With fall, and by extension, respiratory illness season, underway, COVID-19 cases have continued to fluctuate nationwide.
Some regions of the United States are experiencing “very high” and “high” COVID-19 viral activity, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), prompting states to take their own actions to address cases amid federal turmoil around vaccines. Meanwhile, one strain, Stratus, continues to dominate all others in the U.S., accounting for an even higher percentage of cases than the previous month.
While the CDC has slowed its pace in reporting certain COVID-19 data, such as variant prevalence, it 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 Sept. 20, 7.9% of Americans tested were positive for COVID-19, according to the CDC’s latest data. This was a decrease from the prior week (9.7%).
During the same period, 0.8% of all deaths in the United States were attributed to COVID-19, the same as the week before, and 1% of all emergency room visits were due to COVID, down from 1.3% in the previous week.
Map of COVID-19 test positivity by region
According to the most recent CDC wastewater data for the week ending Sept. 25, states across the U.S. had “very high” or “high” levels of COVID-19 viral activity, including Connecticut, Delaware, Nevada, Utah, Alabama, Arkansas, California, Indiana, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington.
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 Saturday, Sept. 27, variant XFG, also known as “Stratus,” was the most common, accounting for 85% of cases, followed by NB.1.8.1 at 7% of cases and LP.8.1 and NW.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 70% by late August.
What are COVID-19 vaccine guidelines?
A battle around COVID-19 vaccines is ongoing among 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. Instead, 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 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 from previous expert guidance and bypassed the normal scientific review process.
On Sept. 19, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) did not implement further restrictions on the vaccine, but also fell short of voting on clear recommendations on eligibility. Instead, panel members voted to “promote more consistent and comprehensive informed consent processes” and encourage discussion between patients and providers about the risks and benefits of vaccination. Updated CDC guidelines refrain from making recommendations and instead suggest parents consult with their child’s pediatrician on a case-by-case basis.
State health departments and national professional organizations – including the American Medical Association, American Academy of Pediatrics and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists – have broken from Kennedy and HHS on these guidelines, suggesting the vaccine for pregnant women and children and issuing statewide orders to protect access.
The AAP released its own vaccine recommendations on Aug. 19, breaking from federal guidance shaped by Kennedy.
The academy schedule recommends that all children aged 6 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.
Health insurance companies have also vowed to cover the COVID-19 vaccines “with no cost-sharing for patients through the end of 2026,” according to America’s Health Insurance Plans.
Variant XFG, also known as “Stratus,” remained the dominate strain of COVID-19 in the U.S. through September.
What are the symptoms of current COVID-19 strains?
While some people report symptoms like hoarseness or “razor blade throat” as being more common with certain variants, health agencies, including the CDC and the World Health Organization, note that there is no evidence of specific symptoms being unique to different strains.
The CDC outlines these common COVID-19 symptoms:
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Congestion or a runny nose
New loss of taste or smell
The CDC advises seeking medical care if you experience any of the following symptoms:
Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
Inability to wake or stay awake
Depending on skin tone, lips, nail beds and skin may appear pale, gray or blue
Contributing: Adrianna Rodriguez, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: What to know about COVID-19 this week, including cases, strains, more
