In the United States, flu and COVID-19 cases are increasing following the holiday season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported high or very high levels of respiratory illnesses in 38 states. Around 20,066 people were hospitalized with influenza last week and seven pediatric deaths were reported. COVID-19 hospitalizations have risen, but are still lower than previous winters. The JN.1 COVID-19 variant is now the majority of cases in the U.S. and is believed to be more transmissible. Some hospitals are reinstating mask requirements. Vaccination rates for both flu and COVID-19 are lower than desired, with COVID-19 vaccination rates particularly low. Despite the surging cases, flu vaccines are well-aligned with the circulating strain and the current strain causes fewer deaths and hospitalizations compared to other variants.
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Flu And COVID-19 Infections Continue To Surge After Holiday Season: CDC
