Without a substantial infusion of cash from Congress, the United States could see another 100 million COVID-19 cases come fall, the White House warned today.
The Biden administration is asking for $22.5 billion in emergency aid, but Republicans are countering with a $10 billion plan with a limited package for global aid. The White House argues that cases will soar without adequate resources for booster vaccines, testing, and treatments.
COVID-19 cases are increasing across the country at a steady clip. The 7-day average of new daily cases is 72,345, with 286 daily deaths, according to the Washington Post tracker. In the past week, new daily cases rose 24%, hospitalizations rose 9%, and deaths fell 15%.
In other news, nearly 70% of Americans think long COVID is a disability and approve of giving stronger support to people who have it, including workplace protections and free medical care, according to a new Axios-Ipsos poll.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention late last month released new data showing that about 60% of Americans have been infected with COVID-19. In March the Government Accountability Office estimated 7.7 million to 23 million Americans may be suffering from long COVID symptoms.
China tightens restrictions in Shanghai again
In China, officials in Shanghai—now in its sixth week of lockdown—are tightening restrictions again in four districts where they had recently loosened them. The step is because of ongoing cases detected outside of quarantine facilities. In Beijing, officials are imposing lockdowns in hot spot districts.
In South Africa, an ongoing fifth wave of COVID-19 activity has been fueled by BA.4 and BA.5 Omicron subvariants. Hospitalizations are increasing, but not as much as in earlier waves.
The subvariant infections are breaking through original Omicron variant infections, but less so in people who have hybrid immunity from vaccines and previous infections.
