Weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations have experienced a significant increase of more than 10% nationwide, according to data recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This surge marks the largest percentage increase in hospitalizations since December. The CDC reported a total of 7,109 admissions of COVID-19 patients for the week of July 15, up from 6,444 admissions the previous week.

In addition to hospitalizations, another important metric that has been on the rise is the percentage of emergency room visits attributed to COVID-19. As of July 21, an average of 0.73% of the past week’s ER visits were COVID-19-related, compared to 0.49% at the end of June. These new figures come after months of declining COVID-19 trends across the country since the last wave of infections during the winter.

CDC spokesperson Kathleen Conley stated that the recent increase in hospitalizations follows early indicators of COVID-19 activity such as emergency department visits, test positivity rates, and wastewater levels. Conley emphasized that virtually all counties in the country are currently experiencing “low” COVID-19 hospital admission levels, which are below the CDC’s recommended thresholds for additional precautions.

However, one region in the country did not observe an increase in hospitalizations last week compared to the previous week, and that is the Midwestern region encompassing Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Despite the recent rise in hospitalizations, the current numbers remain significantly below the levels recorded at the same time last year. In July 2021, there were over 44,000 weekly hospitalizations and 5% of ER visits attributed to COVID-19 during a summer surge.

Conley highlighted that the United States has experienced increases in COVID-19 cases during the past three summers, making the current uptick not surprising. However, projections for the coming months differ, with an ensemble of academic and federal modelers suggesting that the main period of COVID-19 activity is expected to occur in late fall and early winter over the next two years.

Regarding variants, the CDC’s current projections indicate that various descendants from the XBB variant that drove infections last winter are now competing across the country. The most predominant of these subvariants are the XBB.1.16, XBB.1.9.1, XBB.2.3, XBB.1.6, and EG.5 strains, which account for roughly 10% to 15% of infections nationwide.

As health authorities prepare for a new round of COVID-19 vaccinations in the fall, updated vaccines targeting these XBB strains are expected to be available by late September. The FDA has requested drugmakers to produce new formulations to provide enhanced protection against currently circulating variants. The CDC will transition to a traditional commercial market for vaccines, and government distribution of current supplies is set to wind down in anticipation of this shift.

Despite the upcoming availability of updated vaccines, the CDC recognizes that certain individuals may need or wish to receive a COVID-19 vaccine before the updated version is released in the fall. In exceptional situations, current supplies of shots will continue to be shipped until September. The updated vaccine is projected to offer more robust protection against the existing variants.

In conclusion, weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States have risen by over 10%, representing the largest percent increase since December. While hospitalizations and ER visits related to the virus have been on the rise in recent weeks, they remain significantly lower than the levels seen last year. The CDC attributes the increase to early indicators of COVID-19 activity, with most counties in the country experiencing low hospital admission levels. As health authorities prepare for a new round of vaccinations targeting XBB variants, updated vaccines are expected to be available by late September.