COVID-19 cases are growing or likely growing in 45 states and territories.
COVID-19 cases have risen every summer, usually around July 4 travel.
Hospitalizations remain low but pose a risk to the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions.
More than 70% of infections come from KP variants that are descendants of the highly contagious JN.1 strain.
More than half of the states have virus levels that are 'very high' or 'high'.
Prevalence of COVID is especially high in the West, where test positivity stands at 15.6% and viral activity in wastewater has been rising over the past month.
The latest COVID vaccines target an Omicron subvariant that offers some protection against the prevailing variants.
Data: CDC; Map: Axios Visuals
COVID-19 cases are growing or likely growing in 45 states and territories, and more than half of the states have virus levels that are "very high" or "high" as a summertime wave expands, according to the Centers for Disease Control.
Why it matters: The prevalence of COVID is especially high in the West, where test positivity in the region comprising Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada stood at 15.6% and viral activity in wastewater has been rising over the past month, according to the agency.
More than 70% of infections come from KP variants that are descendants of the highly contagious JN.1 strain, which surged over the winter, and are among the so-called FLiRT variants.
Threat level: COVID-19 cases have risen every summer, usually around July 4 travel.
While hospitalizations remain low, the summertime surge poses a risk to the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions.As people get more out-of-date with vaccination and the virus mutates, the risk of a severe wave becomes greater.
State of play: The latest COVID vaccines target an Omicron subvariant that played itself out last year but still offer some protection against the prevailing variants.
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months old and up receive updated vaccines from Pfizer-bioNTech, Moderna or Novavax.
What's next: Drugmakers are eyeing combination flu-COVID-19 vaccines that would offer more convenience and protection against two respiratory viruses.
COVID-19 cases are growing or likely growing in 45 states and territories.
More than half of the states have virus levels that are ‘very high’ or ‘high’.
The prevalence of COVID is especially high in the West, where test positivity stands at 15.6% and viral activity in wastewater has been rising over the past month.
More than 70% of infections come from KP variants that are descendants of the highly contagious JN.1 strain.
COVID-19 cases have risen every summer in the US, usually around July 4 travel.
Hospitalizations remain low but pose a risk to the elderly, immunocompromised individuals, and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions.
The latest COVID vaccines target an Omicron subvariant but still offer some protection against prevailing variants.
The CDC recommends updated vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Novavax for everyone 6 months old and up.
Accuracy
More than half of the states have virus levels that are ‘very high’ or ‘high.’
More than half of states have ‘high’ or ‘very high’ levels of SARS-CoV-2 in their wastewater.
Nationwide, the overall level of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is ‘high’.
Emergency room visits with COVID-19 have increased by 20% or more compared to the week prior in 26 states.
The District of Columbia and 26 states are now seeing ‘substantial increases’ in COVID-19 emergency room visits.
Nationwide, the average share of emergency room patients with COVID-19 is at its highest since February and has increased by 115% from a month ago.
SARS-CoV-2 activity levels in tests of wastewater are ‘high’ in 19 states and ‘very high’ in 7 states.
COVID-19 emergency room visits crossed the threshold into ‘moderate’ levels in Hawaii and Florida.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(50%)
The article uses the terms 'high' and 'very high' to describe COVID-19 levels in wastewater testing without providing a clear definition or context for what these terms mean. This is an example of sensationalism as it creates a sense of urgency and alarm without providing sufficient information for readers to understand the true significance of the data presented.
More than half of states are now seeing 'high' or 'very high' levels of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in their wastewater testing,
Most people with COVID have mild illness and can recover at home using over-the-counter medicines.
Prescriptions such as Paxlovid and Remdesivir are available for people who are more likely to get very sick from COVID, but they must be started within five to seven days of symptom onset.
Accuracy
There is an increase in COVID cases in Rhode Island and nationally during the summer of 2024.
COVID-19 cases are growing or likely growing in 45 states and territories.
More than half of the states have virus levels that are ‘very high’ or ‘high.’
Seven US states have detected ‘very high’ levels of Covid in their wastewater according to the CDC.
Covid levels in the San Francisco Bay area are comparable to the most recent winter surge.
26 states and Washington DC are seeing ‘substantial increases’ in emergency room visits due to Covid.
The national share of Covid ER patients is up 115 percent since last month, the highest level since February.
