COVID surge grows as cases in 26 states now ‘very high’ and ‘high,’ CDC says

(Ryan Mancini) — Cases of COVID-19 are growing across 45 states, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said virus levels in 26 of those states are now “very high” or “high.” Across parts of the west, including in California, Nevada, Oregon and Texas, and states in the east like Arkansas, Florida and Maryland have seen cases reach “very high” levels as wastewater levels over the past month have risen.

No states are seeing a decline or likely decline in cases.

Hospitalizations and emergency room visits remain low despite the average number of emergency room visits being the highest that it has been since February, the agency said.

States are seeing what the CDC called probabilities of epidemic growth, with estimated values above one indicating epidemic growth.

The omicron strains that continue to dominate the number of COVID-19 cases in the nation are KP.3 and KP.2, part of the FLiRT family of strains descended from the omicron variant. “FLiRT” derives from the technical names of their mutations, according to the Infectious Disease Society of America.

Between 18% and 31% of COVID-19 cases are due to the spread of KP.3, while 17% to 30% of cases are caused by KP.2, according to the CDC’s COVID-19 tracking data.

As the FLiRT strains spread, the Food and Drug Administration advised in June drug manufacturers to develop COVID-19 boosters to target the KP.2 strain to be administered in the fall.