CDC Reports: KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 Variants Account for Over Half of US COVID-19 Cases in Summer Wave

Minnesota, Minnesota, USA United States of America
CDC recommends updated vaccines to protect against these variants and others
CDC reports that KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 variants account for over 50% of US COVID-19 cases in summer wave
KP.3 made up 32.9% of cases, while KP.3.1.1 made up 17.7%
Protection from vaccination and prior infections sparing most people from severe illness, but high-risk groups should stay up to date on booster recommendations
Uptick in hospitalizations across the country, with Minnesota seeing increases in hospitalizations and rises in KP.2 and KP.3 variants
CDC Reports: KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 Variants Account for Over Half of US COVID-19 Cases in Summer Wave

A summer wave of COVID-19 is currently sweeping across the United States, with two dominant variants, KP.3 and KP.3.1.1, accounting for over half of all cases according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The latest CDC data from July 7 to July 20 shows that these two variants combined made up 50.6% of COVID-19 cases in the US. KP.3 accounted for 32.9%, while KP.3.1.1 accounted for 17.7%.

The CDC recommends that everyone six months old and older get updated COVID-19 vaccines to protect themselves from these variants and others.

Despite the rise in cases, protection built up from vaccination and prior infections is sparing most people from severe illness according to experts. However, high-risk groups such as those 65 and older, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant people, or residents of long-term care facilities should stay up to date on booster recommendations.

The increase in cases has led to an uptick in hospitalizations across the country. For instance, Minnesota is seeing increases in hospitalizations with an expectation of further increases in the coming week. Statewide, there have been rises in KP.2 and KP.3 variants, which are similar to other variants but better at evading existing immunity.

It's important for individuals to stay informed about the latest COVID-19 developments and take necessary precautions such as wearing masks, washing hands, and getting vaccinated or boosted when eligible.


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Confidence

90%

Doubts
  • Are there any other significant variants that are not mentioned in the report?
  • What is the current vaccination rate among high-risk groups?

Sources

80%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Covid-19 variants causing trouble in Minnesota

WDIO Megan Graftaas Saturday, 20 July 2024 22:39
  • Unique Points
    • Minnesota has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases with new variants KP.2 and KP.3 on the rise.
    • MDH is unable to track covid case numbers accurately due to home testing and people stopping testing when sick, but they can track Covid activity through hospitalizations.
    • Statewide, Minnesota is seeing increases in hospitalizations with an expectation of further increases in the coming week.
    • High-risk groups like those 65 and older, immunocompromised individuals, pregnant people, or residents of long-term care facilities should stay up to date on booster recommendations.
  • Accuracy
    • Only 14% of Minnesotans are up to date on their Covid boosters.
  • Deception (30%)
    The article is not entirely deceptive, but it does engage in selective reporting and emotional manipulation. It highlights the increase in COVID-19 cases due to new variants without linking to peer-reviewed studies that support this claim. The article also implies that the variants are more dangerous because they can evade existing immunity, but it doesn't provide any scientific studies to back up this claim. Furthermore, the article uses emotional language when describing the potential increase in hospitalizations across Minnesota.
    • According to the Minnesota Department of Health, there has been an uptick in COVID-19 cases with new variants on the rise.
  • Fallacies (95%)
    No formal fallacies detected. Some informal fallacies and inflammatory rhetoric present. Dichotomous depictions are used to describe the variants' increased ability to evade immunity.
    • . Dr. Keely Morris, a Senior Epidemiologist with the Minnesota Department of Health describes the variants as on the rise and adds,
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

92%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Why Covid is surging this summer — and what health experts say has changed

STAT News Elizabeth Cooney, Thursday, 18 July 2024 21:48
  • Unique Points
    • Despite the increase in cases, protection built up from vaccination and prior infections is sparing most people from severe illness according to experts.
  • Accuracy
    • Covid cases are on the rise this summer as indicated by rising wastewater measures and an increase in hospitalizations.
    • Minnesota has seen an uptick in COVID-19 cases with new variants KP.2 and KP.3 on the rise.
    • COVID-19 cases have increased in about half of U.S. states, with higher levels found in wastewater and western states.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (85%)
    The article contains some inflammatory rhetoric and a dichotomous depiction of the situation. It uses phrases like 'disruptions in people's lives' and 'confusion over issues', which are somewhat exaggerated. Additionally, it contrasts the current Covid surge with past spikes, implying that this one is less severe but still causing disruptions.
    • . . . even as SARS-CoV-2 has joined the ranks of the respiratory viruses that will continue circulating and causing infections, a spike in cases like this summer’s still causes disruptions in people’s lives . . .
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

96%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

How to stay healthy during the COVID-19 summertime surge

Science News Friday, 19 July 2024 15:00
  • Unique Points
    • A summer wave of COVID-19 is rising due to the spread of highly infectious variants, particularly KP.3.1.1, a great-great-great-grandchild of omicron.
    • Immunity from last year’s vaccination has likely waned, so high-risk individuals should consider getting updated vaccines in the fall.
    • N-95 or KN-95 masks provide better protection when worn correctly and can help prevent long COVID.
  • Accuracy
    • COVID-19 cases have increased in about half of U.S. states, with higher levels found in wastewater and western states.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (90%)
    The article contains some informal fallacies such as an overgeneralization of the statement “COVID-19 has gotten less severe thanks to immunity from vaccines and prior infections and to treatments for the virus”. This is an overgeneralization as it does not account for different variants, locations, and individual health conditions. Additionally, there are some appeals to authority present such as quoting experts William Schaffner and Amesh Adalja. However, no formal logical fallacies can be identified in the article.
    • ]“COVID-19 has gotten less severe thanks to immunity from vaccines and prior infections and to treatments for the virus”
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (0%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

94%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

Connecticut experiencing 'high' level of COVID, CDC says

CTPost Alex Putterman Friday, 19 July 2024 15:05
  • Unique Points
    • Connecticut is currently experiencing 'high' levels of COVID-19 transmission according to the CDC.
    • CDC wastewater surveillance data shows Connecticut is one of over two dozen states with 'high' or 'very high' levels of COVID-19 transmission.
    • According to Dr. Manisha Juthani, Connecticut’s public health commissioner, COVID-19 is spreading in Connecticut this summer.
  • Accuracy
    • Connecticut, Maine, and New Hampshire are the three states in New England currently seeing 'high' levels of transmission according to CDC data.
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication

100%

The overall score is a weighted number that takes into account conflict of interest, bias, deception and other practices that undermine the credibility of the source. It is calculated as:
(Site Conflicts Of Interest + Author Conflicts Of Interest) / 2.0 * 0.2 + ArticleBiasScore * 0.20 + UniquePointsScore * 0.05 + DeceptionScore * 0.20 + ReadabilityScore * 0.05 + FallacyScore * 0.20

A score that takes into consideration the content for flow, interruptions with ads, and overt search engine optimization techniques that makes the content hard to understand

COVID-19 variants KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 account for 50% of cases, latest CDC data shows

USA Today Ahjané Forbes Saturday, 20 July 2024 00:00
  • Unique Points
    • CDC data shows that KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 variants account for 50.6% of COVID-19 cases in the US from July 7 to July 20, with KP.3 making up 32.9% and KP.3.1.1 making up 17.7%.
    • CDC recommends that everyone 6 months old and older get the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine to protect themselves from KP.3, KP.3.1.1, and other variants.
  • Accuracy
    No Contradictions at Time Of Publication
  • Deception (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Fallacies (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Bias (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Site Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication
  • Author Conflicts Of Interest (100%)
    None Found At Time Of Publication