One week into the new year COVID-19 cases are beginning their post-Christmas surge. Since the end of 2020 the weekly average of daily new cases has risen by 16% in the Midwest and West, 18% in the Northeast, and 25% in the South. New cases in the West are driven by surges in Arizona and California. In the South cases are rising throughout the region with Arkansas and Tennessee leading the way. This boost is taking place from already high levels of new cases, which has the potential to make this new surge the worst yet. Indeed, new COVID-19 cases in the Northeast and South have set new records. See the graph below for a comparison of new cases by region.
We are clearly losing the battle against slowing the spread of the virus. Vaccine distribution is starting now, but with its slow start it will have little impact on the current post-Christmas surge.