Covid-19 Live Updates: CDC Eases Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated – The Wall Street Journal

U.S. Covid-19 infections continued to broadly decline, as federal health officials broadened vaccination recommendations to include people between the ages of 12 and 15.

The U.S. reported 35,878 new cases for Wednesday, according to the latest data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. While up slightly from Tuesdays 33,651, it was the fifth consecutive daily figure below 40,000. Not all states report new cases daily.

The seven-day moving average of Covid-19 infections, which smooths out states irregular data reporting schedules, was 36,731 as of Wednesday, according to a Wall Street Journal analysis of Johns Hopkins data, while the 14-day average was 41,710. When the seven-day average is lower than the 14-day average, as it has been since April 17, it indicates cases are falling.

Hospitalizations have also been edging lower, with the latest data posted by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services showing 34,876 Covid-19 patients in hospitals across the country. The U.S. reported 848 deaths on Wednesday, lifting the pandemic death toll past 583,600, according to Johns Hopkins data.

The countrys vaccination campaign got a boost Wednesday, as the CDC recommended that 12-to-15-year-olds receive the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine.

Many parents, school officials and health authorities are eager for children to be vaccinated in time for summer camps and the start of the next school year. And public-health officials say expanding vaccination to children is necessary to slow the spread of Covid-19 and move the country beyond the pandemic, allowing full returns to school, work and commerce.

More than 45% of adults in the U.S. are now fully vaccinated, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Among older Americans, the level is higher: 71.9% of people age 65 and older are fully vaccinated. An average of 2.2 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines were administered daily over the past week, according to a Journal analysis of CDC data.

Vaccination levels vary by state. In Maine, 56.8% of adults are now fully vaccinated, including 85.5% of people over 65. Mississippis figures are 33.2% of adults and 63.2% of seniors.

In Ohio, Gov. Mike DeWine dangled the chance of a $1 million prize in front of residents who have received at least one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Ohio Vax-a-Million will run for five weeks starting May 26, with the winner of each weeks drawing receiving $1 milliontaken from existing federal coronavirus relief funds, Mr. DeWine said. The Ohio Department of Health will sponsor the effort, with the Ohio Lottery conducting the drawing.

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Covid-19 Live Updates: CDC Eases Recommendations for Fully Vaccinated - The Wall Street Journal