(Image from UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation)
In the video below, Dr. Ali Mokdad with UW Medicine and UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation talks about current COVID activity, how we’re doing with Flu and RSV and the latest on China after it ended its “Zero COVID” policy.
One of the newest COVID variants continues its rapid spread toward dominance, but that’s not as bad as it might sound
There are three COVID Omicron sub-variants making their way around the country including, says Doctor Ali Mokdad with UW’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, the big one: XBB 1.5. It’s now up to 43% of the cases genotyped in the U.S. and is expected to become the dominant variant. He also notes that only 6% of cases are being detected currently, which is likely a sign of less testing, whether it’s less public testing or more at-home tests where the results aren’t often reported. Doctor Mokdad says the good news is the disease caused by XBB 1.5 is less severe and we’re not seeing increases in hospitalizations and deaths like they expected. Mokdad says, “Vaccines are still highly effective against them. Previous infections are producing, still, immunity against them.” Mokdad also reminds us that the vaccines aren’t meant to prevent infection, although there is some protection against infection. Their purpose is to protect against hospitalization and death from COVID.
Mokdad says we’re also seeing COVID activity on the decline here in Washington and, after a rapid spike with flu and RSV, we’re also seeing those numbers drop at a steady pace.
It’s a different story in China, where lifting restrictions, known as “Zero COVID”, have caused an explosion of new cases. Doctor Mokdad says the fact that the disease the current sub-variants produce is one thing that’s helping China, but he says the sheer number of cases they’re seeing are starting to overwhelm hospitals.
Mokdad says China has a very low vaccination rate in its elderly population, with many refusing to take the vaccines because of their beliefs in traditional Eastern medicine, so the country has promised it will keep space for older people who get sick with COVID.
