Coronavirus Watch: Organ transplants break records after COVID challenge

Early in the pandemic, the number of organ transplant procedures in the U.S. was cut in half due to COVID-19, exacerbating the worldwide shortage of organs and the need for transplants.

But the dearth didn't last for long. Last year, a record-breaking 41,354 transplants were performed, according to preliminary data from United Network for Organ Sharing. It's the first time the U.S. has ever exceeded 40,000 transplants.

Read reporter Adrianna Rodriguez's exploration into how technological advancements, cooperation between medical facilities and solidarity among Americans drove lifesaving transplants in 2021.

It's Thursday, and this is Coronavirus Watch from the Paste BN Network. Here's more news to know:

• The Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation estimates that 73% of Americans are currently immune to the omicron coronavirus variant, a number that means future surges could require far less disruption to society, some experts say.
• More than 50 million American households have received free at-home COVID-19 testing kits that started going out in late January, according to a White House official.
• CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said during a White House briefing that the government is contemplating a change to its mask guidance in the coming weeks.

See our COVID-19 resource guide here. See total reported cases and deaths here. On vaccinations: About 76% of people in the U.S. have received at least one vaccine shot, and about 64% are fully vaccinated, according to the CDC.

– Cady Stanton, Paste BN digital editor fellow, @cady_stanton