Rising COVID-19 activity in a few Northeastern states appears to be driving a slight increase in national cases, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
In global developments, the global COVID-19 total topped 500 million cases today, as parts of Asia battle rising surges linked to the more transmissible Omicron variant.
BA.2 footprint large where cases are rising
The 7-day average for cases reached its lowest level following the Omicron surge at the end of March and into early April, according to an ongoing analysis from the Washington Post, with the level today up slightly, showing an average of 31,653 daily cases.
Four of the five states with the highest 7-day case rises are in the Northeast, ABC News reported yesterday, citing CDC data. Rhode Island has the highest 7-day case rate, with increases also occurring in Vermont, New York, New Jersey, Maine, and Connecticut.
The slight rise nationally is occurring against the backdrop of the growing dominance of the more transmissible BA.2 subvariant and amid a brisk spring and Easter break travel season.
Yesterday, city officials in Philadelphia announced they would reinstitute a mask mandate starting on Apr 18. Some colleges in the Northeast have also brought back masking, including American University and George Washington University in Washington, DC, Columbia University and Barnard College in New York, and Johns Hopkins in Maryland.
According to CDC Nowcast data, as of Apr 9, the BA.2 Omicron subvariant made up more than 92% of sequenced samples in region 2, which covers New York, New Jersey, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. In region 1, covering Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island, BA.2 made up more than 90% of samples.
As heath officials eye signs of rises, less than 1 in 10 Americans currently describe COVID-19 as a crisis, according to the latest Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index. About 3 in 4 call it a manageable problem, and 1 in 6 say it's no problem at all.
Shanghai, Taiwan expect further rises
Meanwhile, some locations in Asia that experienced later Omicron surges are still battling steadily rising cases, despite strong or strict COVID-19 measures.
In China, a government health official said Shanghai's outbreak still isn't under control and cases will likely stay high over the next few days, according to Reuters. The country's National Health Commission today reported 27,509 new local cases, of which 26,345 are asymptomatic. Of the asymptomatic cases, 95% are from Shanghai, which has entered its third week of a lockdown.
Taiwan's cases are still relatively low, but are steadily rising, and today the health minister warned that cases could pass 1,000 a day by the end of April, according to Reuters. Chen Shih-chung, MD, urged the public not to panic and said few serious cases have been reported in the wave.
Globally, cases have declined over the past 2 weeks, but cases are still reported at high levels, as the world's total passed 500 million cases, according to the Johns Hopkins online dashboard.
