New trend shows COVID-19 hospitalizations increase

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the United States are increasing as a new omicron subvariant, referred to as EG.5 or “eris,” spreads. During the first week of August, new weekly hospitalizations rose by over 14%, exceeding 10,000 cases. This marks the highest level since the spring. Although deaths have not shown a similar increase yet, experts warn that the rise in hospitalizations should be taken seriously. The EG.5 variant has gained attention and is considered a “variant of interest” by the World Health Organization due to its global spread and potential to evade immunity from vaccines and previous infections. While the public health risk is currently categorized as “low at the global level,” there is concern that it could become dominant in some regions. This increase in hospitalizations serves as a reminder to continue treating the virus seriously as winter approaches.