.png)
In certain areas, there's a resurgence of mask mandates due to a rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Lionsgate, a Hollywood studio, reintroduced mask mandates in certain sections of its Santa Monica, California offices after several employees tested positive, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter.
Morris Brown College in Atlanta has implemented a two-week mask mandate and placed restrictions on large gatherings. Similarly, select healthcare institutions, including Kaiser Permanente in California and two Upstate Medical University sites in Syracuse, New York, have reinstated face mask requirements.
Lee County School District in Kentucky moved to remote learning for two days, citing an uptick in illnesses, including COVID, strep throat, and the flu, among students and staff.
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows about 13,000 nationwide COVID-19 hospitalizations last week, a 50% increase from late June. The New York Times' tracker reports states like Delaware, North Carolina, Missouri, Florida, and Hawaii have the highest per-capita COVID hospitalization rates. The most recent surges are seen in Massachusetts, Vermont, and Kentucky. However, these numbers are still lower than the nearly 41,000 hospitalizations this time last year. Moreover, last week's 251 COVID-19 related deaths mark the lowest since the outbreak began in March 2020.
Three variants are under close observation by health officials.
The EG.5 subvariant, often dubbed Eris, was designated as a "variant of interest" by the World Health Organization (WHO) earlier this month and is now the dominant strain in the U.S. It accounts for over a fifth of new cases, according to the CDC.
13.3% of infections are attributed to the FL.1.5.1 subvariant, or "Fornax", which saw a significant rise in cases over the past fortnight. Both Eris and Fornax have mutations that might enhance their spread.
However, the WHO mentioned there's limited global evidence suggesting Eris, a descendant of the omicron subvariant XBB.1.9.2, poses a higher public health risk than earlier strains.
The CDC also spotlighted the BA.2.86 subvariant, rare but genetically distinct from previous COVID-19 versions. It might have a higher potential to infect those previously infected or vaccinated, though the data remains inconclusive. Its presence in five countries indicates possible international transmission. This subvariant was also detected in a U.S. wastewater sample, with the exact location unspecified.
The Royal Society in the UK released a study highlighting that prompt safety measures like masking, social distancing, and travel restrictions during the pandemic effectively slowed COVID-19 spread in several countries, aligning with the recent reintroduction of mask mandates.