Georgia COVID infections increasing
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Wash your hands, cover your mouth and wear a mask. Georgia and other Southern states are seeing a summertime increase in new COVID infections, according to the state and federal health data.
Why it matters: The number of COVID-related deaths is low compared with the early days of the pandemic, but the virus still poses serious health risks to people and has caused long-term effects.
- The busy summertime travel season and more people congregating indoors to avoid extreme heat can also contribute to the virus' spread.
Zoom in: Cases are increasing among every age group in Georgia except for people aged 55 to 64. That group saw a less than 5% change, according to the most recent Georgia Department of Public Health data.
- Every metro Atlanta county saw cases increasing among at least one or more age groups compared with two weeks prior, the data says.
Viral shed measured in sewage and wastewater has become one of the best ways to gauge COVID's spread, the AJC notes. Viral activity in Georgia's wastewater is currently very high, according to the CDC.
Zoom out: 25 states including Georgia are experiencing a summertime surge of COVID-19, with infections growing or likely growing based on emergency room visits, according to recent CDC estimates.
- Alaska, Hawai'i, Louisiana, Florida and New York were the only states with rates declining or likely declining.
- Georgia had the country's second-highest probability that the number of COVID cases was growing in the state, the CDC estimated.
Yes, but: Nationwide, COVID case levels remain relatively low.
- The KP.3 and KP.2 strains, descendants of the highly contagious JN.1 variant and among the so-called variants, account for almost 70% of all cases earlier this month.
What's next: CDC advisers in June recommended that people 6 months of age and older receive updated COVID-19 vaccines when they become available this fall.