COVID-19 Variants: BA.5 has already become the predominant variant in many parts of Europe, which has seen a recent surge in COVID-19 cases. The BA.4 and BA.5 variants are increasing in the U.S., as shown below (https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions):
The European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control released a report concerning BA.4 and BA.5 variants on June 13th. The report stated that “the extent of the increase in COVID-19 cases will depend on various factors, including immune protection against infection influenced by the timing and coverage of COVID-19 vaccination regimes, and the extent, timing and variant landscape of previous SARS-CoV-2 pandemic waves. Based on limited data, there is no evidence of BA.4 and BA.5 being associated with increased infection severity compared to the circulating variants BA.1 and BA.2. However, as in previous waves, an increase in COVID-19 cases overall can result in an increase in hospitalizations, ICU admissions and deaths.”
The report goes on to state that improving vaccination rates of the primary course and first booster doses should be a priority. They also note that groups most at risk of severe disease may need additional booster doses. Currently, only 25% of Brookings County residents have received a booster.
Reminder:
- Community levels are based on the number of new cases/100,000 population, new COVID hospital admissions/100,000 in the past 7 days, and the percentage of inpatient beds that are COVID-occupied; whereas community transmission is based on the number of new cases/100,000 population and the percentage test positivity.
Brookings County (low community level; high community transmission [% test positivity = 31% vs. 24% last week])
- 8,304 total cases: 39 new cases this week vs. 52 in the previous week. Of the new cases this past week:
- 15% were under 20 years of age (vs. 8% in previous week)
- 36% were 20-39 years (vs. 40% in previous week)
- 26% were 40-59 years (vs. 21% in previous week)
- 23% were 60 years or older (vs. 31% in previous week)
- 227 Brookings County residents have been hospitalized with COVID: 1 new hospitalization posted this past week compared to 3 in the previous week. Currently, the percentage of staffed beds that are COVID-occupied in the Sioux Empire region is 2.9% (compared to 3.2% last week).
- 54 Brookings County residents have died of COVID: 2 deaths were reported this past week compared to 0 deaths in the previous week.
- 49% of Brookings County residents have received the full vaccine series, and 25% have received a booster or third shot.
South Dakota (low community level; high community transmission [% test positivity = 19% vs. 16% last week])
- 242,298 cases: 972 new cases this week vs. 969 in the previous week. Of the new cases this past week:
- 10% were under 20 years of age (vs. 11% in previous week)
- 26% were 20-39 years (vs. 29% in previous week)
- 24% were 40-59 years (vs. 23% in previous week)
- 40% were 60 years or older (vs. 37% in previous week)
- 10,944 South Dakota residents have been admitted to in-state hospitals with COVID: 45 were admitted to in-state hospitals this week vs. 34 last week. Of the new hospital admissions this past week:
- 6% were under 20 years of age (vs. 6% in previous week)
- 5% were 20-39 years (vs. 3% in previous week)
- 15% were 40-59 years (vs. 9% in previous week)
- 74% were 60 years or older (vs. 82% in previous week)
- 52 people are currently hospitalized vs. 49 last Wednesday (4 currently in the ICU vs. 6 last week). Currently, the percentage of staffed beds statewide that are COVID-occupied is 2.2% (compared to 2.1% last week).
- 2,931 South Dakotans have died from COVID: 3 new deaths were reported this week vs. 0 in the previous week. The 3 deaths were among people aged 60 years and older.
USA
- 87.5 million cases: 767,159 new cases this week vs. 880,607 in the previous week
- 1.03 million total deaths: 2,199 deaths this week vs. 2,671 in the previous week
Worldwide
- 541.7 million cases: 5.21 million cases this week vs. 3.81 million in the previous week
- 6.33 million deaths: 10,802 deaths this week vs. 9,705 in the previous week
Be kind to each other – and yourself.
Bonny's Blog 