The new COVID-Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveals that 19 hospitalizations increased for the fourth week in a row.
According to numbers released Monday, a total of 10,320 patients in the United States were newly hospitalized with COVID-19 for the week ending August 5, an increase of 14.3% over the previous week.
COVID hospitalizations rise for the fourth week in a row.
The summer high that pressured hospitals at this time last year, when 42,813 admissions were reported for the week of August 6, 2022, remains much below current levels.
Where do COVID hospital trends deteriorate the most?
Hospitals in the Southeast continue to have the highest rate of COVID-19 admissions in the country. 4.58 new cases were recorded per 100,000 population in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
In addition, the Southeast has the greatest rate of COVID-19 cases among nursing facility residents. Weekly infections are currently close to the worst observed during the region’s summer wave in 2021, although lower than more recent peaks.
COVID-19 levels have been greatest in recent weeks among seniors 75 and older, according to data collected from emergency departments around the country, comparable to last winter’s peak.COVID hospitalizations
Harris Co. reports an increase in COVID cases as a result of Omicron strand surges.
Emergency room visits for children aged 0 to 11 have also increased dramatically. COVID-19 rates among these children are now tied with seniors for the first time in a year, measured as a proportion of all visits in the age group. According to other CDC data, visits from children aged 0 to 1 years old are increasing the most.COVID hospitalizations
In several areas of the US, such as Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, the proportion of COVID-19 ER visits involving children aged 0 to 11 has already overtaken that of older people. COVID hospitalizations rise for the fourth week in a row in 2023
It is unknown what has caused the sharp spike in pediatric ER visits. A request for comment from the CDC was not immediately returned.
Is it the EG.5 variant’s fault?
Authorities claim that the latest variety on the rise, EG.5, is not causing an upsurge in severe illness in any way that prior strains have.COVID hospitalizations
According to a CDC estimate released earlier this month, EG.5 accounted for 17.3% of all illnesses in the United States. New figures are set to be released on Friday.
Despite its “low” public health danger in comparison to other recent Omicron descendants, the World Health Organization warned on August 9 that the strain might outcompete its XBB variation siblings.COVID hospitalizations
COVID hospitalizations rise for the fourth week in a row in 2023
“EG.5 may cause a rise in case incidence and become dominant in some countries or even globally,” the United Nations stated.
According to health experts, the new COVID vaccine and booster doses, which are slated to be available in September, are designed to protect against XBB-related strains of the virus and will likely improve protection against EG.5.
