Some regions across the U.S. are seeing increases in COVID-19 cases, amid the rise of a new strain and continued dominance of variant NB.1.8.1.
Cases of XFG, which is a combination of variants F.7 and LP.8.1.2, are on the rise — accounting for about 14% of cases nationwide for the week ending June 21, the latest data available.
However, variant NB.1.8.1 variant remained the most common variant in the U.S. as of June 21, according to USA TODAY. It’s worth noting the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is using longer timeframes for its variant tracking due to low reporting, so the most recent data is from late June.
As cases tick up, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services is still recommending the COVID-19 vaccine for pregnant women and all residents 6 months and older, despite rollback on federal guidance.
Here’s what to know about the current landscape of COVID-19 cases in Wisconsin:
Is Wisconsin reporting a high number of COVID-19 cases?
There’s been a slight increase in state DHS laboratory testing and emergency department data, though officials told the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel overall activity was “minimal” Aug. 1.
For the week ending Aug. 2, 190 COVID-19 tests came back positive in Wisconsin — or 6.4% of the 2,980 ran, DHS data shows. That’s up from 2% of positive cases for the week ending June 28.
Moreover, about 0.3% of emergency department visits showed a positive COVID-19 diagnosis for the week ending Aug. 2, up from 0.1% a month prior, state data shows.
Where are the most COVID-19 cases being reported in the U.S.?
Western and southern states, like Texas, California and Arkansas, saw higher percentages of positive COVID-19 tests during the week ending Aug. 2., USA TODAY reported, citing CDC data.
Mary Walrath-Holdridge of USA TODAY contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: New COVID variant XFG is spreading across US. Is Wisconsin seeing a high number of cases?
Reporting by Cailey Gleeson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
