COVID Is Staging A Summertime Comeback … Should You Be Worried?

We all remember the collective nightmare that was 2020 and 2021, when COVID-19 caused widespread lockdowns and anxiety-inducing health concerns even among those who managed to escape serious infections.

But here we are several years later and, in most cases, the pandemic is little more than a fading — albeit traumatic — memory. That could be about to change.

Cases spike nationwide

Hopefully you’re staying healthy, but COVID-19 infections are clearly on the rise. Even though there’s not an official tally of cases like there was during the pandemic, other statistics are pointing toward a troubling trend as we get deeper into summer.

• The rate of infection appears to be up in more than three dozen states.
• There’s no U.S. state where cases are decreasing.
• Reported COVID-19 hospitalizations spiked 25% between May 26 and June 1.
• In California, positive tests more than doubled over the past month.

Infectious disease specialist Dr. Thomas Russo concluded: “It looks like the summer wave is starting to begin.”

Analyzing the risks

Summer has typically ushered in an increase in COVID-19 cases since more people are indoors together during the hottest months of the year. So the fact that infections are on the rise isn’t altogether unexpected — and experts seem to agree that there’s reason to believe this year’s variants won’t be as severe as those in years past.

Nevertheless, some people are at higher risk of serious illness, and there’s a new variant — LB.1 — that is quickly spreading, currently accounting for more than 17% of reported cases.

“It’s sort of the newest kid on the block,” explained Dr. Dan Barouch of the Beth Israel Deaconess Center for Virology and Vaccine Research. “There’s not much known about it.”

Early evidence suggests LB.1 is more infectious and less responsive to vaccines than other variants.

Chris Agee June 26th, 2024

Share this story: