What COVID-19 variants are going around in January 2024? – Nebraska Medicine

Get the latest COVID-19 news from infectious diseases expert Mark Rupp, MD, including COVID-19 case rates, types of variants circulating and vaccine updates.

There are currently more than 20,361 patients hospitalized in the United States per week, with 14% of those being ICU patients. The most recent data on the test positivity rate is from the week ending January 13, which was 11.8%. When test positivity is above 5%, transmission is considered uncontrolled.

Since many are using home tests that are not reported through public health or are not testing at all, the official case counts underestimate the actual prevalence of COVID-19.

Currently, the dominant variant nationwide is JN.1, with 61.6% of cases, followed by HV.1, with 14.8% of cases, and JD.1.1, with 4.1% of cases. "The original omicron variant is gone now," says Dr. Rupp. "Currently subvariants of omicron are circulating, including EG.5, XBB.1.16.6, and FL.1.5.1."

In the week ending January 13, 2024, there were 6,638 COVID-19 tests performed in Nebraska, with 767 positive results. This is a 11.6% positivity rate, down 2% from the week prior.

When you receive a COVID-19 test, you won't find out which variant caused your infection. That's because COVID-19 tests only detect the presence of the virus they don't determine the variant.

Genomic sequencing looks at the genetic code of the virus to determine which variant caused the infection.Sequencing results are used by public health experts to understand variant trends in the community.

The best way to prevent new variants is to slow the spread of the virus. The great news is that these proven public health strategies continue to work against new variants as well.

"We have a lot of disease out there. People should continue to be careful," Dr. Rupp says. "Get the bivalent booster, try to avoid high-risk settings. If you can't, then I think you should wear a mask."

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends everyone 6 months and older get updated COVID-19 vaccines this fall.Vaccination remains the best protection against COVID-19-related hospitalization and death.

Our pharmacies offer COVID-19 vaccines on a walk-in basis. View which vaccines are available at each location.

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What COVID-19 variants are going around in January 2024? - Nebraska Medicine