Are we sure it’s not four years ago? That first summer of the coronavirus pandemic , when wearing a mask outdoors was a new kind of sweltering, when travel plans were changed, canceled, or infection-inducing . You’re not alone if you’ve experienced COVID deja vu this summer. The U.
S. is in the midst of what’s become an annual summer surge in COVID cases . In fact, the nation is experiencing its biggest spike in summer infections yet, according to test positivity records from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) .
Over the past four summers, peak test positivity has volleyed between July and August: 2020: 7.5% week ended July 11 2021: 11.2% week ended Aug.
21 2022: 14.3% week ended July 23 2023: 14.5% week ended Aug.
26 This year, cases have consistently increased since May, with test positivity projected to reach 18.1% the week ended Aug. 10.
Provided the CDC confirms this preliminary statistic, it would mark the first time in more than 2 1⁄2 years that test positivity has exceeded 16%. Even that may be an underestimate; with at-home COVID tests widely available, not everyone who tests positive reports their infection to their state health department . So if you’ve noticed people masking up in crowded settings, testing kits in high demand at your local pharmacy, and colleagues calling out sick, you haven’t succumbed to a time slip back to 2020.
COVID-related hospitalizations were projected to dip the week ended Aug. 10, having risen since late sp.