As Covid-19 cases and hospital admissions across Western Europe rise - due mainly to seasonality and waning immunity , but also the advent of new sub-variants - we’re reminded that what happens in Europe doesn’t stay in Europe. The next U.S. Covid-19 wave is brewing. Indeed, given that the U.S. has followed
European trends throughout the pandemic, a major wave in the U.S. is almost inevitable. The Northeast tends to be one of the first regions to get hit. The recent sharp uptick in coronavirus in Massachusetts wastewater suggests a wave is imminent.In addition to the factors seasonality and waning immunity, what will accelerate this wave is the surfacing of new sub-variants, as is happening across Europe. As was alluded to above, the SARS-CoV-2 virus is perpetually evolving.
At present, subvariants of particular concern in Europe and elsewhere include BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, both off-shoots of the omicron sub-variantTwo other sub-variants are raising red flags. One is named BA.2.75.2, the otherBA.5 and BA.4.6 still hold sway in the U.S, as together they currently comprise 94% of cases. But experts are on the look out for increasing numbers of infections from new sub-variants.
As cases and hospitalizations increase across Europe, the woefully inadequate booster campaign in the U.S. is leaving some Americans particularly susceptible to a late autumn wave. Until now, less than 4% of eligible adults have received a booster. There doesn’t appear to be much urgency among the public to get vaccinated, even among those who qualify as at-risk, such as the over 65 group.