COVID-19 infections are increasing across the United States, in large part due to the new, fast-growing FLiRT variants, including the dominant KP.3 strain. KP.
3 currently accounts for about 37% of new cases nationwide and is expected to keep rising, prompting concerns about a COVID-19 summer wave. What’s more, COVID-19 cases are either growing or likely growing in 45 states as of July 9, according to . KP.
3 is part of a family of highly contagious, mutated variants called the FLiRT variants — which include KP.3, KP.2 and KP.
1.1. Combined, they are driving more than two-thirds, or about 70%, of COVID-19 infections nationwide.
These new variants, which scientists dubbed after the locations of their spike protein mutations, have been circulating in the U.S. since the early spring.
Recent CDC data shows an increase in , emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Will there be another summer COVID-19 wave? What are the symptoms of the FLiRT variants? Are vaccines still effective? Here's what to know. The U.
S. is currently facing a rise in COVID-19 infections, which many experts consider to be the start of an anticipated summer wave, . While the CDC no longer tracks the total number of cases in the U.
S., there are clear indicators that COVID-19 is spiking across the country. The most recent CDC data available show test positivity is at 11%, up from 9.
1% from the previous week. During , test positivity was at about 12%, for comparison. published by the CDC show that the viral a.