The US death toll from COVID-19 hit 900,000 on Friday. Case counts are on the decline, but the numbers of deaths and hospitalized patients remain at high levels.

Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University show fatalities increased by 100,000 from mid-December, when the Omicron variant began to spread rapidly in the country.

The daily tally at one point topped one million, but case numbers have since been falling. As of Thursday, the seven-day average of new infections was about 384,000 per day.

Hospitalizations have risen to around 120,000 as growing numbers of patients develop serious symptoms.

The weekly average of daily fatalities remains high at around 2,400.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention predicts deaths could reach 930,000 to 960,000 by February 26.

CDC officials are urging people to get vaccines or booster shots, wear masks indoors and avoid mass gatherings.