President Joe Biden’s recent positive Covid-19 test highlights a troubling trend: a resurgence in Covid-19 cases across the U.S. This summer has seen an uptick in cases, marked by increased wastewater viral measures and a rise in hospitalizations. Many Americans are experiencing the impact firsthand, with either personal positive tests or knowing others who have tested positive. Despite Covid-19 becoming a more constant presence alongside other respiratory viruses, this summer’s spike is disrupting lives and creating confusion around testing, vaccine boosters, and infection management.
Experts in infectious disease, virology, and public health have weighed in on the situation. Aaron Glatt, Chair and Professor of Medicine at Mount Sinai South Nassau, reassures that while immunity may not prevent infections entirely, it typically protects against severe illness. “Once you really get a decent immunity, you may get the virus again, but you’re probably not going to get very sick from it,” Glatt explained.
Current Covid-19 Statistics and Trends
The exact number of Covid-19 cases is hard to pin down due to variable testing and mild infections that often go unreported. However, data from wastewater analysis and hospital admissions indicate an increase in Covid-19 activity. The CDC reports high viral activity for July, though still lower compared to January peaks of previous years, particularly January 2022 when Omicron led to a major surge.
This summer’s increase is somewhat expected, as SARS-CoV-2 has shown periodic surges each summer since 2020. Despite the rise in cases, the rate of severe outcomes has decreased significantly due to widespread immunity from vaccines and prior infections. While the virus still causes severe cases and deaths, particularly among the elderly and those with pre-existing conditions, overall hospitalizations have risen from a few patients to between 10 and 15 per month at some hospitals.
Evolving Virus and Updated Guidance
The continued evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus contributes to ongoing infection rates. New variants, including substrains KP.3, KP.2, and LB.1, are currently on the rise. Despite this, recent variants have not drastically changed the Covid-19 landscape compared to the major shifts seen in 2021 with Delta and Omicron.
Testing availability has become a challenge, with free at-home tests no longer offered by the federal government since March. Michael Mina, co-director of the Home Test to Treat program, acknowledges the difficulty this poses, noting that many people are reluctant to purchase tests at retail prices. The FDA advises against using expired tests, although some kits may have extended expiration dates based on stability testing.
Regarding Covid-19 management, current CDC guidelines recommend isolating for five days from the onset of symptoms and resuming normal activities only if fever-free for 24 hours and symptoms have improved. Jonathan Li, an infectious disease specialist at Harvard Medical School, suggests that while widespread immunity reduces the risk of severe outcomes, the most vulnerable populations still need careful management. New treatments like the monoclonal antibody Pemgarda are available for those with impaired immunity, though they are costly.
As for booster shots, experts recommend that high-risk individuals—such as the elderly and immunocompromised—get vaccinated now. For others, waiting until updated vaccines become available in the fall may be reasonable. This approach helps balance immediate protection with the benefits of newer vaccines targeting emerging variants.
Also read: High Prevalence of Long COVID Among Pregnant Individuals: New Study Reveals
