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Covid-19 Restrictions Unwind as Omicron Wanes in U.S., Parts of Europe - WSJ
The downturn in Covid-19 cases in the U.S. continued at the start of the week, while deaths of people diagnosed with the disease remained little changed, adding to evidence that the surge caused by the Omicron variant of the virus is receding.
The seven-day average of new cases stood at 265,700 on Monday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University, after falling under the 300,000 mark on Sunday for the first time this year. Average daily new cases hit a peak above 800,000 on Jan. 15.
The seven-day average of people hospitalized with confirmed or suspected Covid-19 extended its more than two-week fall on Monday, dropping to 115,173 according to data from the Department of Health and Human Services. Because Omicron often leads to milder cases, particularly in vaccinated individuals, some of these people might have been hospitalized for other reasons and tested positive after being admitted.
Deaths with or from Covid-19 have kept rising longer than other indicators but now appear to have stabilized. The daily average on Monday stood at 2,531, according to Johns Hopkins, about the same level as a week ago. Because of how widespread Omicron is in the population, Covid-19 wasn't the cause of death in some of these people.
With the Omicron surge waning, several Democrat-led states have said they would lift mask mandates for schools or some indoor locations. Connecticut and New Jersey said on Monday they would let school districts determine their own policies starting Feb. 28 and March 7, respectively.
California's indoor mask mandate will expire on Feb. 15, according to Gov. Gavin Newsom's office, after a 65% drop in Covid-19 cases from their latest peak.
In Europe, Italy this week began loosening many restrictions on people who are vaccinated. Schools welcomed back 600,000 students on Monday after new rules came into force stating that those age 12 to 18 who are vaccinated no longer must quarantine if a classmate tests positive. The unvaccinated must quarantine if there are two or more positive students in the class.
In the past week, Italy has averaged just under 100,000 new cases a day, down from a peak of more than 180,000 in mid-January. Hospitalizations have been falling for about two weeks, while deaths have plateaued at about 370 a day.
Italy this week made the validity of its Covid-19 certificate-which is necessary to access most indoor spaces and public transportation-permanent for people who have received a booster shot or caught Covid-19 after two shots. Previously, the certificate had expired after six months.
From Friday, masks will no longer be required outside and dance clubs will reopen, though patrons must be vaccinated and there is a mask mandate except for open-air venues.
In another sign Omicron has peaked in Italy, the number of people currently positive for the virus dipped below 2 million on Monday for the first time since mid-January. The country hit 1 million on Jan. 1, and nine days later broke 2 million. The number infected peaked at 2.7 million on Jan. 23.
In Germany, Covid-19 restrictions that are particularly strict for the unvaccinated are set to remain in place for several weeks because of a continued rise in cases and what experts say is a relatively low vaccination rate among at-risk individuals.
Deaths with or from Covid-19 have fallen steadily since early December, as have hospitalizations, but the number of people in intensive care with the virus, a key factor in setting the country's policies, has been rising since the end of January.