According to official data, the number of Covid infections in the US has nearly doubled in the past month due to the presence of two highly-mutated variants. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that the test positivity rate has risen from one in 15 to one in eight, indicating the highest level of positivity in over a year. Some states, like Texas, Arkansas, and Louisiana, have seen one in six Covid swabs testing positive. However, it has become more challenging to detect new outbreaks early due to a decrease in mass testing. Despite this, all indicators point to a rapid rise in infections, including an increase in hospitalization rates for Covid patients over the past five weeks. Although these rates remain low, the situation is concerning.
Several factors contribute to the rise in cases, including the emergence of highly transmissible variants, declining vaccine immunity, and the start of the school year, leading to larger gatherings and increased mingling. The two new variants, Eris and Pirola, are highly mutated and are believed to be better at evading vaccine and natural immunity. Eris may account for up to half of all Covid infections, and Pirola cases have been recently detected in Michigan and Virginia. The severity and symptoms of the variants are still largely unknown due to limited testing.
Medical experts, like Dr. Thomas Moore, emphasize that while cases are rising, the severity is not as severe as previous variants. The strains are spreading faster due to increased transmissibility but do not appear to be deadlier or cause more severe infections. However, caution is still advised as Covid remains a potential threat. Lionsgate, a Hollywood studio, has reintroduced mask mandates amid concerns about rising virus rates and the new variant.
Former FDA commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb reassures that there is no evidence of the variants being deadlier or causing more deaths. Health experts urge against panic and believe that despite increased transmissibility, the variants are unlikely to undermine the immunity gained through vaccination and previous infections. Hospitalization rates have risen but remain significantly lower than last year, and weekly deaths have dropped. This could be due to the variants producing less severe cases, as a majority of Americans have some level of antibodies against Covid-19.
Despite the reassurances, calls for mitigation efforts, such as wearing masks, are being made. Some colleges and businesses have reinstated mask mandates, and public health officials recommend wearing masks in healthcare settings. Lionsgate studios has reintroduced mask mandates for its employees after several positive cases were reported. The situation remains fluid, and these measures may be in place until further notice.
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