https://www.usnews.com/news/health-news/articles/2021-10-01/us-covid-cases-falling-but-hospitals-brace-for-next-wave
The easing of the summer surge has been attributed to more mask wearing
and more people getting vaccinated. The decrease in case numbers could also be
due to the virus having burned through susceptible people and running out of
fuel in some places.
In another promising development, Merck said Friday its experimental pill for
people sick with COVID-19 reduced hospitalizations and deaths by half. If it
wins authorization from regulators, it will be the first pill for treating
COVID-19 — and an important, easy-to-use new weapon in the arsenal against the
pandemic.
All treatments now authorized in the U.S. against the coronavirus require an
IV or injection.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the government’s top infectious disease specialist,
warned on Friday that some may see the encouraging trends as a reason to remain
unvaccinated.
“It’s good news we’re starting to see the curves” coming down, he
said. “That is not an excuse to walk away from the issue of needing to get
vaccinated.”