WASHINGTON (Reuters] – The Omicron-driven increase in U.S. COVID-19-related cases is likely to continue, said the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s head. This comes as hospitals and schools struggle with growing caseloads.

Rochelle Wilensky, Director at CDC said that “I don’t believe we’ve reached the peak yet” in America.

Officials from the American Health Association have warned Americans to not get complacent about the highly transmissible variant. They noted that, even though it may cause milder diseases, the fact it is more contagious will result in a greater number of severe cases.

On Thursday, the United States announced 662,000 COVID new cases. It was just three days following a record close to 1 million case reports, as reported by Reuters.

According to data, the seven-day average of new cases was 597,000. COVID hospitalizations topped 123,000, which is close to the previous record of more than 132,000.

The tally shows that deaths are still a poor indicator, but they remain steady at 1400 per day.

Walensky stated that “we are still seeing these numbers rising”, noting that although hospitalizations outpaced deaths and hospitalizations, the rising number of hospitalizations was primarily due to unvaccinated people.

Nearly half of the U.S. states have had to delay elective surgery due to rising cases.

Many school systems are pledging to keep in-person instruction going, but some schools have been forced to close as the number of cases increases. Chicago Public Schools, which is the third largest U.S. school district, was closed on Friday due to a teacher strike over COVID-19.

U.S. and U.K officials believe schools can safely be opened, even with readily available boosters and vaccines. On Thursday, the CDC released new guidelines to schools about isolation policies.

Walensky stated that while the United States currently faces a surge, it will need to deal with the longer-term effects.

According to her, “We’re definitely seeing a moment when COVID…will become an endemic viral disease.” She told NBC.

Officials still insist that vaccinations are the best way to protect against COVID. But, mandates from federal agencies requiring them have made it difficult for officials.

On Friday, the U.S. Supreme Court is expected to hear requests from President Joe Biden for a blockade of his vaccine mandate for large employers as well as impose semblance requirements for healthcare facilities.