People get tested for COVID-19 at a free testing site in Washington, D.C., on December 21 as coronaviruses cases surge in the city.
Alex Wong is a photographer.
The highly contagious omicron variant is one of the reasons for the rise in COVID-19 cases.
With a surge in cases and a scramble for more testing, a smaller percentage of people with COVID-19 symptoms end up in the hospital.
The University of California, San Francisco's Dr. Robert Wachter tells Michaeleen that the lower hospitalization rate is likely due to the fact that the public is more protected against coronaviruses and omicron.
Vaccines don't stop infections with omicron, but they do reduce the risk of hospitalization by about 70% with a booster shot.
Wachter cautions that if a person has no immunity at all, no vaccinations or prior infections, they are not out of the woods.
He says there is a chance that you will get sick.
The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at the University of Baltimore and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have provided NPR with data on the number of deaths and cases of COVID-19.
See how your state stacks up in terms of cases.
The latest numbers on vaccination rates can be found here.
Public health experts now recommend booster shots for fully-vaccinated people.
This post was published in the Morning Edition live blog.
