The United States reported a record number of new COVID-19 cases on Thursday, with more than 500,000 infections recorded in a single day for the first time..
The surge in cases is being driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant, which has become the dominant strain in the US. The variant is believed to be more contagious than previous strains, and it is also more likely to cause breakthrough infections in vaccinated people..
The record number of cases is putting a strain on the US healthcare system, with hospitals across the country reporting shortages of beds and staff. The surge is also leading to disruptions in businesses and schools, as workers and students are forced to stay home due to illness or exposure to the virus..
The Biden administration has announced a number of measures to address the surge in cases, including increasing the availability of testing and vaccines, and providing additional support to hospitals and healthcare workers. However, the administration has also acknowledged that the situation is likely to get worse before it gets better..
In a statement, President Biden said, .
