Americans ushered in 2022 with exploding COVID-19 cases, thousands of canceled flights and quickly-filling hospital beds once again as the pandemic dragged into another calendar year. Some of the year's most notable achievements against COVID-19 – vaccines and other treatments – weren't enough to stop the rapid spread of the omicron variant. While more transmissible, leading to record-breaking infections and the reemergence of mask mandates in some states, omicron is also less severe, according to early studies. The U.S. reported more than 2.7 million cases in the week ending Friday, up 105% from a week earlier, according to a USA TODAY analysis of Johns Hopkins data. Friday's report of nearly half-a-million cases was the third highest on record. Testing positive for COVID-19 starts a confusing, disruptive and at times frightening process. Read the link in our bio to find out what you and your loved ones can do to stay safe. #covid_19 #omicronvariant