As COVID-19 cases surge in the U.S. amid the rise of FLiRT variants, a new map from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reveals which states have been hardest hit.
The data shows that four Southern states and one Southwestern state are experiencing the highest rates of infection. In Region Six—comprising Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas—23.5 percent of COVID tests were positive, an increase of 7.3 percentage points from the previous week.
The overall number of new positive COVID cases in the U.S. increased by 1.3 percentage points over the past week, rising from 13% to 14.3%. The data excluded at-home tests.
The CDC's map allows for the comparison of infection rates across different regions, with data now averaged over various administrative areas rather than reported by individual states.
Region Nine reported the second-highest rate of new infections at 17.8 percent. This region includes Arizona, California, Hawaii and Nevada.
With the exception of Region Four, the other seven regions reported an infection rate higher than 10 percent.
Region Four, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee, recorded the lowest rate of new infections at 9.7 percent.
In May, a new coronavirus variant emerged as the dominant strain in the U.S., leading experts to anticipate a possible "summer wave" of COVID cases.
The new strains, known as "FLiRT" due to the specific mutations in their spike proteins, were initially detected in U.S. wastewater. Symptoms of this strain are believed to be similar to those of currently circulating strains, as outlined by the CDC.
As we transition from the current summer wave into the winter season, which often sees a rise in cases, the CDC has advised that everyone aged 6 months and older should receive the updated 2024-2025 COVID vaccine, regardless of their vaccination history.
Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer will all release updated vaccines later this year.
The CDC also stressed the importance of receiving both the COVID and flu vaccinations, as they remain crucial to preventing severe outcomes including hospitalization and death. The organization confirmed that it is safe to receive both vaccines in a single visit.
The latest data from the CDC comes as scientists warn that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19 has been detected in a large suite of common backyard animals across the U.S.
The virus was found in animals including deer mice, Virginia opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, Eastern cottontail rabbits and Eastern red bats.
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