The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported over 35,800 Covid-19 hospital admissions last week, marking the ninth straight week of increases. Respiratory virus activity remains high as people with cough and fever symptoms visited healthcare providers in 35 states plus New York City and Washington D.C.Is Covid variant JN.1 cases rising in the USThe week-over-week surge has largely leveled off following the winter holidays when more social gatherings and travel typically coincide with higher coronavirus transmission. However, U.S. hospital admissions have reached levels not seen since last winter.“Despite test positivity, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations remaining elevated nationally, the rates have stabilized, or in some instances decreased, after multiple weeks of continual increase,” the CDC stated Friday.Where United States stand in Covid-19 virus levelsThe United States currently has “very high” Covid levels according to wastewater surveillance data. The virus is killing over 1,600 Americans weekly based on preliminary CDC data.The omicron subvariant JN.1, now the predominant U.S. strain, is largely responsible for the current outbreak. While its spreading fastest nationally, the CDC says “There is no evidence that JN.1 presents an increased risk to public health relative to other currently circulating variants.”What is Covid variant JN.1 and how dangerous it isJN.1 currently accounts for 44% of U.S. Covid cases. Its transmission rate doubled in just two weeks per the CDCs December data. The World Health Organization classified it as a “variant of interest.” JN.1 has caused hospitalizations and some deaths across the country.Is JN.1 mutatedHowever, evidence suggests JN.1 does not pose a greater public health threat than other circulating variants. The strain has over three dozen spike protein mutations compared to XBB.1.5, which dominated most of 2022. But Covid vaccines still appear to protect JN.1 like other variants.What are symptoms of Covid variant JN.1Symptoms are generally similar across variants, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, body aches, headache, loss of taste/smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea.While the current increase may be stabilizing, the CDC urges continued precautions like staying up-to-date on vaccines and boosters. Officials continue monitoring hospital data closely amid ongoing high virus activity this winter.
