According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States are continuing to rise. For the week ending September 9, hospitalizations increased by 7.7% from 19,068 to 20,538 weekly hospitalizations. This is the first time since mid-March that COVID hospitalizations have surpassed 20,000.
However, it is important to note that these figures are comparatively low overall when compared to the peak of the omicron wave in the winter of 2021-2022. During that time, weekly hospitalizations reached a staggering 150,674 in the week of January 15, 2022.
Despite the increase, the current number of weekly hospitalizations remains lower than hospitalizations during the same period in previous years. In 2020, hospitalizations stood at 24,504 for the same period, while in 2021 they were 80,166, and in 2022 they were 31,571.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, commented on the situation, stating that although the rising hospitalizations are not surprising, they are still far from the levels of previous surges. He emphasized the importance of preparing for the upcoming winter, as other viruses such as the flu and RSV are expected to increase, which could strain the healthcare system.
In addition to the increase in hospitalizations, 2.3% of all deaths in the U.S. last week were attributed to COVID-19. While deaths have been rising in recent weeks, they are still at their lowest levels since the start of the pandemic.
To combat the ongoing situation, updated COVID vaccines are being made available for everyone aged 6 months and older. These updated vaccines, developed by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are designed to target the currently circulating variants, including the XBB variant, which is an offshoot of the omicron variant. Recent data suggests that these updated vaccines provide additional protection against the current variants, particularly in preventing severe disease and death among vulnerable populations.
The updated vaccines have already been distributed to approximately 19,000 sites nationwide, and health experts are hopeful that widespread adoption of the new vaccine will help prevent a potential surge in cases during the winter. However, the success of this strategy ultimately depends on individuals’ willingness to receive the vaccine in a timely manner.
Sources:
– Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
– ABC News
