Fewer than 65,000 new coronavirus cases were reported in the U.S. Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University—the lowest single-day case increase since Oct. 25, as major metrics point to a sharp decline in the American Covid-19 outbreak as experts remain divided over the exact reasons for the decline and what it might mean.
The seven-day rolling average of new cases, viewed as a major indicator of virus spread, recently fell below 100,000 a day—the lowest infection rate since November.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said he’s “cautiously optimistic” about the current direction of the pandemic, but top experts like himself and former CDC director Dr. Tom Frieden are saying that following health guidelines—like social distancing—is reducing the spread, with Frieden saying he doesn’t believe vaccinations at this point have contributed much “at all” to the decline.
Hospitalizations have declined for 33 straight days, according to The COVID Tracking Project, which is by far the longest stretch of sustained decline during the pandemic.
