COVID-19 Surge
Recent weeks have seen a noticeable uptick in COVID-19 activity, with 27 states reporting “very high levels” of the virus in their wastewater, as revealed by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This marks an increase from the previous week, where 20 states were identified, and it’s nearly quadruple the levels from mid-July.
Certain regions are feeling the impact more acutely, with the Western states experiencing the highest concentrations, followed closely by the South. This spike in wastewater readings typically signals a rise in infections, which is consistent with the gradual climb in positive COVID-19 test results recently. By August 5, 17.6% of all conducted tests (excluding at-home tests) returned positive results.
COVID-19 Surge
This summer’s wave of COVID infections has been primarily driven by a new category of variants, collectively known as FLiRT, named for the locations of mutations on their spike proteins—the projections that allow the virus to enter cells. These mutations also help the virus evade immune responses, making it more challenging for the body to fight off the infection.
As of August 3, the KP.3.1.1 subvariant has emerged as the dominant strain, accounting for over 25% of U.S. cases, with FLiRT variants making up 75% of the total. Despite the recent surge in infections, hospitalization rates remain low. The new FLiRT variants, while more contagious, do not appear to cause more severe symptoms than earlier strains.
Symptoms remain consistent with earlier versions of the virus, generally mild in most cases, as noted by the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. The CDC lists symptoms such as:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath
- Fatigue
- Muscle or body aches
- Headache
- Loss of taste or smell
- Sore throat
- Runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
However, those at higher risk may still face severe illness, making it crucial to self-isolate following a positive COVID test.
