COVID Levels 'Very High' In California As New Variant Spreads: CDC

CALIFORNIA— President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday amid a national uptick in emergency room visits and hospitalizations. Activity in California is classified as "very high," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

With fresh cases bubbling up, particularly the southwestern U.S., health officials are recommending that all Americans get a new vaccination this fall.

CDC wastewater monitoring shows “very high” coronavirus levels in seven states and “high” rates in another 19. The Golden State's "very high" rate of transmission is based on tests conducted at 43 wastewater treatment sites.

Our region, which also includes Nevada and Arizona, reported a nearly 16 percent test positivity rate over the past two weeks, according to CDC data.

Nationwide, emergency room visits related to COVID-19 are up 23.5 percent for the week ending July 6 compared to the previous week. The test positivity rate during the same period was 11 percent, up from 8.6 percent the week before.

Western states have the nation's highest wastewater viral activity, according to the CDC, and tests show very high levels in neighboring states like Nevada and Oregon, with high levels in Washington.

The White House said Wednesday that Biden has mild symptoms and is isolating in his home but still performing the full duties of the office. Officials didn’t say what strain of COVID the president has, but most hew cases nationwide are caused by the “FLiRT” variant, the CDC said. Biden is being treated with Paxlovid, the medication used to treat COVID-19.

• Related: What To Know About The New FLiRT Coronavirus Mutation

Although it appears illnesses associated with FLiRT aren’t as serious as those caused by other variants, some symptoms set it apart. They include:

• Sore throat
• Cough
• Fatigue,
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Fever or chills
• Headache
• Muscle aches
• Loss of sense of taste or smell
• Diarrhea

Because of his age, Biden, 81, is among the people most at risk for severe illnesses, along with immunocompromised and people with severe medical conditions. He is taking Paxlovid, officials have said.

“We continue to see more mild disease, but that’s likely not because the virus is milder, but because our immunity is so much stronger now. After years of vaccinations and infections, most of the population is better able to fight off an infection without as much concern for severe disease,” Andy Pekosz, a professor in microbiology and immunology at Johns Hopkins University, told a school publication.

Avoiding crowded indoor areas, wearing a mask, and avoiding those who are sick with COVID are all ways to prevent catching the new FLiRT variant, health officials have said.