Daily U.S. COVID-19 deaths nearly double in 2 weeks

Although the distribution of the various COVID-19 vaccines has improved the U.S. response to the coronavirus pandemic, the highly contagious delta variant is driving thousands of new cases and hundreds of deaths. 

In fact, the rolling seven-day average of daily coronavirus-related deaths has nearly doubled in the past two weeks. The U.S. recorded an average of about 509 deaths a day in the week ending Aug. 8 to about 1,000 a day in the week ending Aug. 22 — an increase of a little less than 97%, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University.

All three COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are considered very effective at preventing serious illness leading to hospitalization or death. However, so-called breakthrough infections — where fully vaccinated individuals test positive for COVID-19 — could be rising, according to a New York Times report citing preliminary data from six states. 

But these types of infections are still very rare and nearly all patients who die of coronavirus-related causes are unvaccinated, public health officials have said.

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Just over half of the U.S. population is fully vaccinated. Vaccinations in the United States bottomed out in July at an average of about 500,000 shots per day, down from a peak of 3.4 million a day in mid-April. But shots are on the rise again — with a million a day given Thursday, Friday, and Saturday — because of concerns about the delta variant, which is filling hospital beds in several states.

With The Associated Press.

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Several medical workers in blue scrubs, masks, caps tend to a patient in a hospital

U.S. Navy medical support team members tend to a COVID-19 patient at Ochsner Lafayette General Medical Center in Lafayette, Louisiana, Aug. 21, 2021. (U.S. Navy Photo)

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