Experts warn COVID cases still climbing amid rise in child hospitalizations and college disruptions

U.S. health officials are warning that COVID-19 cases are still on the rise as the surge, driven by the Omicron variant, prompts a wave of disruptions across the country. 

The average daily number of new cases is over 176,000 — the highest it's been in nearly a year, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The spike is affecting everything from pediatric hospitalizations to college bowl games.

In New York, which is dealing with its worst coronavirus outbreak on record, state officials said pediatric hospitalizations quadrupled since early December.