COVID Infections Nearing Initial 2020 Peak Levels As Winter Surge Looms

COVID infections approaching 2020's initial peak
Wastewater surveillance shows levels nearing Delta variant peak
Modeling predicts 7-10% more of US population will be infected in next 1.5 months
While cases may soon recede, they may not fall much before winter surge
WHO reports concerning trends like rising infections, hospitalizations, ICU admissions
WHO urges high risk groups to get any available booster ASAP
US approves updated XBB Omicron boosters for ages 6+ months
New boosters tailored to now near-extinct XBB.1.5 Omicron strain
But expected to still protect well against current strains
Top variants picking up concerning "flip" mutations that increase infectivity and immune evasion

fortune.com

Relevant topic timeline:

8/3/2023

Another summer surge? What to know about rising Covid hospitalizations.

Main Topic: Signs of a potential Covid comeback in the United States Key Points: 1. Hospitalizations have been increasing since July, but the number is still relatively low compared to previous points in the pandemic. 2. Experts do not expect a huge spike in Covid cases and do not advise changing behavior at this time. 3. Wastewater surveillance data shows an upward trend in virus concentrations, but they are still relatively low. Experts are cautious about the future trajectory.

8/27/2023

Covid cases are rising, just as new vaccines are almost ready

The U.S. is experiencing a rise in Covid cases just as new vaccines that protect against the latest variants are almost ready.

9/2/2023

COVID hospitalizations on the rise as U.S. enters Labor Day weekend

The U.S. is experiencing a steady increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations as it enters the Labor Day weekend, with new hospital admissions expected to continue rising, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

9/11/2023

US Faces Uncertain Fall COVID Outlook As Cases Rise, New Variants Spread

New variants of COVID-19 are causing an uptick in cases in the US, but it is not clear what is driving this surge and whether it will be a particularly severe season, although the majority of people who have been infected or vaccinated are experiencing mild illness, according to Shaun Truelove, an associate scientist at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.