A summer COVID surge is happening in the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns — should you be concerned?
According to a news release on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, as of June 25, 2024, the CDC estimated that the number of COVID-19 infections is “increasing or likely increasing” in 44 states and territories.
Despite the rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain low, the data shows.
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As the pandemic was officially declared over on May 5, 2023, Public health Officials are no longer collecting as much COVID data as they used to.
“But the data we do have from the CDC, including wastewater monitoring data, indicates that COVID-19 infections are increasing in many places across the US,” Dr. Jay Varma, Chief Medical Officer at SIGA Technologies, a pharmaceutical company in New York City, told Fox News Digital.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warns that there is currently a summer spike in COVID cases in the US. (iStock)
Dr. Marc Siegel, MD, Clinical Professor of Medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, acknowledged that there has been an increase in cases recently.
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“There has been an uptick in certain areas, including California – fueled by the so-called FLiRT variants, KP.3, KP.2 and KP.1,” he told Fox News Digital.
“It could spread to more states.”
COVID-19 infections are “increasing or likely to increase” in 44 states and territories, according to a CDC news alert. (iStock)
CDC data shows that the KP.3 and KP.2 strains – both subvariants of the highly contagious JN.1 variant – now account for more than half of all new cases.
Does COVID spread more in the summer?
Since COVID-19 emerged in 2020, scientists have learned that the virus has seasonal patternssaid Varma, with predictable peaks in spring/early summer and winter.
“Winter spikes are easy to explain – more people are spending time indoors, and there are changes in climate, including relative humidity, that make it easier for infections to spread through the air,” said Varma, senior mayor of New York City . public health advisor during the COVID-19 pandemic, told Fox News Digital.
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However, it is not so easy to explain the peak during warmer weather.
“It could be that the virus is evolving at a frequency consistent with spring/summer, but there could also be other environmental factors that we don't really understand,” Varma said.
CDC data shows that the KP.3 and KP.2 strains — both of which are subvariants of the highly contagious JN.1 variant — are responsible for more than half of all new cases so far this summer. (iStock)
However, Siegel doesn't believe COVID is seasonal.
“It's a respiratory infection that spreads when people sit close together,” he told Fox News Digital.
“And like all respiratory viruses, it spreads further in low humidity.”
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“That said, it has not been shown to be seasonal, meaning it can spread easily even in warm weather.”
According to Siegel, the subvariants of COVID (FLiRT) are “immuno-evasive,” meaning people can get them even if they were previously immune.
Ways to stop the spread
To reduce the chance of contracting COVID this summer, Siegel says the same advice applies year-round.
“If you share indoor air, such as on an airplane or in a crowded space, wearing a high-quality mask can reduce your risk of infection,” one doctor advised. (iStock)
“If you share indoor air, such as on an airplane or in a crowded space, wearing a high-quality mask can reduce your risk of get infected”, he advised.
“If you have cough or cold symptoms, including suspected allergies, it is a good idea to get a rapid test for COVID-19.”
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A rapid test is an effective way to determine whether you are likely to be contagious to other people, Siegel added.
Despite the rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain low, data shows.
Varma agreed, noting that “it helps to be aware of the risk and perform rapid testing if you have been exposed or are sick.”
For people at high risk for infection, Varma also recommends taking Paxlovid, an antiviral drug that can help prevent serious illness.
Should you get vaccinated in the fall?
As of June 27, the CDC recommends that all people 6 months and older receive an update from 2024-2025 Covid vaccines when they become available in the fall of 2024.
“I think this is the right advice,” Siegel said.
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“While we know that the flu and COVID vaccines provide only partial protection, we also know that these vaccines are extremely safe and can lead to fewer days of work or school lost, fewer days of misery, a lower risk of long COVID, and a lower risk of spreading the infection to other people who may be at risk of hospitalization or death,” he said.
As of June 27, the CDC recommends that all people 6 months and older receive the updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccines when they become available in fall 2024. (Julian Stratenschulte/dpa (Julian Stratenschulte/photo alliance via Getty Images))
Varma agreed, noting that the updated vaccine will target the new, prevalent sub-variants.
“It will be effective and should be taken or strongly considered, especially for high-risk groups and those most at risk, including the elderly” he told Fox News Digital.
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“If COVID continues to spread, I would recommend the vaccine as one of our effective tools for adults to reduce severity and long-lasting COVID symptoms.”
He added: “For younger people it is a matter of choice, but I continue to value the effectiveness of the vaccine in reducing long COVID risk.”
