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 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.
/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/24840749/AP23221557587462.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/RSXOJ2XONBOJ7D33G7XFN2D2RA.jpg)
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/J7FL3VIU7JAG7CP23IH2HQP3F4.jfif)
/cloudfront-us-east-2.images.arcpublishing.com/reuters/PL5C564OSZP7RA45K7JBH2FYYQ.jpg)
