As of 25/8, 10% of Covid-19 tests in the US are positive, a slight increase from the previous week. This figure is significantly higher in some southern states, approaching 20%.
Meanwhile, the Covid-19 hospitalization rate is 1.7 per 100,000 people, double that of two months ago. Approximately 200 people have died from Covid-19 each week over the past two months.
A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) spokesperson suggested the rise may be linked to the spread of the Stratus variant, waning community immunity, and increased gatherings and travel during the holiday season. While deaths and hospitalizations haven't dramatically increased, the CDC notes it's "too early to fully assess the scale of the outbreak".
Stratus is a combination of two Covid-19 variants, F.7 and LP.8.1.2. Professor Subhash Verma, a microbiology and immunology expert at the University of Nevada, explained that XFG's mutations allow it to better evade antibodies, but don't significantly increase disease severity or transmissibility.
While the WHO has listed XFG as a variant under monitoring, they assess its health risk as low, emphasizing that current vaccines remain effective in preventing severe illness.
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Covid-19 illustration. Photo: UC Health |
Covid-19 illustration. Photo: UC Health
Tensions at the CDC peaked after Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. altered vaccination recommendations, particularly when new members of the vaccine advisory board stated they would review the childhood and adolescent vaccination schedule in the fall. This sparked resignations, including newly appointed CDC Director Susan Monarez, who was fired, along with the director of the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases, Demetre Daskalakis, and two other senior leaders. Daskalakis asserted that the policy changes are "life-threatening".
In response, dozens of CDC employees protested on 28/8. Secretary Kennedy stated on Fox News that the CDC is "in trouble" and he is "fixing it," suggesting that "some people shouldn't continue working there." Deputy Health Secretary Jim O'Neill was appointed acting CDC director. Experts warn this staffing crisis will severely weaken the CDC as it faces health challenges.
Secretary Kennedy's advisory council will meet in September to discuss Covid-19 boosters before the acting CDC director issues official recommendations.
Hoang Dung (ABC, Axios)
