COVID-19 variant JN.1 is now the leading cause of infections in the US. Here’s what you need to know
As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide
As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide
As of Friday, CDC data estimates indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide
The omicron coronavirus subvariant JN.1 now makes up 44.2% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
As of Friday, indicate that the quickly spreading variant is now causing almost half of infections nationwide, when just days ago it was estimated that JN.1 caused only about 20% of infections.
JN.1 makes up nearly 57% of new COVID-19 cases in the Northeast, according to the data. Earlier this week, the variant was already dominant in the region, causing about a third of new infections at the time.
Globally, JN.1 continues to be reported in multiple countries, and its prevalence has been rapidly increasing. The World Health Organization named it a on Tuesday because of its “” but noted that the additional public health risk remains low.
The CDC estimates that the prevalence of JN.1 more than doubled in the U.S. between late November and mid-December. It seems to be getting an assist from holiday travel and waning immunity.
Variant trackers say they expect JN.1 to become the leading coronavirus variant around the world in a matter of weeks.
Vaccine immunity is expected to remain “cross-reactive” to JN.1 — a descendant of the variant BA.2.86 — itself a subvariant that came to the world’s attention over the summer because of the large number of changes to its spike proteins.
COVID-19 caused seven hospitalizations for every 100,000 people in the week ending on Dec. 9, accounting for a 3% increase, CDC shows.
More than three-quarters of U.S. hospital beds are currently in use, which is largely in line with trends over the past three years since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the CDC warns that rising respiratory virus hospitalizations could strain health care resources in the coming weeks.
Overall, COVID-19 shows weekly hospitalizations have been trending down in recent weeks.
Meanwhile, flu hospitalizations are rising but remain steady compared with recent weeks, according to CDC . Flu-like activity is very high in five states and high in 15 states.
CNN Health’s Brenda Goodman contributed to this report.
