Living and dying in Omicron time

Hospitalizations and deaths are being dragged higher by Omicron's relentless spread.

With the U.S. now averaging roughly 700,000 new Covid infections daily, hospitalizations and deaths from Omicron are beginning to test past pandemic peaks, stretching an already tattered healthcare system to the breaking point.

In the chart below, we can see deaths climbing in the five countries with more than 50 million people that lead the world in Co…