Variants
XBB.1.5 is the variant that many public health officials are monitoring. The CDC estimates the XBB.1.5 variant currently represents 41% of the COVID cases in the U.S. (see below; link). It is the predominant variant in Region 1, which includes the states in New England, where it is estimated that 75% of the cases are this variant. In Region 8, which includes South Dakota, it is estimated that as of December 31st, only 2% of COVID cases are the XBB.1.5 variant. It is predicted that this variant will cause an increase in COVID cases later this winter.
This variant is more contagious than earlier omicron variants but does not appear to cause more severe disease. Vaccines appear to remain effective at preventing severe disease and death, and Paxlovid given within the first few days of infection is also thought to be effective.
Influenza
The number of flu cases this past week decreased, which is a good sign. Additional information on the flu in South Dakota and how to sign up to receive the weekly Epi Listserv email can be found here.
Updates:
Just a reminder that numbers are typically underreported during weeks that include holidays.
Brookings County (low community level; high community transmission [% test positivity = 27% vs. 28% last week])
- Only 15.6% of people 18 years of age and older in Brookings County have received the updated bivalent booster (link to data here).
- 9,231 total cases: 17 new cases this week vs. 11 in the previous week. Of the new cases this past week:
- 18% were under 20 years of age (vs. 36% in previous week)
- 12% were 20-39 years (vs. 27% in previous week)
- 35% were 40-59 years (vs. 0% in previous week)
- 35% were 60 years or older (vs. 36% in previous week)
- 247 Brookings County residents have been hospitalized with COVID: no new hospitalizations posted this past week compared to 0 in the previous week.
- Currently, the percentage of staffed beds that are COVID-occupied in the Sioux Empire region is 3.8% (compared to 4.2% last week), and 24.8% of the total hospital beds are available (compared to 31.6% last week).
- 62 Brookings County residents have died of COVID: no deaths were reported this past week compared to no deaths in the previous week.
South Dakota (low community level; high community transmission [% test positivity = 20-24% vs. 20-24% last week])
- Only 18.5% of people 18 years of age and older in South Dakota have received the updated bivalent booster (link to data here).
- 272,367 cases: 511 new cases this week vs. 423 in the previous week. Of the new cases this past week:
- 12% were under 20 years of age (vs. 15% in previous week)
- 23% were 20-39 years (vs. 29% in previous week)
- 23% were 40-59 years (vs. 21% in previous week)
- 42% were 60 years or older (vs. 35% in previous week)
- 12,261 South Dakota residents have been admitted to in-state hospitals with COVID: 48 were admitted to in-state hospitals this week vs. 24 last week. Of the new hospital admissions this past week:
- 7% were under 20 years of age (vs. 16% in previous week)
- 8% were 20-39 years (vs. 13% in previous week)
- 8% were 40-59 years (vs. 0% in previous week)
- 77% were 60 years or older (vs. 71% in previous week)
- 54 people are currently hospitalized vs. 64 last Wednesday (3 currently in the ICU vs. 6 last week).
- Currently, the percentage of staffed beds statewide that are COVID-occupied is 2.6% (compared to 3.1% last week), and 36.3% of the total hospital beds are available (compared to 39.1% last week).
- 3,124 South Dakotans have died from COVID: 6 new deaths reported this week vs. 2 in the previous week. Of the new deaths reported this past week:
- 2 were 20-39 years of age
- 4 were aged 60 years or older.
USA
- 102.7 million cases: 440,231 new cases this week vs. 441,394 in the previous week
- 1.18 million total deaths: 2,392 deaths this week vs. 2,557 in the previous week
Worldwide
- 665.9 million cases: 2.94 million cases this week vs. 3.84 million in the previous week
- 6.71 million deaths: 11,746 deaths this week vs. 13,206 in the previous week
Take care of yourself and each other.
Bonny's Blog 