COVID-19

Covid hospitalizations are rising again. Here's what to know

Wastewater data also points to a rise in Covid cases. Still, experts say the odds of getting seriously ill remain low

Signs indicate that Covid is making a comeback after months of falling cases. But does the United States need to brace itself for a surge?

Experts told NBC News that while cases are going up, they are not currently expecting a huge spike in Covid and wouldn’t advise people to change their behavior for now.

Hospitalizations have been trending upward since the beginning of July — the first increase seen this year, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The agency reported 8,035 new hospital admissions for the week ending July 22, a 12.1% increase compared to the week prior, though still one of the lowest points in the pandemic. At the same time last year, for comparison, that number was more than 44,000.

“The U.S. has experienced increases in COVID-19 during the last three summers, so it’s not surprising to see an uptick after a long period of declining rates,” CDC spokesperson Kathleen Conley said in an email.

Read the full story on NBCNews.com here.

Four agencies believe the virus was transferred from animals to humans, while two others believe the virus was leaked from a lab incident.
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