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COVID-19 rising with summer emergency room visits and deaths - USA TODAY
COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations have increased on Long Island and around the United States in recent weeks, sparking concerns about a possible wave during the summer season.
The 7-day average of cases on Long Island is the highest since February and hospitalizations have jumped 50% in the past two weeks, state figures show. There also is a high percentage of the virus in wastewater, an early indicator of future spread.
There has been a steady rise of COVID-positive cases at local Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care centers that started in early June and continued over the last two weeks, said Dr. Neal Shipley, medical director of the urgent care system.
The good news is that the majority of our patients are vaccinated, so their symptoms tend to be mild and similar to other upper respiratory viral infections including a sore throat, dry cough, body aches and fatigue and sometimes a fever, he said.
COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen to 156as of Monday, from 104 two weeks ago and a low of 46 on April 26. The numbers are higher than last year, when there were 61 hospitalizations on Long Island on July 3, 2023. Cases last summer increased more sharply through the end of the month and into August.
Positive cases are also trending higher than this time last year. There were 225 positive cases on Saturday, compared with 112 on June 29, 2023. Experts point out that positive tests only represent a portion of cases, since people who test at home dont generally report their results and some people never test at all.
Still, last weekthe Centers for Disease Control and Prevention pointed out that in April and May, COVID-19 activity was the lowest since the start of the pandemic.
While there are indicators for the potential start of a summer surge, nationally COVID-19 activity remains low, the agency said.
Dr. StanleyH.Weiss, professor of medicine at the Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, said part of the reason for the increase in cases can be traced to human behavior.
Every day I'm hearing about new cases, he said. I think everyone wishes that the COVID pandemic was over and people are acting as if it is over and therefore people are no longer taking any precautions. Some of that is reasonable, by the way so they will be exposed and they will get infected.
Interest in the updated COVID-19 vaccine continues to be low. The CDC estimates that between September 2023 and June 2024, only 22.5% of adults across the country received the updated vaccine and about 15% for children between the ages of 6 months and 17.
However, immunity through the vaccine or infections has most likely waned for many people in recent months.
The virus continues to evolve and mutate to evade the immunity that people have built up, said Dr. Andrew Karaba, assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. Were just in this window right now where we as a population don't have our best immunity and the virus has adapted.
A new and updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected to be available this fall, with a formulation that could better match circulating variants. Experts said even though that might be a moving target, the vaccine still prevents people from becoming seriously ill or needing hospitalization.
Estimates from the CDC said the variants KP.2, KP.3 and LB.1 have knocked out JN.1 as the dominant strain fueling cases in the nation.
I remain concerned about how these variants play into the changing epidemiology and occurrence in the pandemic, said Weiss, who is also a professor of biostatistics and epidemiology at the Rutgers School of Public Health. Its very hard to predict the impact of variants in the virus.
Both Weiss and Karaba said its vital for the elderly, immunocompromised and people with chronic health conditions to get vaccinated. But its also important for young, healthy people because of their ability to spread the virus to others.
We know that they can place others at risk, said Weiss. Grandparents want to see their grandchildren and children all the time, and they will be put at risk if those children and grandchildren are not vaccinated.
Karaba said long COVID is another concern because so little is known of the disease where people can experience aches, breathing problems and other issues months after they were infected with the virus. Some studies have shown getting vaccinated can help prevent long COVID.
Lisa joined Newsday as a staff writer in 2019. She previously worked at amNewYork, the New York Daily News and the Asbury Park Press covering politics, government and general assignment.
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COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations rising on Long Island - Newsday
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COVID-19 symptoms and isolation guidance amidst FLiRT COVID increase - The News Journal
A dominant COVID-19 strain is driving new infections across parts of the world, and is on the rise in Australia.
Not long ago, we were introduced to FLiRT, a group of subvariants that were contributing to a recent increase in cases and hospitalisations.
Now FLiRT has further mutated, and FLuQE has become the fastest growing member of the family.
While many ingredients in the variant soup are similar, there is an additional mutation experts say makes it more contagious.
And it is increasing risks of re-infection as vaccine updates lag behind how fast the virus is changing.
The family of highly transmissible COVID subvariants known as FLiRT have risen to dominance over the past few months.
The group includes several similar variants that usually start with KP, with KP.2 emerging as the most prominent.
KP.2 has been a key contributor to recent COVID waves.
Now, after just a few weeks, KP.3 also known as FLuQE has surpassed KP.2 in Australia, and sparked warnings of a summer COVID surge in the US.
It has an extra mutation researchers say makes it more infectious.
And it's that extra mutation that has led to its own catchy subvariant nickname.
The FLiRT family are all descendants of the JN.1 variant, which had been dominant for several months.
JN.1 caused a wave of infections across Australia and other parts of the world at the start of the year.
Researchers have described them all as grandchildren of Omicron.
Paul Griffin, an infectious diseases physician and clinical microbiologist at the University of Queensland, says the evolution of the variants is another indicator of how quickly the virus can change.
"What this virus has done many times, and continues to do, is that it's changed significantly," he said.
"Certainly in our country, FLuQE, or KP.3, has passed FLiRT, or KP.2.
"South Australia has led the charge, but in most parts of the country we've already transitioned to the next one after FLiRT."
In the US, KP.3 is now the dominant strain, responsible for more than 33 per cent of cases, up from less than 10 per cent in May, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
While cases are still relatively low compared to the US winter, CDC data shows an increase in COVID-19-related deaths and hospitalisations in recent weeks.
The UK is also reportedly experiencing an increase in hospitalisations with the KP.3 variant identified.
Adrian Esterman, an epidemiologist and professor of biostatistics at the University of South Australia, said when JN.1 mutated into the FLiRT subvariants, they were able to better evade our immune system.
However, they lost some ability to bind to a specific protein that allows the virus to infect human cells.
This is where FLuQE differs, and the reason why it is more infectious.
"Recently, the FLiRT subvariants have mutated further to improve binding efficiency, and these are the FLuQE subvariants, of which KP.3 is the one currently dominating," Professor Esterman told the ABC.
"KP.3 and its descendants (KP.3.1, KP3.2, etc) account for about 33 per cent of cases in Australia."
While the new variants may be proving to be more infectious than previous iterations of the coronavirus, they have not yet shown to be more severe.
"There's nothing to suggest that it's going to be significantly different," Professor Griffin said.
But, there are implications for vaccinations.
"The main thing is that every time the virus changes, the immunity from past infection or vaccination declines again," he said.
"That doesn't mean these changes render our vaccines ineffective, or that past infection doesn't provide an element of protection, it just declines in a relatively progressive way."
So, even if you recently had a FLiRT infection, people are still at risk of re-infection with FLuQE in high circulation.
We are also at a point since COVID-19 was discovered, where we are doing the least to curb its transmission, Professor Griffin added.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended developing new vaccines that target JN.1. to better protect against the new variants.
Professor Esterman said Australia's current vaccines based on XBB.1.5 Omicron variant still gives some cross-immunity.
But versions that provide better protections against the new strains are expected towards the end of the year.
The advice in the meantime is to continue to get the available booster shots.
Professor Griffin said although Australia isn't necessarily keeping up with new variants such as FLiRT and FLuQE, the current booster "still does a great job of reducing risk, particularly of severe disease".
"I guess the simple message there is it's going to be really important that we do continue to use vaccination and that we do update our vaccines," he said.
"But the biggest challenge is we're simply too slow at doing that."
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FLiRT was dominating COVID-19 cases, now we're already onto FLuQE - ABC News
Key Takeaways
An emerging COVID-19 subvariant named LB.1 now makes up 17.5% of new cases in the United States and is on track to surpass KP.2 and KP.3.
Bernadette Boden-Albala, DrPH, MPH, director of the public health program at UC Irvine, said that the public should expect similar symptoms from LB.1, an Omicron offshoot, as its predecessors.
There is no evidence today that the LB.1 variant is causing different or more severe symptoms compared to past variants. The real difference is on an individuals immunity either built up by maintaining adherence with booster vaccines or a combination of past COVID-19 infections, Boden-Albala told Verywell.
William Schaffner, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said LB.1 is likely to play a part in the summer surge of COVID.
Now that we have LB.1 out there and KP.3 still circulating, they are fueling the summer increase that were starting to see in many states, Schaffner told Verywell. It abates in the fall, and then we have a more substantial increase in the winter.
A preprint study in Japan suggests that LB.1 may be more infectious and better at evading immunity than KP.2 due to a mutation called S:S31del.
Because of the rapidly changing variant landscape, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) asked vaccine manufacturers to target KP.2 instead of JN.1 for the fall COVID vaccine update, if possible. Health experts say that the updated vaccine will offer enough protection against LB.1 even if it doesnt target this variant specifically.
Schaffner said Paxlovid, the antiviral medication for COVID, will still work against new variants. However, older adults, pregnant people, and those people who have underlying conditions are still at the highest risk of severe illness from COVID.
Boden-Albala added that wastewater surveillance is helpful in providing an early warning to communities that may be seeing spikes in cases, although the data could sometimes change in less than a week. Vaccination and ongoing public health measures will manage the impact of COVID, she said, but surges will remain commonplace.
Continuous vigilance, vaccination updates, and adaptive health strategies will be essential in coexisting with the virus, Boden-Albala said.
It is important to know whether you are protected from COVID-19 as new variants and sub variants develop. While LB.1 shared a symptom profile with other Omicron offshoots, those who are immunocompromised, along with the elderly and pregnant, are most at risk of severe symptoms
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
By John Loeppky John Loeppky is a freelance journalist based in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada, who has written about disability and health for outlets of all kinds.
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New COVID Subvariant LB.1 on the Rise in U.S. - Verywell Health
Three years after President Biden hoped July 4, 2021, would mark the countrys independence from covid, the coronavirus is still here as new variants drive yet another summer uptick.
The country is indeed free from the waves of mass death that once overwhelmed hospitals and morgues, as well as policies restricting how Americans had fun and went to school and work.
But just as the American Revolution didnt fully eradicate the British threat (see: the War of 1812), the coronavirus remains a public health issue, inflicting milder but disruptive illness on most people and posing a greater danger to the medically vulnerable.
If youre hearing about more people testing positive or getting sick, its no surprise, as data shows another wave forming, especially in the West. Heres what to know about the latest with the coronavirus:
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FLiRT and LB.1 are the latest covid variants. Heres what to know - The Washington Post
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Last week Ohio had 84 new hospitalizations and cases topped 1,700 reported. Nine people also died due to COVID-19.
CLEVELAND A total of 39 states are seeing a rise in COVID-19cases, including those that surround Ohio. So far, Ohio remains stable, although we are seeing a slight uptick in cases in the Buckeye State.
If those allergies are still bothering you, and youre feeling exhausted and fatigued, you might want to take a COVID test, because it might not be allergies.
The latest COVID symptoms seem to mimic respiratory illnesses, and while mild, can include the following:
These are typical things we dont usually experience during summer.
COVID still not a seasonal virus, so we cant predict when its going to have a peak season. And as weve learned in the past, its not uncommon to see summer spikes.
As of last week, our wastewater monitoring indicates the JN. 1 variant is the main variant infecting Ohioans.
Last week Ohio had 84 new hospitalizations and cases topped 1,700 reported, but as we know, thats a drop in the bucket to whats probably really going on since we dont test like we used to do.
Ohio also had nine COVID deaths last week.
Once school is back in session, we can expect cases to rise again as people are in closer proximity to one another and the virus has an easier time spreading. And of course the virus will continue to mutate as it always does.
CDC vaccine advisers on Thursday will discuss who should get the updated COVID-19 shots that will be released in the fall.
But likely those over 65 and the immunocompromised will be at the top of the list. Meanwhile, even though its summer, remember COVID never went away and with the July 4th holiday weekend, its a perfect time for the virus to spread at parties and among crowds.
Wash your hands and use care around those who are more vulnerable.
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Ohio experiencing a slight tick in COVID-19 cases - WKYC.com
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COVID 2024: Current guidelines on vaccines, symptoms, isolation period - USA TODAY
For weeks, COVID-19 cases have been rising in almost every state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says FLiRT variants make up over half of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S., with emergency room visits and deaths ticking up. Testing shows COVID levels are exceptionally high in the West.
"The superpower it's really taking advantage of is increased transmissibility, but not necessarily worsened symptoms," Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a professor and infectious disease specialist at the University of San Francisco, told Scripps News.
He says warm weather can fuel the spread as summer travel booms and people head indoors to escape the heat.
"Add six months to the last time you had a big increase in cases, which is the winter. And that's about the time when antibodies start going down," he said.
Mark J. Terrill/AP
An updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected this fall. The CDC recommends the shot for anyone 6 months or older. Dr. Chin-Hong recommends anyone who is over 65 or immunocompromised to keep up to date with their boosters this summer.
"You'll still be in time to get the new one in the fall, which you know we generally recommend around Halloween. So, it will give you protection during the time when we expect the cases to be the highest, which is in the winter," he said.
Federal health officials are also trying to get ahead of the bird flu virus, announcing Tuesday a $176 million contract with Moderna to develop a pre-pandemic influenza vaccine.
The shot would use the same mRNA biotech as COVID shots, and could be used to protect against flu strains with pandemic potential, like the H5N1 bird flu.
"You're dealing with something that people have already studied," said Dr. Chin-Hong. "It could be done in as little as two months, let's say, or less."
The H5N1 strain has been spreading in U.S. dairy cow herds since March, infecting a few dairy workers. The CDC says public risk is still low.
Related Story: CDC recommends updated COVID-19, flu shots this fall
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