COVID-19 exams obtainable once more amid new CDC information on variants, instances
Virtually 60% of constructive infections in the US are from COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1, the newest projections from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention (CDC) present.
The company’s Nowcast information tracker, which shows COVID-19 estimates and projections for two-week durations, mirrored that the KP.3.1.1 variant accounted for 58.7% of constructive infections, adopted by KP.2.3 at 9.4% within the two-week stretch beginning on Sept. 15 and ending on Sept. 28.
KP.3.1.1 first grew to become the main variant within the two-week interval, beginning on July 21 and ending on Aug. 3.
“The KP.3.1.1 variant is similar to different circulating variants in the US. All present lineages are descendants of JN.1, which emerged in late 2023,” Rosa Norman, a spokesperson on the CDC, beforehand advised USA TODAY.
Beforehand, the KP.3.1.1 variant made up 50.2% of instances for the two-week interval that began on Sept. 1 and ended on Sept. 14, and KP.2.3 accounted for 12.0%. In accordance with the info, KP.3.1.1 rose 8.5%, and KP.2.3 decreased 2.6% from Sept. 14 in projected constructive infections.
In accordance with the CDC’s Nowcast information, the next variants are within the high 10:
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COVID-19 exams:Free COVID-19 exams at the moment are obtainable. Here is how one can get them.
Free COVID-19 exams
The U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers (HHS) introduced final week that households throughout the nation can get hold of 4 free at-home COVID-19 exams whereas provides final.
The free at-home take a look at giveaway comes after a rise in constructive COVID-19 exams, and as flu exercise begins to spark in October.
“Earlier than you go to with your loved ones and pals this vacation season, take a fast take a look at and assist preserve them protected from COVID-19,” Daybreak O’Connell, HHS assistant secretary for preparedness and response mentioned in an announcement.
The exams will have the ability to detect the dominant COVID-19 variants now circulating, in accordance with the CDC.
COVID-19 vaccine
Within the FDA’s press launch on Aug. 22, the federal company mentioned that the mRNA COVID-19 2024-2025 vaccines have been up to date with a, “formulation to extra intently goal presently circulating variants and supply higher safety in opposition to critical penalties of COVID-19.”
In accordance with the press launch, the up to date COVID-19 vaccines embrace “a monovalent (single) part that corresponds to the Omicron variant KP.2 pressure of SARS-CoV-2.”
In an announcement, Norman advised USA TODAY, “CDC and the Meals and Drug Administration (FDA) are working collectively to verify COVID-19 vaccines proceed to match presently circulating variants.”
JN.1 is a COVID-19 variant that has been circulating since December 2023. The CDC explains how JN.1, KP.2, KP.3, and KP.3.1.1 variants are all linked.
“KP.3.1.1 is a sub-lineage of KP.3,” Norman mentioned. “KP.2, KP.3 and KP.3.1.1 are all descendants of JN.1 and have comparable spike proteins.”
COVID-19 instances on the rise:What to find out about vaccines the FDA permitted, newest CDC information
COVID-19 Present Wastewater Viral Exercise Ranges Map
Observe: Sometimes, wastewater information are up to date weekly and the info that’s printed exhibits the outcomes for the prior week. Nonetheless, the outcomes can take as much as 5 days to every week to be printed on-line. Thus, the info from Sept. 21 is taken into account the latest information.
Here’s a map of the states and territories which have reported wastewater viral exercise ranges. The info was printed on Sept. 27.
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Here’s a breakdown of the info that’s proven within the map of the states and territories which have reported wastewater viral exercise ranges:
- Very Excessive: 13 states
- Excessive: 20 states; one territory
- Average: 9 states
- Low: six states
- Minimal: one state
- No Knowledge: one state; one territory
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Adjustments in COVID-19 take a look at positivity inside every week
Knowledge collected by the CDC exhibits that 5 states and one territory that make up Area 3 had the most important lower (-3%) in constructive COVID-19 instances from Sept. 15, 2024, to Sept. 21, 2024.
The info was posted on Sept. 27.
Observe: The CDC organizes positivity price based mostly on areas, as outlined by the U.S. Division of Well being and Human Providers.
Here is the listing of states and their areas’ modifications in COVID-19 positivity for the previous week:
- Area 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont): -2.1%
- Area 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands): -0.2%
- Area 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia): -3%
- Area 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee): -2.3%
- Area 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin): -2.2%
- Area 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas): -2.3%
- Area 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska): -1.6%
- Area 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming): -1.8%
- Area 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau): -0.8%
- Area 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington): +0.6%
The CDC information exhibits COVID-19 take a look at positivity price was recorded at 11.6% from Sept. 15 to Sept. 21, an absolute change of -1.8% from the prior week.
COVID-19 signs
The CDC has not mentioned if the completely different variants have their very own particular signs. The federal government company outlines the essential signs of COVID-19 on its web site. These signs can seem between two and 14 days after publicity to the virus and might vary from gentle to extreme.
These are a number of the signs of COVID-19:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or issue respiration
- Fatigue
- Muscle or physique aches
- Headache
- Lack of style or odor
- Sore throat
- Congestion or runny nostril
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
The CDC mentioned it is best to search medical consideration in case you have the next signs:
- Hassle respiration
- Persistent ache or stress within the chest
- New confusion
- Incapacity to wake or keep awake
- Pale, grey, or blue-colored pores and skin, lips, or nail beds
Ahjané Forbes is a reporter on the Nationwide Trending Staff at USA TODAY. Ahjané covers breaking information, automobile remembers, crime, well being, lottery and public coverage tales. E-mail her at aforbes@gannett.com. Observe her on Instagram, Threads and X (Twitter) @forbesfineest.
