https://mailchi.mp/377fb3b9ea0c/the-weekly-gist-august-4-2023?e=d1e747d2d8

After experiencing steadily declining numbers across 2023, the country is currently seeing an uptick in COVID-19 hospitalizations, which increased 12 percent week-over-week, to approximately 8,000 in the week ending July 22. This rise, the largest since December, follows an increase in national wastewater levels of COVID across the past month, particularly in the Northeast and South. Given that most health agencies are no longer tracking COVID case levels, and many Americans are no longer getting tested or testing themselves, actual case counts are unclear. 

The Gist: Though COVID hospitalizations are up, weekly totals are still among the lowest the nation has seen since the pandemic began. And while COVID deaths are a lagging indicator, the most recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data charts them at their lowest level since the start of the pandemic. 

Nonetheless, if this COVID uptick continues into fall, we could once again be facing a “tripledemic” of COVID, flu, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) circulating at high levels all at once, straining hospital resources. 

Fortunately, an updated COVID vaccine is coming this fall. Urging Americans, particularly older and vulnerable patients, to get vaccinated for all three viruses will be critical—although convincing individuals to get three separate shots will increase the challenge.