Weekly coronavirus tests rose for the first time after five weeks of decline, even as the number of deaths and those hospitalized from COVID-19 both continue to drop.
The COVID Tracking Project reported that the United States had 1.6million new tests done on Saturday.
There were 71,000 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, in addition to 1,822 new deaths related to the coronavirus.
The COVID Tracking Project reported that the United States had 1.6million new tests done on Saturday
Just 48,870 new people have been hospitalized with COVID-19, a figure that has not been below 50,000 since November 2
Just 48,870 new people have been hospitalized with COVID-19, a figure that has not been below 50,000 since November 2.
Weekly test had been seeing a steady decline for five weeks straight, according to the COVID Tracking Project, but had now risen 11.2 percent from last week.
The United States currently has 28,554,167 cases of the coronavirus and some 511,994 people have died.
With more than 150 million new vaccine doses due for delivery by late March, testing was expected to likely to fall further as local governments shift staff and resources to giving shots.
The U.S. government on Saturday authorized Johnson & Johnson's single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, enabling millions more Americans to be vaccinated in the coming weeks and setting the vaccine up for additional approvals around the world.
The J&J vaccine is the third authorized in the United States, following ones from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna, both of which require two doses.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced the emergency use authorization of the J&J vaccine for adults aged 18 and older following Friday's unanimous endorsement by the agency's panel of outside experts. Shipments to vaccination sites are expected to begin Sunday or Monday.
President Joe Biden hailed the move but cautioned Americans against celebrating too soon. 'Things are still likely to get worse again as new variants spread,' he said in a statement, urging people to continue washing their hands, wearing masks, and maintaining social distancing.
'There is light at the end of the tunnel, but we cannot let our guard down now or assume that victory is inevitable,' he said.
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