Latest on COVID


Latest on COVID Cases, deaths, variants, vaccines, testing and more.

COVID-19 cases continue to climb week-over-week as summer draws to a close, according to U.S. health data. Some regions of the United States are experiencing higher rates of positive COVID-19 tests than others, though reporting has slowed down enough nationwide that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun allowing more time to pass between certain types of updates, such as those on variant prevalence.

However, amid the confusion of new strains, changing vaccine guidelines and cuts to vaccine development funding, the CDC continues to track cases, hospitalizations and deaths on a weekly basis. Here's what to know about the latest data.

How many COVID-19 cases were reported nationwide?

 Through the week ending Aug. 23, 11.2% of the 37,732 Americans tested were positive for COVID-19, according to the CDC's latest data. This was an increase from the prior week (9.9%).

During the same period, 0.5% of cases resulted in death, the same mark as the week prior, and 1.5% resulted in an emergency room visit, an increase of 0.2 percentage points. Western and Southern states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as Alaska and Hawaii, had higher percentages of positive COVID-19 tests during the week ending Aug. 23.

What is the most common COVID-19 variant? 

 The CDC has transitioned to using longer timeframes to release model-based projections about COVID-19 variants because of low reporting from states. According to the latest data projection for the four weeks ending Aug. 30, variant XFG was the most common, accounting for 78% of cases, followed by NB.1.8.1 at 14% of cases and LP.8.1 at 3%.

XFG, a recombination of variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, experienced a meteoric rise to become the predominant strain, having been responsible for 0% of U.S. cases through March, 14% by late June, 42% by early July and 60% by early August. 

What are COVID-19 vaccine guidelines?

Latest on COVID this week: Cases, deaths, variants, vaccines, testing and more Portrait of Mary Walrath-HoldridgeMary Walrath-Holdridge USA TODAY COVID-19 cases continue to climb week-over-week as summer draws to a close, according to U.S. health data. Some regions of the United States are experiencing higher rates of positive COVID-19 tests than others, though reporting has slowed down enough nationwide that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has begun allowing more time to pass between certain types of updates, such as those on variant prevalence. However, amid the confusion of new strains, changing vaccine guidelines and cuts to vaccine development funding, the CDC continues to track cases, hospitalizations and deaths on a weekly basis. Here's what to know about the latest data. How many COVID-19 cases were reported nationwide? Through the week ending Aug. 23, 11.2% of the 37,732 Americans tested were positive for COVID-19, according to the CDC's latest data. This was an increase from the prior week (9.9%). During the same period, 0.5% of cases resulted in death, the same mark as the week prior, and 1.5% resulted in an emergency room visit, an increase of 0.2 percentage points. Map of COVID-19 test positivity by region Western and Southern states, including Washington, Oregon, Idaho, California, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee and Kentucky, as well as Alaska and Hawaii, had higher percentages of positive COVID-19 tests during the week ending Aug. 23. What is the most common COVID-19 variant? The CDC has transitioned to using longer timeframes to release model-based projections about COVID-19 variants because of low reporting from states. According to the latest data projection for the four weeks ending Aug. 30, variant XFG was the most common, accounting for 78% of cases, followed by NB.1.8.1 at 14% of cases and LP.8.1 at 3%. Get the Daily Briefing newsletter in your inbox. The day's top stories, from sports to movies to politics to world events. Delivery: Daily Your Email XFG, a recombination of variants LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, experienced a meteoric rise to become the predominant strain, having been responsible for 0% of U.S. cases through March, 14% by late June, 42% by early July and 60% by early August. Download USA TODAY's app to get to the heart of news Deadly cattle screwworm parasite found in US patient. What to know Latest on COVID this week: Cases, deaths, variants, vaccines and more California resident tests positive for plague after camping in South Lake Tahoe How does Legionnaires’ disease spread? What to know about NYC outbreak US pediatric group breaks with CDC advice, recommends COVID vaccines for young children Measles outbreak at the center of record US case numbers officially over, Texas says.

 What are COVID-19 vaccine guidelines? 

A battle around COVID-19 vaccines is ongoing between regulators, health officials and experts. On Aug. 27, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that emergency-use authorizations for COVID-19 vaccines had been terminated and that the Moderna, Pfizer and Novavax immunizations had been approved only for "those at high risk" and people over 65. This could make it harder for others who want the COVID-19 vaccine to get it, experts warned.
Kennedy had previously stated on May 27 that the COVID-19 vaccine would no longer be included in the CDC's recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, a move that broke previous expert guidance and bypassed the normal scientific review process. State health departments and national professional organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), have broken from Kennedy and HHS on these guidelines, suggesting the vaccine for pregnant women and children. The AAP released its own vaccine recommendations on Aug. 19 in a break from federal guidance shaped by Kennedy. The AAP schedule recommends that all children ages six months to 23 months receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine to reduce the chance of serious illness. Children and adolescents aged 2 to 18, without other high-risk factors like immunosuppression, can receive and should be offered the vaccine if they were not previously immunized, according to the guidance. 
 Updated CDC guidelines refrain from making recommendations and instead suggest parents consult with their child's pediatrician on a case-by-case basis.

COVID-19 outbreaks


Source: USA Today.

Location: United States

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