Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Jul 17, 2024 20:44:04 GMT
COVID surge grows as cases in 26 states now ‘very high’ and ‘high,’ CDC says - Published July 15, 2024
COVID-19 cases are rising in 45 states, with cases now "very high" or "high" in about half the country. Map courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cases of COVID-19 are growing across 45 states, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said virus levels in 26 of those states are now “very high” or “high.”
Across parts of the west, including in California, Nevada, Oregon and Texas, and states in the east like Arkansas, Florida and Maryland have seen cases reach “very high” levels as wastewater levels over the past month have risen.
Massachusetts has seen a “moderate” rise in cases, though they have dropped based on wastewater levels between June 29 and July 6, according to CDC data. Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine are among the states seeing higher COVID-19 levels, while Vermont is seeing moderate levels of infection and Rhode Island is seeing a low rate of infection.
No states are seeing a decline or likely decline in cases.
Hospitalizations and emergency room visits remain low despite the average number of emergency room visits being the highest that it has been since February, the agency said.
States are seeing what the CDC called probabilities of epidemic growth, with estimated values above one indicating epidemic growth. Massachusetts is seeing its epidemic status grow and is hovering just below one at 0.9965.
The omicron strains that continue to dominate the number of COVID-19 cases in the nation are KP.3 and KP.2, part of the FLiRT family of strains descended from the omicron variant. “FLiRT” derives from the technical names of their mutations, according to the Infectious Disease Society of America.
Between 18% and 31% of COVID-19 cases are due to the spread of KP.3, while 17% to 30% of cases are caused by KP.2, according to the CDC’s COVID-19 tracking data.
As the FLiRT strains spread, the Food and Drug Administration advised in June drug manufacturers to develop COVID-19 boosters to target the KP.2 strain to be administered in the fall.
What are the symptoms of the newest COVID variants?
Here are the FLiRT family of variants symptoms, which appear to resemble those from the previous JN.1, which include:
Sore throat
Cough
Fatigue
Congestion
Runny nose
Headache
Muscle aches
Fever or chills
New loss of sense of taste or smell
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
COVID-19 cases are rising in 45 states, with cases now "very high" or "high" in about half the country. Map courtesy of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Cases of COVID-19 are growing across 45 states, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said virus levels in 26 of those states are now “very high” or “high.”
Across parts of the west, including in California, Nevada, Oregon and Texas, and states in the east like Arkansas, Florida and Maryland have seen cases reach “very high” levels as wastewater levels over the past month have risen.
Massachusetts has seen a “moderate” rise in cases, though they have dropped based on wastewater levels between June 29 and July 6, according to CDC data. Connecticut, New Hampshire and Maine are among the states seeing higher COVID-19 levels, while Vermont is seeing moderate levels of infection and Rhode Island is seeing a low rate of infection.
No states are seeing a decline or likely decline in cases.
Hospitalizations and emergency room visits remain low despite the average number of emergency room visits being the highest that it has been since February, the agency said.
States are seeing what the CDC called probabilities of epidemic growth, with estimated values above one indicating epidemic growth. Massachusetts is seeing its epidemic status grow and is hovering just below one at 0.9965.
The omicron strains that continue to dominate the number of COVID-19 cases in the nation are KP.3 and KP.2, part of the FLiRT family of strains descended from the omicron variant. “FLiRT” derives from the technical names of their mutations, according to the Infectious Disease Society of America.
Between 18% and 31% of COVID-19 cases are due to the spread of KP.3, while 17% to 30% of cases are caused by KP.2, according to the CDC’s COVID-19 tracking data.
As the FLiRT strains spread, the Food and Drug Administration advised in June drug manufacturers to develop COVID-19 boosters to target the KP.2 strain to be administered in the fall.
What are the symptoms of the newest COVID variants?
Here are the FLiRT family of variants symptoms, which appear to resemble those from the previous JN.1, which include:
Sore throat
Cough
Fatigue
Congestion
Runny nose
Headache
Muscle aches
Fever or chills
New loss of sense of taste or smell
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea