When news broke that President Joseph R. Biden had once again contracted COVID-19, it was a reminder to all Americans that the virus is not only still here but is with us permanently. The president tested positive after speaking at the annual convention of the NAACP in Las Vegas. He had mild symptoms and was forced to return to the White House from his home in Delaware.
President Biden is among several notable government officials who recently tested positive, including Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff, Health & Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, and Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA).
Many Americans ask, “Are we still in a pandemic?”
A recent report issued by Boston University, “All of these changes, plus the widespread relaxation of mask policies in public places,” begs the question whether or not the pandemic is ever present.
“Or has COVID-19 reached the endemic stage, meaning it’s here to stay but not spreading out of control? The terminology can be confusing,” according to the Boston University report.
For example, the World Health Organization (WHO) still calls COVID-19 a pandemic, even after declaring an end to the public health emergency last spring.”
“In addition, 2,000 people are dying every week from COVID in the U.S., and we are continuing to learn more about COVID and its consequences,” the Boston report revealed, before emphasizing a warning. “Although we are in a different phase, there are still reasons to remain vigilant.”
As of April 26, 2023, the total number of both confirmed and presumptive cases and deaths in this country from COVID-19 had reached over 104 million and 1.1 million, respectively.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), America is experiencing a noticeable uptick in COVID-19 cases in summer. Infections are rising in 43 states, while declining in the remaining seven. In addition to Washington, D.C., states most at risk include Alaska, Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Minnesota, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon, Texas, and Washington state.
Several factors are cited for the uptick in infections, including Americans being inside gatherings where the virus spreads faster due to record heat waves and not wearing masks.
Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University, explained epidemiologists have named a new group of variants FLiRT.
“It makes up more than 70% of Covid infections in the U.S. The name is a reference to their amino acid changes,” Osterholm said. “The variants — KP.3, KP.2, and KP.1.1—share the same key mutations, which could make it easier for the virus to bypass protections from vaccines or prior infections.”
Considering the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the DMV and across the country, Americans would be wise to return to wearing masks in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor areas, including on public transportation.
Appropriate steps should also be taken if you are exposed to anyone who has tested positive.