Why US Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are up, and other developments

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Tue, 2021-04-20 10:34 — mike kraft

The US is vaccinating Americans at a record pace. But here's why Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are up Experts say Covid-19 vaccinations in the US are continuing at an impressive pace, and now all Americans 16 and up can get a shot. But a leading health official said that the country remains in a "complicated stage." Christina Maxouris, CNN CNN

(CNN) Experts say Covid-19 vaccinations in the US are continuing at an impressive pace, and now all Americans 16 and up can get a shot. But a leading health official said that the country remains in a "complicated stage."

"More people in the United States are being vaccinated every single day at an accelerated pace," Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House Covid-19 briefing on Monday.

"On the other hand, cases and hospitalizations are increasing in some areas of the country and cases among younger people who have not yet been vaccinated are also increasing."

In the past seven days, the US reported an average of more than 67,000 new Covid-19 infections daily, according to Johns Hopkins University data. That's nearly a 25% increase from the seven-day average a month ago.

Experts say there are several reasons behind the rise in Covid-19 numbers, including dangerous coronavirus variants -- like the more contagious B.1.1.7 strain that has helped fuel another surge in Michigan. Pandemic fatigue and more Americans moving around have also likely contributed to the rise.

"People are tired," Matthew Budd, the director of Personal & Preventative Health Services in Jackson County, Michigan, told CNN over the weekend. "We've been through all these lockdowns, we've been cooped up and ... now that it's getting warmer out people are saying 'You know, we're just tired, we want to be outside, we want to be around other people.'"

John Fox, the CEO of Beaumont Health -- Michigan's largest health care system -- also recently told CNN it didn't help that states including Michigan recently eased Covid-19 restrictions.

In addition, Fox said, some people have strayed from safety measures that help curb the spread of the virus.

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