For the week ending September 3, CDC estimates that Omicron variants BA.4/BA.5 accounted for 91% of US cases nationwide, with BA.5 alone accounting for 89% of cases. The newest emergent variant, BA.4.6 increased in prevalence over the past week from 6.7% to 7.5% nationwide. The central Midwestern states, which include Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska, were the first to see growing proportions of BA.4.6 and are still seeing the highest percentage, with the variant now making up 18% of viral samples compared to about 17% in the prior week. These data indicate that BA.4.6 is slowly increasing in prevalence, but at a much slower pace than that seen with prior Omicron variants. See HERE.
Hospital admissions for COVID-19 are in a gradually declining trend, suggesting a similar decline in virus transmission. New hospital admissions have declined about 27% since the peak admissions seen in late July, but are still about 3-fold higher than that seen in April 2022. CDC continues to recommend up-to-date vaccination to reduce risks for severe disease, hospitalization, and death, as well as Paxlovid treatment for mild to moderate COVID-19 in persons at high risk for progression to severe disease - despite “Covid-19 rebound” occurring in some treated patients. See HERE
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