U.S. coronavirus infections are at record highs in many states, but the rapid surge of the Omicron variant appears to be subsiding in several cities, including New York, Chicago and Washington, D.C. More than 3,300 U.S. COVID-19 deaths were reported on Wednesday; the vast majority of those who died were unvaccinated. 

In Texas, Attorney General Ken Paxton has tested positive for COVID and is self-isolating at home. His office would not say whether Paxton has been vaccinated. Paxton is a proponent of the discredited conspiracy theory that Donald Trump won the 2020 election. He previously sued to block President Biden’s vaccine mandates. 

In West Virginia, Republican Governor Jim Justice on Wednesday credited vaccinations with possibly saving his life after he became seriously ill with COVID-19 last week.

Gov. Jim Justice: “I would encourage you beyond belief to get vaccinated and whatever you do to get boosted, because I know — I know without anybody telling me in any way — you know, if I hadn’t been vaccinated, I’d have been in the hospital for sure, and I’d have been in really tough shape — really, really tough shape.”