LOS ANGELES, Feb. 24 (Xinhua) -- COVID-19 was the sixth leading cause of death in the United States in January this year, according to a report published Friday by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The U.S. federal government has announced plans to end the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency on May 11. The CDC said COVID-19 remains a public health priority and it has impacted all aspects of daily life and contributed to a decline in life expectancy. Many people remain at higher risk for severe illness and death.
COVID-19 remains a critical public health issue, said the CDC, adding that it remains important to stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines, especially for people at higher risk for severe disease.
The United States is currently averaging about 33,700 new COVID-19 cases, 3,500 hospitalizations and 344 deaths each day, according to CDC data. ■