Health officials urge caution as new Omicron variants drive increase in COVID cases

The White Residence issued a blunt information to all People above age 50 on Tuesday: get vaccinated versus COVID-19. 

“If you have not gotten a vaccine shot in the year 2022, go get 1 now. It could save your existence,” said Dr. Ashish Jha, the White Property COVID-19 response coordinator. 

The urgency is owing to the explosive distribute of the most up-to-date Omicron variants — BA.4 and BA.5 — now liable for a lot more than 80% of all new COVID circumstances, in accordance to the Centers for Ailment Management and Prevention. 

“BA.4 and BA.5 are our most immune evading variants however,” said Dr. Celine Gounder, editor-at-huge of Kaiser Well being Information. 

COVID transmission stages are at the moment significant in a great deal of the West, the Southeast and elements of the Northeast. Quite a few of those people conditions are reinfections. In the past, it was predicted that if a individual contracted COVID in the earlier 90 times, they ended up safeguarded towards reinfection. 

“The virus is mutating so immediately and fast,” Gounder said. “It is switching so drastically, your immune system will have a more durable time battling off this present wave. We are already observing an boost in hospitalizations. The great information is that less folks are ending up in the ICU.” 

Doctors are urging vigilance. 

“My greatest worry is that individuals are just exhausted with COVID, and that they are not likely to do the other factors that we know will avoid infection and transmission – items like masking, opening windows,” Gounder mentioned. “I am fearful men and women are exhausted of having all those extra measures.” 

The CDC and Food stuff and Drug Administration might shortly update their assistance on boosters for all Individuals. In the meantime, wellness officers are anticipating COVID instances to hold rising in the coming weeks, and advise that you get analyzed in advance of accumulating indoors or visiting substantial-hazard people today this summer time.