COVID-19 Update: 12/7/20

The number of coronavirus cases continues to rise in the United States.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), at publication time, 14,041,436 cases and 275,386 deaths had been reported in the US.

Around a little more than six weeks ago, those numbers were 8,469,976 reported coronavirus cases and 223,393 deaths.

This is a difference of more than 5.5 million cases in six weeks.

However, the CDC noted that the agency does not know the exact number of COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations and deaths. This is because symptoms might not appear immediately, there is a delay in reporting and testing, and they know many people are not getting tested or seeking medical care. Plus, the CDC noted that there may be differences in how states are confirming COVID-19 numbers.

New information continues to become available as health officials learn more about the virus. As coronavirus cases continue to increase, the movement toward new and better treatments and tests continues.

In fact, a combo at-home test that can detect both COVID-19 and the flu virus was recently approved. And the push for a widely available and effective COVID-19 vaccine continues.

Operation Warp Speed, the government's COVID-19 vaccine initiative, continues to work to make one or more COVID-19 vaccines available as soon as possible. The plan is for a limited supply of COVID-19 vaccines to be released this month.

According to the CDC, some groups of people will be recommended to get the vaccine before others in the initial phase due to a limited supply. These groups of people include health care personnel and long-term care facility residents.

The CDC also continues to highlight the importance of receiving a flu vaccine.

Flu season is here and is here to stay. Seasonal flu activity often begins as early as October and November and can last until the spring.

Receiving the flu vaccine this year can help lower the overall impact of respiratory illnesses in the community. That means it can reduce the burden on our health care system as we continue to deal with the COVID-19 pandemic.

Getting a flu shot will provide you with a high level of protection against the influenza virus. That's especially important for people who are at high risk for developing complications that might land them in the hospital or result in other serious illnesses.

Speak with your health care provider if you have any questions.