Map: Covid-19 deaths have more than doubled in five states Track Covid death hot spots. NBC News

Omicron took a month and a half to match the death rate that the delta wave took nearly three months to reach.

The omicron variant, which has spread disease to tens of millions in the U.S. since late December, is now fueling a wave of Covid-related deaths. Average deaths have plateaued at close to 2,600 a day, the highest level since February 2021, according to NBC News’ tally.

Washington, New Mexico next states to drop indoor and school mask mandates: COVID-19 updates Washington and New Mexico are dropping their mask mandates. The Oscars won't require vaccines for all its guests. More updates. YahooNews

Washington and New Mexico announced they were dropping their indoor mask mandates Thursday, leaving Hawaii as the only state that has yet to set a date for lifting its mandate.

Washington's statewide indoor mask mandate will lift in most places on March 21, including at schools and child care facilities. New Mexico will drop its mandate immediately, which also includes schools.

COVID reinfections surge during Omicron onslaught Nature - Immunity acquired through previous infection is less effective against Omicron than against other variants, but the risk of severe COVID-19 remains low. Mallapaty, Smriti nature

Since the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2 was first detected, the number of people reinfected with the coronavirus has been rising sharply — a trend that was not observed with previous variants. Researchers say that the new variant is probably driving the surge because it is able to evade the body’s immune defences.

Fauci says time to start 'inching' back toward normality Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said on Wednesday that it is time for the United States to start inching back towards normality, despite remaining risks from COVID-19. Julie Steenhuysen Reuters

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Biden’s new global vaccine push is running out of funds The president’s team is putting the world vaccination effort at the center of its Covid-19 strategy. But it lacks the money to pay for it. POLITICO

The Biden administration is turbocharging its effort to boost inoculations in low- and middle-income countries to prevent new, more-transmissible variants from emerging — an effort that would also protect Americans at home, according to three senior administration officials working on the effort.