COVID-19 infections are now likely to rise in at least 12 states and the District of Columbia, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Friday, as fitness officials monitor symptoms that the virus could possibly begin to rise after a spring. calm.
Based on data analyzed by the company from emergency branch visits, the CDC’s model suggests that COVID-19 infections are emerging in Alaska, Arizona, California, Washington D. C. , Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, and Washington State.
The increase comes as nearly every region of the country remains in “low” or “trough” degrees of what is known as “respiratory disease activity” under CDC criteria, similar to previous years’ slowdown in the spread of COVID-19. 19 in spring and early summer.
On average, 0. 3% of emergency room patients as of May 10 were diagnosed with COVID-19 nationwide, well below last summer’s peak of just about 3% in late August. COVID-19 cases reported in nursing homes also remain near record lows nationwide. .
Preliminary data from the CDC’s COVID-19 wastewater surveillance also estimates that virus levels remain “minimal” nationwide; Virus levels appear to be trending upward in western sewer basins.
The dominant strains of the virus circulating lately are known as KP. 2 and KP. 1. 1, informally referred to as “FLiRT” variants. Health officials said the two strains are very similar to the JN. 1 variant of last winter’s wave, by two smaller ones. adjustments that could allow them to spread.
A CDC spokesperson said on May 10 that the company does not produce variants “that cause a buildup of infections because transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is low. “
“Based on existing data, there is no indication that KP. 2 causes more severe disease than the strains. CDC will continue to monitor network transmission of the virus and vaccine effectiveness against this strain,” the spokesperson said.