- CDC: COVID Cases Rising in Half of U.S. States., But Overall Activity Remains Low
- Florida, Alabama showing the highest levels of viral activity
- Airport screenings have detected the variant in travelers
As of July 8, COVID-19 infections are rising or likely rising in about half of the United States, according to estimates from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and Prevention.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the agency’s modeling indicates that the West Coast, Southeast, and South are the main regions seeing increased case numbers, although overall activity across the country is still considered “low.”
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The likelihood that the virus is spreading is highest in states such as California, Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, and Ohio, among others.
Data from the agency’s wastewater monitoring dashboard reflects a similar trend, with Florida and Alabama showing the highest levels of viral activity. The most recent data is from the week ending July 5.
COVID-19 Rise Linked to Seasonal Summer Surge
The increase in cases is part of a projected summer surge, which usually occurs between July and September as part of a twice-a-year trend recently identified by the CDC.
The second surge typically happens during the winter months, from December to February.
“Our analysis revealed biannual COVID-19 peaks in late summer and winter, a pattern that is expected to persist as long as the rapid evolution of SARS-CoV-2 and cyclical S1 diversity continues,” agency scientists wrote.
According to CDC data, the vast majority of the country has seen only a minimal percentage of emergency department visits involving COVID-19 diagnoses over the past week.
However, a few states including New Mexico, Georgia, Kentucky, and Virginia reported a substantial increase in the percentage of such visits.
‘Razor Blade Throat’ COVID Variant Spreads—What You Should Know
The data emerges as a new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1—nicknamed “Nimbus”—gains attention internationally. Reports indicate the variant is causing a severe sore throat symptom described as “razor blade throat.”
Doctors in the United Kingdom, India, and other countries have identified the symptom, according to local media reports.
In the United States, airport screenings have detected the variant in travelers arriving from those regions to states including California, Washington, Virginia, and New York.
