• Dr Anthony Fauci said that Americans should pay attention to COVID-19 hospitalizations data, and not case numbers.
• Monday's reported cases in the US surpassed 1 million for the first-ever time. This surpasses the previous record.
• Fauci stated that boosters and masks could be used to "help reduce a surge as strong as the Omicron surge."

Americans should pay more attention to COVID-19 hospitalizations than infections. Dr. Anthony Fauci stated that the number of daily reported cases in the US was over 1 million.

Fauci stated Sunday that as the infection severity decreases, it becomes more important to concentrate on hospitalizations rather than the total number of patients.

Data from Johns Hopkins University revealed Monday that the number of daily infections reported in the United States surpassed 1 million.

Research suggests that the Omicron coronavirus variant is less dangerous than Delta. South African data suggests that there are fewer deaths and hospitalizations than in previous waves.

According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID-19 hospitalizations have increased by approximately 85% since mid November. In the week ending January 1, just over 74,000 people were admitted to hospital with the disease.

Around 125,000 COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospital in January at the peak of winter.

Although hospitalization rates are on the rise, they aren't rising at the same pace as new infections. The CDC data show that the average number of coronavirus cases per day was 316,000 as of December 29th, the latest data available. The seven-day average reached 250,000 at the peak of last winter's peak.

Fauci stated that despite the high number of cases, there has not been an increase in relative hospitalizations. However, hospitals are often late-lagging indicators.

But even when variants are less severe, "when you have multi-multi-multi-fold more people getting infected then that amount means you're still gonna get a lot of people that are gonna be needing hospitalization, and that's the reason why we're concerned about stressing and straining the hospital system," Fauci said.

Ohio Governor Mike DeWine mobilized 1,050 Ohio National Guard members on Friday to assist hospitals throughout the state.

Fauci stated that one of the things they hope for is that the thing will peak within a few weeks, then turn around. "We have seen it happen in South Africa."

According to data from Johns Hopkins University, COVID-19 infection rates in South Africa have fallen.

Fauci stressed the importance vaccinations, boosters and mask-wearing. He said that they could help to "help to blunt an Omicron surge even as strong as it is."

Fauci stated that he was still concerned about the millions of people who have not been vaccinated. "Most of them will be mildly symptomatic or asymptomatic but a lot of them will get severe diseases."

A little over 25% of Americans have not yet received a coronavirus vaccination. While many of these cases are minors, 14.5% of adults over 18 have not yet been vaccinated.

Fauci stated that the US had made the right decision by reopening schools January. He cited the "deleterious consequences" of keeping children at home. He stated that most teachers have been vaccinated, and children five years old and older are now eligible to receive the shots.