COVID Levels Spike In Half Of U.S. As New FLiRT Variation Spreads

ACROSS AMERICA — President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 Wednesday amid a national uptick in emergency room visits and hospitalizations, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data.

With fresh cases bubbling up, particularly the southwestern U.S., health officials recommend that all Americans get a new vaccination this fall. The surge in cases is mostly tied to the new “FLiRT” mutation, CDC data shows.

CDC wastewater monitoring shows “very high” coronavirus levels in seven states and “high” rates in another 19. States with “very high rates” are Arkansas, California, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon and Texas.

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.

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. 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 sad.

“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.