Omicron subvariants spread and cases in the US surge

By Al Mayadeen Engish
Source: News websites
13 Nov 2022 10:28

US Covid-19 cases surge as experts warn of risks as the winter season approaches.

Omicron subvariants spread while the number of people receiving booster shots remains low (Reuters)

As two unsettling omicron subvariants proliferate, the number of coronavirus cases in the US is increasing.

Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that since August, the number of Covid-19 infections in the US has been moving lower, but has surged by roughly 10% over the last two weeks. On average, more than 40,000 new cases are reported daily, however, this number is likely greatly underestimated due to unreported at-home testing.

The increase occurs as researchers anticipate a coronavirus surge this autumn and winter. Experts have expressed worries about the capacity of the healthcare systems as the flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV, are on the rise, despite the fact that COVID-19 mortality and hospitalization rates are still high but remain stable.

Before the holidays, experts have urged people to receive updated COVID-19 booster vaccinations in the hopes that they may prevent a potential coronavirus epidemic. However, vaccination rates haven't been as high as the US President Joe Biden administration would want.

On that note, Biden said “It's incredibly effective, but the truth is, not enough people are getting it,” adding that “we have to change that so we can all have a safe and healthy holiday season.”

The #US is not helping its case with the accusations being raised about its #biolabs; this time, a university in #Boston created a new lethal #COVID variant with an 80% mortality rate. pic.twitter.com/Fwk2ZAVGvJ
— Al Mayadeen English (@MayadeenEnglish) October 23, 2022

Less than 10% of Americans have received the new booster vaccinations, which are directed at both the original strain and the omicron strain.

Omicron and two of its subvariants account for the great majority of coronavirus infections in the US.

According to CDC statistics, BQ.1.1 and BQ.1, which are Omicron subvariants, accounted for 44% of this week's new coronavirus illnesses. Up from more than 32% of infections the previous week.

The two are especially worrisome since they seem to be very contagious and adept at getting over prior immunity.

“We’re really at a point that may be a crossroads here,” leading infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said in an interview last week, adding that “as we’re entering into the cooler months, we are starting to see the emergence of sublineage variants of omicron.”