What’s with all the confusion around vaccine recommendations lately? (Scripps News)
COVID-19 cases are on the rise again this summer.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that infections are growing, or are likely growing, across 36 states, with a nationwide positive test rate of 9.9%, up 1.4% from last week.
Here’s what to know about the summer uptick in cases and how it’s impacting South Carolina residents:
How many cases
are in SC?In South Carolina, the CDC states the probability COVID-19 cases are growing stands at 99.8%.
Of the 2,652 COVID-19 test results reported in South Carolina, 9.2% were positive – translating to about 244 cases, according to CDC data from Aug. 16.
As of June 21, when the CDC last updated its variant tracker, variant NB.1.8.1 was the most common, accounting for 43% of cases, followed by LP.8.1 at 31% of cases and XFG at 14%. All three are strains of the Omicron variant first identified in late 2021.
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Another piece of the puzzle comes from the virus’s presence in wastewater.
Nationally, there are low levels of the virus in wastewater; however, certain states, including Texas, Utah and Nevada, have some of the highest concentrations of COVID-19 in their wastewater systems.
South Carolina is also reporting high levels of the virus in wastewater, with 19 sites reporting concentrations.
Why are cases
rising now?Since 2020, COVID-19 cases have risen in July and August, due to a mix of warm weather, human behavior patterns and an easily mutating virus, according to Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.
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Summer waves of the virus are not uncommon, with the following factors often playing the largest role in the spread each year:
Immunity wanesHuman behavior (spending more time inside when it’s hot, back to school and restricted air ventilation)Travel
COVID-19 does circulate year-round and is known to peak twice a year, once in the winter and in the summer.
The CDC states that if you feel sick, the best practice is to stay home and distance yourself from others.
Symptoms to look out for include:
Fever or chillsCough, shortness of breath, difficulty breathingSore throat, congestion or runny noseNew loss of taste or smellFatigue, muscle or body achesHeadacheNausea, vomiting or diarrhea
To stay healthy during the summer months and throughout the rest of the year from COVID-19, the CDC recommends:
Regular hygiene practice, like handwashingOpening windows or using air purifiers for ventilationDistancing from others if you feel sick
On Aug. 27, the Food and Drug Administration approved updated COVID-19 vaccines for the upcoming fall and winter season for some Americans.
Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines are now approved for people who are 65 and older, and those under 65 must be high-risk individuals with at least one health condition that makes them vulnerable to COVID-19, such as asthma, cancer, heart or lung problems, obesity or depression.
How do I know if I have COVID-19?RSV, flu and COVID-19 exhibit similar symptoms, but they are caused by different viruses.
While COVID-19 circulates year-round, with winter and summer spikes, RSV and flu tend to be most active between December and February.
To differentiate what virus you may have, the CDC says that taking a test is the only way to confirm a diagnosis.
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