The Johns Hopkins COVID Dashboard for Tuesday, December 22, at 5:22 a.m.:

Worldwide cases: 77,556,703       Worldwide deaths:   1,706,513

U.S. cases: 18,057,172     U.S. deaths: 319,827

According to the Dashboard, the reported worldwide case report increased by 580,763 in the last 24 hours.  Deaths worldwide increased by 10,907.

According to the Johns Hopkins Dashboard, the United States has added 196,538 cases in the last 24 hours.  COVID-19 cases are increasing at a relentless rate on the mainland.

In the last day, the number of people who have died in the U.S. from  COVID-19 increased by 2,098.

Hospitalizations of people with severe cases of COVID-19 around the country have been growing at a steady rate.  The COVID Tracking Project reports that 115,351 people were hospitalized nationwide with COVID-19 as of yesterday.

Health experts say the nationwide increase in cases is partly a result of the Thanksgiving holiday gatherings.  They urge people to stay at home this Christmas with a goal of being around for Christmas next year.

In other virus news, a variant of COVID-19 is now in the United Kingdom, Australia, Denmark, and South Africa.  Dr. Anthony Fauci says it is likely already in the U.S.  CNN is reporting that both Moderna and Pfizer are testing their vaccines against this new strain of COVID-19, although both say they believe their vaccines will be effective against this new strain.