The numbers don’t lie. While our current COVID forecast doesn’t exactly stack up against January’s sharp spike in weekly case reports, the current COVID “swell” we appear to be heading into has plenty of experts talking.
As summer rolls on, summer gatherers, grads, and backyard barbecue-ers may all relax their inhibitions. We’re here to let you know that it’s still so important to follow the latest from the CDC, even as we distance ourselves from the worst of the pandemic.
Is It Already Surge Season?
As of June 1, 2022, weekly case reports nationwide have been topping 100,000. Shouldn’t things be slowing down by this point?
If this recent piece from U.S. News is anything to go by, the pandemic is far from over. In some very rural areas, things are, in fact, cooling down. But our most populous cities, and a few ringers from states like Kansas and Texas, are all acting as COVID hotspots.
Is A Lack Of Natural Immunity The Problem?
Even after a COVID-19 infection, studies show that natural population immunity actually begins to fade after approximately four to six months. We use booster vaccines to try to address this inability to sustain COVID immunity beyond the projected average, but breakthrough cases are still common enough to make a significant impact post-vaccination.
Mostly, this reality is attributed to the speed with which COVID is able to adapt and to evolve past our vaccines and boosters. Omicron alone is 32 mutations removed from the Delta variant before it; while emerging sub variants like BA.4, BA.5, and BA.2.12.1 aren’t necessarily deadlier than their predecessors, they’re regarded as being much more mobile and transmissible for largely the same reasons.
All of these factors align into the perfect storm for rising case reports. Nobody has all of the answers, but experts predict COVID surges in the South this summer and in the North this winter.
The best way to stay ahead of the curve? Consulting the CDC and the WHO when in doubt is always going to be our advice. Masking up, practicing social distance, and limiting one’s exposure to the public are all great ways to avoid an infection yourself this surge season.
Should You Get Tested?
Our take: the time is always right for a COVID-19 test, especially if you live in a high-risk area or have otherwise been exposed to a large group of people.
We encourage you to make the most of this summer safely—outdoor festivals, backyard gatherings, and a rousing night out on the town are unlikely to put you at risk, as long as you’re able to follow the latest CDC guidelines for gatherings.
