Has COVID-19 Winter Resurgence Begun in the US? Cases Rising in Half of 50 States

[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Jae-hee] The number of new COVID-19 cases in the United States, which had been declining for a while, has started to rise again, showing signs of a resurgence.

As winter approaches, attention is focused on whether the country is entering the early stages of another major COVID-19 outbreak, similar to last year.

CNN reported on the 13th (local time) that in the past week, new COVID-19 cases have increased in about half of the 50 states in the U.S.

Additionally, hospitalizations due to COVID-19 have risen in 11 states, and deaths have increased in 17 states.

The regions showing a spread of COVID-19 are mainly the cold northeastern states and the Mountain region surrounding the Rocky Mountains.

For example, in Michigan, both infections and hospitalizations are increasing. Hospitalizations rose by 20% in the past week alone.

Dr. Nick Gilpin of Beaumont Health said, "The Detroit metropolitan area is becoming a hotspot again," adding, "I feel we will be in this situation for the next few months."

Dr. Gilpin explained, "Because there is not much that can change this unless people fundamentally start to change their behavior," and predicted, "This spread could last for 4 to 5 months."

In Colorado, new infections increased by 30% last week. Governor Jared Polis signed an executive order granting booster shot eligibility to all adults aged 18 and over, stating that the entire state is considered a high-risk area for COVID-19 infection.

While U.S. health authorities had recommended booster shots only for seniors aged 65 and older and high-risk adults aged 18 and over, Colorado expanded eligibility to all adults.

On the other hand, southern states that led the fourth resurgence last summer now have the fewest new cases. Florida and Texas, which accounted for 22% of all new U.S. cases two months ago (one in five cases), now account for only 6%.

According to statistics compiled by The New York Times (NYT), the average daily new cases over the past week as of the 12th were 79,234, a 9% increase compared to two weeks ago.

Compared to October 25, when the number was at its lowest since the fourth resurgence last summer at 70,291, this is an increase of about 9,000 cases. In the U.S., daily new cases have remained around 70,000 since late October, but the graph shows a gradual upward trend.

Infectious disease experts say that the large number of unvaccinated people and many refusing to wear masks indoors could mean another resurgence, CNN reported.

Ali Mokdad, an infectious disease scholar at the University of Washington, said, "Today is a really sad day," adding, "Cases that were decreasing are now increasing. This is happening at a time when the U.S. has all the means to prevent spread and save lives."

Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota, said that the large number of unvaccinated people and waning immunity in some vaccinated individuals, combined with the Delta variant, in-person schooling, and the upcoming year-end holiday season, are likely to create new hotspots over the coming weeks and months.

Osterholm said, "I expect we will continue to see a surge in cases," adding, "It may not be as high as what we experienced last summer, but a resurgence will occur."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.