A recent surge went up to 1400 per week, there may be a Dec-Jan surge that goes significantly above that but death rates are down significantly across the year compared to a year ago.

Regardless the comparison to a bad flu year was based on an average over the year based on 1000/week for Covid which has been roughly average in 2023 so far which seemed a better way to show it given how extremely seasonal Flu is and to a lesser extent Covid. Regardless excess deaths is a better metric to look at and we are back to a baseline there.

Again, I am not saying to not take Covid seriously and not to take precautions. What I am saying is that the vast majority of people should no longer let Covid prevent them from living their life to its fullest and taking care of themselves, as depression/inactivity related illnesses are now a larger threat. IE. If you arent going to the gym because you're scared of Covid, that is counterproductive for your health now, nit exercising enough is more dangerous to your health than Covid right now. Or likewise if you're letting fear of Covid cause depression and anxiety and lack of physical contact with loved ones, as the effects of those things are also statistically more dangerous than Covid right now.