If you notice an increasing number of people around you suddenly coughing, you may need to suspect a COVID-19 infection. With the terrible memories of the pandemic that struck the globe still fresh, signs of a resurgence of the virus are appearing across the United States this year. According to the latest modeling by the Federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “COVID-19 infections are increasing or likely to increase in all states except Iowa, which was excluded due to insufficient data.”
In particular, the Washington region, including Virginia and Maryland, is also showing an upward trend in infections, raising vigilance regarding a resurgence of COVID-19 ahead of the autumn and winter respiratory season.
According to the CDC’s infectious disease trend analysis as of August, no states showed a decrease in COVID-19 infections, but the virus announced that it is not spreading to the level of a large-scale pandemic seen in the past. The CDC stated that COVID-19-related emergency room visits remain at a “very low” level, and the incidence of severe cases also remains low. Although the Washington area has also been classified as being at a “very low level,” it is too early to be complacent amidst a nationwide upward trend.
In particular, given the nature of metropolitan areas where people travel between states, there is a possibility that an increase in infections in one region could rapidly spread to neighboring areas. The CDC is also tracking the spread of major respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, influenza, and RSV. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) plans to supply an updated COVID-19 vaccine starting this fall to address the currently circulating XFG variant.