People receive free at-home Covid-19 test kits at a distribution site on January 2, 2022 in Stamford, Connecticut.
In pictures: America facing new spike in Covid-19 cases
People receive free at-home Covid-19 test kits at a distribution site on January 2, 2022 in Stamford, Connecticut.
John Moore/Getty Images

Updated 4:25 AM EST, Mon January 3, 2022

The United States, like many other countries around the world, has been seeing a large increase in Covid-19 cases over the last month.

And experts are predicting that the Omicron variant — the most contagious strain of coronavirus yet — is going to make the start of 2022 very difficult. They are urging people to get vaccinated or boosted to protect themselves and others before they face greater chances of infection.

At-home Covid-19 tests, taken by Chicago Public Schools students, are piled up at a FedEx drop-off box in the neighborhood of West Elsdon on Tuesday, December 28. The school system extended the return deadline to December 30 and expanded drop-off sites.
At-home Covid-19 tests, taken by Chicago Public Schools students, are piled up at a FedEx drop-off box in the neighborhood of West Elsdon on Tuesday, December 28. The school system extended the return deadline to December 30 and expanded drop-off sites.
E. Jason Wambsgans/Chicago Tribune/Getty Images
A woman shows proof of vaccination against Covid-19 to enter Times Square for the New Year's Eve ball drop in New York on Friday, December 31.
A woman shows proof of vaccination against Covid-19 to enter Times Square for the New Year's Eve ball drop in New York on Friday, December 31.
Ted Shaffrey/AP
A health care worker prepares respirators for Covid-19 patients at the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana, on December 28.
A health care worker prepares respirators for Covid-19 patients at the IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana, on December 28.
Jordan Kartholl/The Star Press/USA Today Network
Paramedic Dan Harris, center, walks National Guard members through the ins and outs of the ambulances that they will be driving in Brockton, Massachusetts, on December 28. Guard members received clinical support and Covid-19 training from Brewster Ambulance.
Paramedic Dan Harris, center, walks National Guard members through the ins and outs of the ambulances that they will be driving in Brockton, Massachusetts, on December 28. Guard members received clinical support and Covid-19 training from Brewster Ambulance.
Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
A digital billboard encourages travelers to wash their hands at Atlanta's international airport on Monday, December 27.
A digital billboard encourages travelers to wash their hands at Atlanta's international airport on Monday, December 27.
Elijah Nouvelage/Bloomberg/Getty Images
Medical workers in New York prepare Covid-19 tests at a testing site inside the Times Square subway station on December 27.
Medical workers in New York prepare Covid-19 tests at a testing site inside the Times Square subway station on December 27.
Scott Heins/Getty Images
People scramble to get free Covid-19 test kits that were distributed by the city in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday, December 24. With coronavirus cases surging during the holidays, frustrated Americans <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/22/health/us-coronavirus-wednesday/index.html" target="_blank">have been struggling to get tested.</a>
People scramble to get free Covid-19 test kits that were distributed by the city in Brooklyn, New York, on Friday, December 24. With coronavirus cases surging during the holidays, frustrated Americans have been struggling to get tested.
Lev Radin/Sipa
Maia Goodell receives a Covid-19 test in Times Square on Thursday, December 23.
Maia Goodell receives a Covid-19 test in Times Square on Thursday, December 23.
Alexi Rosenfeld/Getty Images
Travelers wait in a security checkpoint line at Orlando International Airport on December 23.
Travelers wait in a security checkpoint line at Orlando International Airport on December 23.
Paul Hennessy/SOPA Images/LightRocket/Getty Images
A health-care worker hands out a test kit at a testing site in Riverside, California, on December 21.
A health-care worker hands out a test kit at a testing site in Riverside, California, on December 21.
Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times/Getty Images
Cars line up at a testing site at Miami's Tropical Park on December 21.
Cars line up at a testing site at Miami's Tropical Park on December 21.
Chandan Khanna/AFP/Getty Images
Travelers line up for Covid-19 testing at Boston's Logan International Airport on December 20.
Travelers line up for Covid-19 testing at Boston's Logan International Airport on December 20.
Suzanne Kreiter/The Boston Globe/Getty Images
A health-care worker signals she is ready to distribute free testing kits at a site in Philadelphia.
A health-care worker signals she is ready to distribute free testing kits at a site in Philadelphia.
Hannah Beier/Reuters
People in Philadelphia wait in a line to receive free at-home test kits on December 20.
People in Philadelphia wait in a line to receive free at-home test kits on December 20.
Matt Rourke/AP
Drivers wait in line to be tested at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium parking lot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on December 18.
Drivers wait in line to be tested at the Hiram Bithorn Stadium parking lot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on December 18.
Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images
Travelers prepare to get off an American Airlines flight in Washington, DC, on December 18.
Travelers prepare to get off an American Airlines flight in Washington, DC, on December 18.
Carlo Allegri/Reuters
Cars line up at a drive-thru testing site at Miami's Tropical Park on December 17.
Cars line up at a drive-thru testing site at Miami's Tropical Park on December 17.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
People line up to be tested for Covid-19 at a testing booth in New York on December 17.
People line up to be tested for Covid-19 at a testing booth in New York on December 17.
Ed Jones/AFP/Getty Images
Radio City Music Hall is seen in New York on December 17. <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/12/18/us/rockettes-christmas-spectacular-canceled/index.html" target="_blank">The "Christmas Spectacular"</a> was canceled due to a Covid-19 surge in New York.
Radio City Music Hall is seen in New York on December 17. The "Christmas Spectacular" was canceled due to a Covid-19 surge in New York.
Lev Radin/Sipa
US President Joe Biden meets with members of the Covid-19 Response Team at the White House on December 16.
US President Joe Biden meets with members of the Covid-19 Response Team at the White House on December 16.
Yuri Gripas/Pool/Sipa
A health-care worker administers a vaccine to a person at Miami's Tropical Park on December 16.
A health-care worker administers a vaccine to a person at Miami's Tropical Park on December 16.
Joe Raedle/Getty Images
A sign indicating canceled performances hangs at the front entrance of the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York on December 16.
A sign indicating canceled performances hangs at the front entrance of the Richard Rodgers Theatre in New York on December 16.
Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
Registered nurse Bryan Hofilena attaches stickers on the body bag of a Covid-19 victim at a Los Angeles hospital on December 14.
Registered nurse Bryan Hofilena attaches stickers on the body bag of a Covid-19 victim at a Los Angeles hospital on December 14.
Jae C. Hong/AP
Travelers wait in a line December 10 for a security check at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Travelers wait in a line December 10 for a security check at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.
Ted S. Warren/AP
A nurse collects a nasal swab sample from a traveler at a Covid-19 testing site at the Los Angeles International Airport on December 10.
A nurse collects a nasal swab sample from a traveler at a Covid-19 testing site at the Los Angeles International Airport on December 10.
Ringo Chiu/AP