The spike is highest across a region covering Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Texas.
According to the most recent data, a late summer surge of Covid-19 is sweeping across the US, originating from a cluster of South Central states.
The spike is most pronounced in a region encompassing Arkansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Texas.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reveal that 15% of Covid tests in these states are returning positive results.
However, these figures likely don’t capture the full extent of the surge. Experts suggest that the real numbers are underreported as more people disregard symptoms or opt for at-home testing kits instead of lab tests.
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This news comes as RFK Jr. plans a Covid vaccine ‘ban in months’, despite the associated risks.
The entire Western half of the country is experiencing a rise in cases. An additional dozen states report current positive test rates of 10%.
This follows the resignation of several officials from the CDC who accused President Donald Trump of “weaponizing” public health.
A CDC panel is slated to convene in September to discuss shot accessibility and affordability. Testing sewage and wastewater often provides a reliable gauge of how many people are ill.
Wastewater data indicate ‘very high’ virus activity levels in five states: Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas, and Utah.
The CDC explains: “Wastewater monitoring can detect viruses spreading from one person to another within a community earlier than clinical testing and before people who are sick go to their doctor or hospital. It can also detect infections without symptoms.”
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According to The Hill, it’s not uncommon for Covid to be active during the summer. This pattern has been observed every year since the pandemic began during the warmer months.
Epidemiologists suggest that the likelihood of the virus spreading increases when people spend time in air-conditioned spaces.
There’s also more interaction among people as travel tends to increase in the summer, raising exposure risks.
Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, a senior epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, told the New York Times that immunity might be waning for those who received a Covid-19 vaccine last fall.
This week, the Food and Drug Administration approved updated Moderna, Pfizer, and Novavax vaccines for seniors. However, access was limited for younger adults and children without high-risk conditions.
Earlier this week, the Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was removed from her position after less than a month on the job. Three top officials followed suit, indicating a mass departure from the agency.
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