Weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations have reached an unprecedented low, as per the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
In the most recent week of available data, there were a total of 5,615 COVID hospitalizations. By contrast, during the height of the Omicron variant’s circulation in early 2022, there were more than 150,000 weekly admissions.
“The remarkable decrease in COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths to these unprecedented levels is a source of great encouragement, demonstrating the effectiveness of our diligent public health measures and successful vaccination campaigns,” expressed Dr. John Brownstein, the esteemed chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital and a distinguished medical contributor for ABC News.
According to the CDC, predictions for new hospitalizations suggest that admissions are expected to remain steady over the next four weeks.
“Continuously monitoring for new variants and practicing protective health behaviors is crucial to prevent potential surges,” emphasized Brownstein.
As April comes to a close, hospitals will no longer be required to report respiratory illness data, including COVID hospital admissions. Federal officials are exploring additional data sources, including wastewater, laboratory tests, and emergency department data, to enhance their understanding of the spread of illnesses.
“One valuable takeaway from the COVID-19 pandemic is the significance of pre-established reporting systems during times of crisis,” stated a representative from the CDC. “The value of these data for protecting patient health and safety, as well as public health, cannot be overstated,” the statement emphasized.
According to data from the CDC, approximately 22.6% of adults and 14% of children have been administered the latest COVID vaccine, designed to provide enhanced protection against the current sub variants. Elderly individuals aged 65 and above have been advised by the CDC to consider getting an updated COVID vaccine this spring, as they face a higher risk of developing severe illness.
An independent panel of advisors for the Food and Drug Administration is scheduled to convene in mid-March to deliberate on the strains that should be included in the upcoming formulation of COVID vaccines. As the virus has evolved since the beginning of the pandemic, vaccines have been adapted to provide enhanced protection against current strains.
COVID deaths have been consistently decreasing this year, reaching record lows. In the most recent week for which data is available, the CDC reported an estimated 231 deaths from COVID. Unfortunately, the data on deaths may be delayed and potentially incomplete.
During the peak of the pandemic, the number of Americans succumbing to the virus on a weekly basis exceeded 25,000, with the Delta variant rapidly spreading throughout the nation.
“Maintaining robust surveillance and data collection is of utmost importance in order to swiftly respond to any changes in the virus’s behavior,” Brownstein emphasized.