COVID-19 cases are on the rise again, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and wastewater surveillance. The annual summer surge of COVID-19 infections has begun, fueled by the spread of new variants such as KP.3 and KP.2 strains.
The CDC reported that cases are growing or likely growing in 39 states, with no state showing a decline as of the latest data. Wastewater surveillance shows that COVID levels are rising in the Midwest, Northeast, and South.
Experts attribute this increase to people congregating indoors to avoid extreme heat and an extremely busy July 4 travel period. While they expect this summer wave to remain mild, it serves as a reminder for individuals to remain vigilant, particularly those who are medically vulnerable.
The KP.3 and KP.2 strains account for more than half of infections, according to CDC data.
In Houston, wastewater viral load has increased over the past five weeks, reaching 273% saturation as of June 17. Local health officials are monitoring the situation closely and encouraging people to take reasonable health precautions such as masking when in crowded spaces and taking special measures to protect populations that might be immunocompromised.
Despite these concerns, it's important to note that COVID-19 associated deaths remain at a pandemic-low of about 300 per week, and hospitalization rates are also low. As of May 11, fewer than one-quarter of U.S. adults had received the latest COVID-19 shots.
Stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you.
