Coverage dated January 3, 2022 to January 4, 2022

Does the COVID case count really matter? Health experts weigh importance with omicron variant

Headline from WTHR Indianapolis, on the newest of 2 developments

Some argue that the best metric to track is still hospitalizations, which don't appear to be rising as quickly as the case count.

WTHR Indianapolis's own description from its feed. We collect headlines and these descriptions, not full articles; read the original reporting below.

Developments in this update

2 dated developments, oldest first, newest marked. Each is named by one outlet's own headline; open its reports to see every outlet that covered it.

Jan 4, 2022
COVID case counts may be losing importance amid omicron
Headline from WHEC Rochester ·
Jan 5, 2022Newest
Does the COVID case count really matter? Health experts weigh importance with omicron variant
Headline from WTHR Indianapolis ·

Read the reports

Reports & sources

52 articles, oldest first.

Minneapolis Star Tribune
COVID case counts may be losing importance amid omicron (opens Minneapolis Star Tribune)
Published Jan 3, 2022
Minneapolis Star Tribune's feed description
The explosive increase in U.S. coronavirus case counts is raising alarm, but some experts believe the focus should instead be on COVID-19 hospital admissions. And those aren't climbing as fast.
WNEP
As Omicron surges, COVID case counts may be losing importance (opens WNEP)
Published Jan 3, 2022
WNEP's feed description
Some experts believe the focus should instead be on COVID-19 hospital admissions.
Los Angeles Times
COVID-19 case counts may be losing importance amid Omicron (opens Los Angeles Times)
Published Jan 3, 2022
Los Angeles Times's feed description
The explosive increase in U.S. coronavirus case counts is raising alarm, but some experts believe the focus should instead be on hospital admissions.
NBC 6 South Florida
COVID Case Counts May Be Losing Importance Amid Surge (opens NBC 6 South Florida)
Published Jan 3, 2022
NBC 6 South Florida's feed description
The explosive increase in U.S. coronavirus case counts is raising alarm, but some experts believe the focus should instead be on COVID-19 hospital admissions.
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth
U.S. Reports Over 1 Million New Daily Covid Cases as Omicron Surges (opens NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth)
Published Jan 3, 2022
NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth's feed description
The U.S. also has the highest 7-day average of new cases in the world, according to Johns Hopkins University’s rankings.
WTHR Indianapolis
Does the COVID case count really matter? Health experts weigh importance with omicron variant (opens WTHR Indianapolis)
Published Jan 4, 2022
WTHR Indianapolis's feed description
Some argue that the best metric to track is still hospitalizations, which don't appear to be rising as quickly as the case count.
Honolulu Civil Beat
Covid Case Counts Are Higher Than Ever. The Good News - Hospitalizations Aren't (opens Honolulu Civil Beat)
Published Jan 4, 2022
Honolulu Civil Beat's feed description
Some Covid-19 watchers say that hospitalization numbers are more important than daily case counts given omicron's transmissibility.
The Times of Israel
Health experts expect to keep breaking COVID daily case records as Omicron rages (opens The Times of Israel)
Published Jan 4, 2022
The Times of Israel's feed description
Conflicting reports as to whether officials expect manageable number of severe cases or huge jump; surging cases force reliance on potentially unreliable rapid tests
The Week
Why Omicron has made soaring COVID-19 case numbers less relevant (opens The Week)
Published Jan 4, 2022
The Times of Israel
Rocketing COVID case numbers lose relevancy as Omicron surge shifts calculus (opens The Times of Israel)
Published Jan 4, 2022
The Times of Israel's feed description
As US sees record infections, some health experts say hospital admissions -- which have risen more slowly -- are a better metric for assessing pandemic's severity

Identical headlines usually mean shared wire copy. They are counted as separate articles but are not independent confirmation.