Two weeks after celebrating America’s near “independence” from the coronavirus, US President Joe Biden is confronting the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for the summer backslide.

Cases of Covid-19 have tripled over the past three weeks, and hospitalisations and deaths are rising among unvaccinated people.

While the rates are still sharply down from their January highs, officials are concerned by the reversing trendlines and what they consider needless illness and death. And cases are expected to continue to rise in coming weeks.

While the national emergency may have faded, officials say the outbreak is now a more localised crisis in communities where not enough people have rolled up their sleeves.

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