As the United States struggles to deal with the contagious omicron variant, Covid-19 has seen an increase in the number of U.S. patients. 

There were 144,441 Americans hospitalized with the virus as of Sunday, higher than the 142,315 patients recorded about a year ago on Jan. 14, according to data tracked by the Department of Health and Human Services, and the count has climbed to 147,000 as of Tuesday. 

Johns Hopkins University also reports that the nation reported nearly 1.5 million cases of new infections on Monday. Accordingly to Johns Hopkins University’s data, this brings the daily average for seven days to 754,000 cases.

A large number of Covid hospitalizations seem to be due to patients admitted for different reasons and who later test positive for the virus. Hospitalizations are among the most high-profile on record. However, HHS has not started collecting data since August 2020 to capture any early cases.

Because many states report Covid test results for weekends on Mondays, the daily total of confirmed infections may be artificially higher.

Miami Mayor Francis Suarez said Monday on CNBC’s “Squawk On the Street” that approximately half the city’s hospitalizations were for Covid. This is in contrast to the Mondays for Covid. press releaseAccording to the New York State Department of Health, 42% of hospitalized New Yorkers were not for Covid. Because most states don’t keep that much detail about their Covid cases it’s not possible to obtain national data.

Due to at-home testing kits, which are not usually reported to federal or state agencies, cases are likely to be undercounted.

White House chief medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci stated last weekA growing amount of evidence suggests that the Covid-omicron variant may not be as severe as the delta strain. He said that more data was needed to verify this, but cautioned that hospital systems could be strained by the high number of people admitted and infected. 

Fauci explained that “a small percentage of large volumes of cases are going to prove severe,” regardless of their complexity. This is not a sign that we should abandon the recommendations.

Infections have been on the rise across the nation. Average daily case numbers in 28 US states are at an all-time high as of Monday. A CNBC analysis of HHS data from the summer of 2020 shows that 13 states, as well as the District of Columbia, are reporting record levels of hospitalizations.

Scott Gottlieb, former FDA commissioner, Pfizer board Member and CNBC contributor, said that “there’s a lot infected around the country at the moment” Tuesday on CNBC’s Squawk Box.

This adds to the stress to the healthcare system. Many hospitals have a shortage of staff or are forced to quarantine workers who get Covid.

“The challenge is, and this existed prior to this surge as well,” Dr. Joseph Kanter (Louisiana State Health Officer) stated. Full Court Press with Greta Van SusterenSunday 

Staff retention is difficult for many reasons. “It’s difficult to recruit new employees,” he said. This is what we see as the greatest limiting factor of our hospitals. The problem isn’t physical beds. There are no ventilators. This is just maintaining enough qualified staff.”

Employee illnesses are affecting other industries than healthcare. U.S. airlines cancelled thousands more flights in the Holidays and Early this Year due to illness. Covid infections among crews and a series of winter storms. United Airlines is trimming its schedule to address a surge in sick calls among employees, CEO Scott Kirby told employees.

United is home to approximately 3,000 workers who are currently positiveKirby stated in Monday’s staff memo that Covid employed 4% of U.S. workers.

U.S. officials warn that those not currently vaccinated are at greatest risk of contracting Covid. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show that approximately 63% Americans are currently fully immunized. A further 36% have received booster shots. 

It is “a very clever virus.” Fauci told lawmakers at a hearing Tuesday. “It has fooled everybody all the time — from the time it first came in to delta to now omicron — it’s very unpredictable and we’re doing the best we possibly can.”

According to Hopkins, the U.S. reports a daily average of 1,650 Covid deaths each day. This is up but only half the level seen last year before vaccines became widely available.

Disclosure: Scott Gottlieb, a CNBC contributor, is a member the Pfizer and genetic testing startup Tempus boards, as well as Aetion, Aetion, and Aetion, a health-care technology company. Illumina. He is also co-chair. Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings′ and Royal Caribbean‘s “Healthy Sail Panel.”

CNBC’s Jessica Bursztynsky, Spencer KimballPlease see the following: Leslie JosephsContributed to this article.