Public health officials in US voice concerns on rising number of Covid cases

Over the past month, new cases have risen nearly 40% to a seven-day average of 121,000 new infections per day

Dr Anthony Fauci, the top US infectious disease expert, said on Thursday that the Omicron variant would soon dominate infections.  Photograph: Leah Farrell / RollingNews.ie

Public health officials in the US have voiced deepening concerns about the rising number of Covid-19 infections, warning that hospitals - still fighting the effects of the Delta variant - could find themselves stretched beyond their limits if the two variants combine to create a fresh wave.

Maine set a record for the number of hospitalised Covid patients on Wednesday, a day after Michigan hit a new high.