COVID update -- better but not over.

This article is an extensive quote from the US Government Centers for Disease Control.  ( CDC link )

Key Updates for Week 24, ending June 13, 2020

Nationally, levels of influenza-like illness (ILI) and COVID-19-like illness (CLI) remain lower than peaks seen in March and April but are increasing slightly in some regions. The percentage of specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, also increased slightly from last week in some regions.  Mortality attributed to COVID-19 decreased compared to last week but remains elevated above baseline and may increase as additional death certificates are processed.

Public Health, Commercial and Clinical Laboratories

The overall percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 increased slightly from week 23 (6.1%) to week 24 (6.4%), driven by increases in five regions. National percentages by type of laboratory:

    Public health laboratories – increased from 5.1% during week 23 to 5.5% during week 24;
    Clinical laboratories – decreased from 4.8% during week 23 to 4.6% during week 24;
    Commercial laboratories – increased from 6.3% during week 23 to 6.7% during week 24.

Two surveillance indicators are being used to track outpatient or emergency department (ED) visits for illness with symptoms compatible with COVID-19.

    Nationally, levels of ILI remain below baseline for the ninth week and in all 10 surveillance regions for the past seven to ten weeks. However, a few regions reported slight increases in percentage of visits for ILI and CLI.
    Recent changes in health care seeking behavior, including increasing use of telemedicine, recommendations to limit emergency department (ED) visits to severe illnesses, and increased practice of social distancing, are likely affecting data reported from both networks, making it difficult to draw conclusions at this time. Tracking these systems moving forward will give additional insight into illness related to COVID-19.

Severe Disease
Hospitalizations

Cumulative COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates since March 1, 2020, are updated weekly. The overall cumulative COVID-19 hospitalization rate is 94.5 per 100,000, with the highest rates in people aged 65 years and older (286.9 per 100,000) and 50-64 years (143.0 per 100,000).

Mortality

Based on death certificate data, the percentage of deaths attributed to pneumonia, influenza or COVID-19 (PIC) decreased from 11.4% during week 23 to 7.1% during week 24 but remained above baseline. This is the eighth week of a declining percentage of deaths due to PIC, but this may change as more death certificates are processed, particularly for recent weeks.

Key Points

    Overall, indicators used to monitor COVID-19 activity are low nationally; however, small increases were seen in the percentage of specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 and the percentage of visits for ILI or CLI in multiple parts of the country.
    Nationally, using combined data from the three laboratory types, the percentages of laboratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 with a molecular assay increased slightly from week 23 (6.1%) to week 24 (6.4%).

Increases were reported in five HHS surveillance regions: Region 2 (North East [USA]), Region 4 (South East), Region 6 (South Central), Region 7 (Central) and Region 10 (Pacific Northwest).

While the number of specimens from children  <18 adult="" age="" all="" and="" br="" commercial="" for="" group="" groups.="" health="" higher="" in="" is="" it="" laboratories="" low="" of="" percentage="" positive="" public="" sars-cov-2="" specimens="" tested="" testing="" than="" the="" this="" years=""><18 adult="" age="" all="" and="" br="" commercial="" for="" group="" groups.="" health="" higher="" in="" is="" it="" laboratories="" low="" of="" percentage="" positive="" public="" sars-cov-2="" specimens="" tested="" testing="" than="" the="" this="" years=""><18 18="" adult="" age="" all="" and="" commercial="" for="" group="" groups.="" health="" higher="" in="" is="" it="" laboratories="" low="" nbsp="" of="" percentage="" positive="" public="" sars-cov-2="" specimens="" tested="" testing="" than="" the="" this="" years="">

<18 adult="" age="" all="" and="" br="" commercial="" for="" group="" groups.="" health="" higher="" in="" is="" it="" laboratories="" low="" of="" percentage="" positive="" public="" sars-cov-2="" specimens="" tested="" testing="" than="" the="" this="" years="">The percentage of outpatient and emergency department visits for ILI are below baseline nationally and in all regions of the country. Most regions have remained stable, compared to last week; however, a few regions have noted slight increases in both ILI and CLI.

<18 adult="" age="" all="" and="" br="" commercial="" for="" group="" groups.="" health="" higher="" in="" is="" it="" laboratories="" low="" of="" percentage="" positive="" public="" sars-cov-2="" specimens="" tested="" testing="" than="" the="" this="" years=""> Systems monitoring ILI and CLI may be influenced by recent changes in health care seeking behavior, including increasing use of telemedicine, recommendations to limit emergency department (ED) visits to severe illnesses, and increased practice of social distancing.

 <18 adult="" age="" all="" and="" br="" commercial="" for="" group="" groups.="" health="" higher="" in="" is="" it="" laboratories="" low="" of="" percentage="" positive="" public="" sars-cov-2="" specimens="" tested="" testing="" than="" the="" this="" years="">    The overall cumulative COVID-19 associated hospitalization rate is 94.5 per 100,000, with the highest rates in people 65 years of age and older (286.9 per 100,000) followed by people 50-64 years (143.0 per 100,000). Hospitalization rates are cumulative and will increase as the COVID-19 pandemic continues.
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Non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native persons have a rate approximately 5.5 times that of non-Hispanic White persons, non-Hispanic Black persons have a rate approximately 4.5 times that of non-Hispanic White persons, and Hispanic or Latino persons have a rate approximately 4 times that of non-Hispanic White persons.
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Cumulative hospitalization rates for COVID-19 in adults (18-64 years) at this time are higher than cumulative end-of-season hospitalization rates for influenza over each of the past 5 influenza seasons.
For people 65 years and older, current cumulative COVID-19 hospitalization rates are within ranges of cumulative influenza hospitalization rates observed at comparable time points* during recent influenza seasons.
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For children (0-17 years), cumulative COVID-19 hospitalization rates are much lower than cumulative influenza hospitalization rates at comparable time points* during recent influenza seasons.
~~~~~~~~   *Number of weeks since 10% of specimens tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 and influenza, respectively.