Current COVID Surge and Factors Behind It

A significant surge in COVID infections is occurring in the United States, with estimates of 1 to 1.2 million infections per day. This increase is largely concentrated in 25 states, especially in the South and West, and is attributed to new variants, specifically KP3.1, which is becoming the dominant strain. The current wave is exacerbated by the decline in immune protection from past vaccinations, as well as an observed abandonment of preventative measures such as mask-wearing among the public. This combination of new, virulent variants and reduced personal safeguards is resulting in a dramatic rise in infections compared to hospitalizations and deaths, which, while increased, have not risen at the same alarming rate.