COVID-19 Cases Surge in U.S. as School Season Begins, Urgent Update
URGENT UPDATE: COVID-19 cases are surging across the United States as children return to school and the nation braces for colder weather. For the week ending August 9, 2023, hospitalization rates climbed to 1.7 per 100,000, doubling from just two months prior, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Alarmingly, the positivity rate for COVID tests skyrocketed to 11.2% for the week ending August 23, up from 3.3% earlier in the summer.
Despite these increases, current metrics remain significantly lower than those seen last year. Hospitalization rates are about three times lower than during the same period in 2022, and the positivity rate is about half of last year’s figures. However, roughly 200 Americans continue to die from COVID each week, raising urgent concerns as schools reopen.
Confusion surrounds vaccine eligibility following the FDA’s recent approval of updated COVID vaccine versions for those over 65 and younger individuals at high risk. Federal health officials stress that anyone wanting the vaccine can receive it, yet the rollout remains inconsistent across states. Currently, test positivity has surpassed 10% in many southwestern and western U.S. regions, coinciding with the start of the school year.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, stated, “When the dust settles, I expect it to not be as bad as last year…but that still means that some people are getting sick.” He attributes the uptick to the usual factors: the passage of time since many contracted COVID and the emergence of new variants.
As of the week ending August 30, the XFG variant, an offshoot of omicron, dominates the landscape, accounting for an estimated 78% of new cases. Other variants like NB.1.8.1 and LP.8.1 comprise 14% and 3%, respectively, according to CDC data.
Dr. William Schaffner, a professor at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, emphasized that the circulating variants do not exhibit major mutations that enhance their transmissibility. He explained, “You can think of them all as cousins…these cousins do share a couple of characteristics, one is that they appear to be fairly contagious and are capable of producing a great deal of mild disease.”
In a press release, Pfizer-BioNTech announced that its upcoming 2025-2026 COVID vaccine will target the LP.8.1 sublineage, aligning with FDA guidance. However, uncertainty looms over how these vaccinations will be administered across the U.S. According to CVS, vaccine availability will differ by state due to regulatory nuances. Currently, in 34 states, Americans can receive the COVID vaccine at CVS pharmacies, while in 13 states and Washington, D.C., vaccinations depend on age and require a prescription.
Dr. Chin-Hong expressed concerns over declining vaccination rates as the country approaches the fall and winter respiratory virus season. He warned, “As vaccination rates decline…it may mean that we would have some hospitalizations and deaths that we wouldn’t have seen normally if there was a simpler rule around vaccines.”
Both doctors urge those eligible to receive the COVID vaccine alongside the annual influenza vaccine. They also recommend that individuals with risk factors for severe illness take precautions, including wearing masks in crowded indoor settings and practicing social distancing.
Stay tuned for more updates as this story develops. The implications of these rising COVID-19 cases could significantly impact public health and safety in the coming months.
