Health
COVID hospitalizations are on the rise, could signal ‘late summer wave,’ says the CDC
The number of COVID-19 hospitalizations is rising this summer in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Hospitalizations of people with the virus are up 10%, per CDC data — the sharpest increase since December 2022.
More than 7,100 patients with COVID were hospitalized in the week of July 15, up from 6,444 the prior week.
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COVID-related emergency room visits are also on the rise, comprising 0.73% of visits as of July 21, compared to 0.49% a month prior.
“After roughly six, seven months of steady declines, things are starting to tick back up again,” Dr. Brendan Jackson, the CDC’s COVID-19 incident manager in Atlanta, Georgia, told NPR this week.
COVID-19 hospitalizations are seeing a summer uptick in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (iStock)
“We’ve seen the early indicators go up for the past several weeks,” he continued.
“And just this week, for the first time in a long time, we’ve seen hospitalizations tick up as well.”
He added, “This could be the start of a late summer wave.”
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The spikes have been most prominent in the Southeast, Jackson said.
“Early indicators of COVID-19 activity (emergency department visits, test positivity and wastewater levels) preceded an increase in hospitalizations seen this past week,” CDC spokesperson Kathleen Conley said in a statement.
Despite the uptick, she confirmed that COVID rates are still at “near-historic lows” in the U.S.
Despite the uptick in hospitalizations, a CDC spokesperson confirmed that COVID rates are still at “near-historic lows” in the U.S. (iStock)
Overall, COVID deaths continue to decline.
They’re now at the lowest rate since the CDC started keeping track, according to Jackson.
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The surge in summer cases doesn’t mean the CDC plans to recommend a return to masking, he said.
More concerning are the “mutagenic” subvariants emerging in Asia, the doctor said.
“For most people, these early signs don’t need to mean much,” Jackson said.
Dr. Marc Siegel, professor of medicine at NYU Langone Medical Center and a Fox News medical contributor, is skeptical that a summer surge is underway.
“I am likely going to recommend the new XBB subvariant booster in the fall, especially for those in high-risk groups who haven’t had a recent infection or vaccine,” said Siegel. (iStock)
“Ordinarily, I would pay careful attention to wastewater analysis, but given the amount of immunity still around from prior infection and vaccination — coupled with the fact that we are still within the Omicron family with most infections remaining mild and hospitalizations showing only a slight uptick — I don’t see this as a harbinger of another surge,” he told Fox News Digital.
“These are just embers of a fire not completely out.”
More concerning to Siegel are the “mutagenic” subvariants emerging in Asia, the doctor said.
As a result, said Siegel, “I am likely going to recommend the new XBB subvariant booster in the fall, especially for those in high-risk groups who haven’t had a recent infection or vaccine.”
Every day of the week, Fox News Digital publishes a range of health pieces to keep you up-to-date on the most important wellness news.
We cover cutting-edge medical research, breakthrough medications, mental health challenges, personal medical dramas and more.
In case you missed them, here are a few of our biggest health stories from this week.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
You can see a full list of recent health pieces at http://www.foxnews/health.
1. Hunger could be tied to sleep, expert says
If you’re feeling hungrier than usual lately, your sleep routine could be the culprit. A nutritional biologist offers tips for regulating sleep and curbing unhealthy cravings. Click here to get the story.
The food you eat can determine the quality of your sleep, according to experts. Here are the latest findings. (iStock)
2. Health agencies issue bird flu update: ‘Alert, not alarmed’
The CDC and WebMD teamed up this week to deliver an hour-long update on Thursday about the current bird flu outbreak. Fox News Digital breaks down the most important points. Click here to get the story.
Experts assured the public that drinking pasteurized milk remains safe. (iStock)
3. Melanoma patients share their stories
For Skin Cancer Awareness Month, two melanoma patients are speaking up about their symptoms, treatment and prevention tips to help others avoid the potentially deadly disease. Click here to get the story.
Abby Weiner, pictured at left and at right with her husband and sons, was diagnosed with melanoma in Oct. 2023. (Abby Weiner)
4. Report reveals staggering discrepancy in health care costs
Patients with private health insurance could be charged up to 300% more than those with Medicare, a new report reveals. Doctors explain the reasons for the sticker shock. Click here to get the story.
The new report published the names and pricing models of more than 4,000 U.S. hospitals. (iStock)
5. Pastor shares important message about depression
A Dallas pastor who fought his own depression battle shares how he overcame the disease – and why it’s so important for those in church leadership to seek help when they need it. Click here to get the story.
Mark Dance, pictured with his wife, Janet Dance, said he suffered through a three-year period of depression while serving as a pastor. (Dr. Mark Dance)
6. Nurse’s depression is cured through breakthrough tech
A Chicago nurse struggled with COVID-19-related PTSD and depression for years until electrical brain tapping therapy finally gave her a new lease on life. Click here to get the story.
“Had I not had this treatment today, I don’t know where I’d be,” the patient told Fox News Digital. (Melanie Eilers)
7. Young vaper shares warning after nearly dying
A 22-year-old man in Nebraska required a double lung transplant due to vaping. Jackson Allard shares his story as a cautionary tale. “I had a 1% chance to live,” he said. Click here to get the story.
This week’s health stories have included a pastor’s depression journey, the sleep-hunger connection, health care cost discrepancies, bird flu updates and more. (Mark Dance, iStock)
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/health.
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