They say hope springs eternal.
And as we’ve changed seasons, optimism has been growing as we entered our 3rd year of the pandemic in Pennsylvania, that the worst of it is over.
March has continued a steady decline that began sharply back in January following the tremendous peaks of the Omicron variant. The seven-day average for cases, which at one point in January was well over 28,000, is now less than 600.
Hospitalizations, at one point in January over 7,000 in the state, fell below 500 on Wednesday. And deaths, which peaked at 166 per day on average in late January, is now down to around 20.
But just like old man winter this week has reminded us hope can be fleeting, so too have previous downturns in Covid numbers.
A new sub-variant of Omicron has led to a resurgence of COVID-19 cases in parts of Asia and Europe, raising concerns that, like in the past, another wave could soon follow in the United States. It’s why the FDA approved Tuesday a second booster shot for anyone over 50, and immuno-compromised individuals, such as organ recipients, who are 12 or older.
Among those getting the booster was President Joe Biden, who also put the pressure campaign on congress Wednesday to end a months-long stalemate over new funding to fight the pandemic.
While the pandemic came in like a lion and out like a lamb in Pennsylvania, whether it will continue that way as we move into Spring is up for debate.
