Fifteen states and New York City reported high levels of respiratory virus activity for the week ending Dec. 2, up from 10 states the previous week, according to newly updated CDC data.
Two states — Louisiana and South Carolina — reported "very high" respiratory virus activity levels. Thirteen states — Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas and Wyoming — and New York City reported "high" activity levels, which are a measure of the weekly percentage of visits to an outpatient healthcare provider or emergency department for fever and cough or sore throat.
They reflect "how the percentage in the most recent week compares to what that jurisdiction typically experiences during low circulation periods."
In addition to outpatient visits, new hospitalizations for COVID-19 and flu are also on the rise. New COVID-19 admissions were up nearly 18% for the week ending Dec. 2, marking the fourth straight week of increase, and flu activity is accelerating quickly across most parts of the country.
COVID-19 wastewater levels are currently high — an early indicator that further increases are in store as the holiday season begins. Meanwhile, respiratory syncytial virus infections may be turning a corner in the U.S., allaying concerns the nation could see a repeat of last year when