on our health systems and substantial number of deaths.”

Data from Johns Hopkins University shows that there is a seven-day average of about 2,260 deaths per day from the virus, CNBC reports.

"It’s important to remember we’re still facing a high overall burden of disease,” Walensky said. "Remain vigilant."

The CDC has often been scrutinized for shifting its guidelines during the pandemic. On Jan. 14, the agency issued new masking guidelines which strongly urged Americans to wear masks that "provide the highest level of protection from particles."

The World Health Organization emphasized on Jan. 18 that the Omicron variant will not be the final variant, stressing that the pandemic is “nowhere near over.”

“We’re hearing a lot of people suggest that Omicron is the last variant, that it’s over after this,” said WHO COVID-19 technical lead Maria Van Kerkhove. “That is not the case because this virus is circulating at a very intense level around the world.”