Guess Who’s Back? Increase in Covid-19 Cases in the US

Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) suggest that a wave of Covid-19 may be underway during the North American summer, although it is not as significant as in previous summers. The number of coronavirus infections is rising, along with the number of positive tests, emergency room visits, and – most alarmingly – hospitalizations.Why is the number of infections increasing?Part of this may be due to the cyclical nature of the coronavirus – there is an increase in cases, followed by a relatively calmer period, followed by another increase. This may be the pattern going forward, with two or more of these waves of infections every year.Another reason for the rise in cases during the summer may be that people gather indoors when the weather is too hot. This may also explain why there is an increase in infections during holidays when people come together in larger groups in enclosed spaces.It is important to note that this current increase does not appear to be driven by the emergence of a new variant. According to the CDC, all existing variants are branches of the Omicron strain, which first emerged in late 2021.Should I be worried?Those who are generally healthy and have had Covid-19 or have been vaccinated – or both – are unlikely to become seriously ill if they contract the coronavirus. Those who should consider taking additional precautions are individuals vulnerable to more severe outcomes. This includes older individuals and patients with underlying medical conditions, such as chronic lung, kidney, and heart problems. These individuals should ensure they are up to date with their vaccine boosters.Those considering getting the Covid-19 booster should get it now or wait until the new one is released in the fall?According to experts, most people can likely wait until the updated booster is released, which federal health authorities say will be available around late September or early October. This new booster will target the XBB branches of Omicron, which are the currently dominant strains.A group of people who may consider getting the booster earlier are those in the high-risk category who have not yet received their bivalent booster – the one that was released in the fall of 2022.Source: CNN