THIS WEEK’S COVID SUMMARY - APRIL 30, 2022
OUR GEOGRAPHIC AREA: A SMALL WAVE WELL BELOW PRIOR MAXIMUMS
Grant County had a small rise in cases but well below recent waves and maximums; and no workplace case reports since April 6, 2022. While recent Grant County cases have been relatively low, remember that Delta has grown 1.2 times; Omicron has grown 2.4 times in the last 3 months. I have refined GRMC data to clarify what it covers; GRMC Covid admissions are very low.
OUR STATE: A WAVE WELL BELOW PRIOR MAXIMUMS
NM Daily Cases are rising as is positivity yet well below prior maximums; NM Workplace Reports are also rising. Covid hospital beds are trending down. In NM, BA.2 (an Omicron variant) increased to 20.4% from 9.1% and 3.5% earlier, however the original Omicron fell to 79.6% from 91%. The Omicron variant BA.2 has surfaced in Dona Ana.
NEIGHBORING STATES: A MIXED BAG BUT STILL WELL BELOW PRIOR MAXIMUMS
AZ data is of limited use, but its positivity is rising (AZDHS and CDC). CO cases may be trending down, but positivity is still rising. TX cases and positivity are both now rising. AZ and CO show increasing COVID/nonCOVID beds, TX somewhat level, NM improving (HHS data)
NATIONALLY: A SMALL WAVE WELL BELOW PRIOR MAXIMUMS
In the USA, Omicron BA.2 cases have decreased to 68% from 74%, however new variant BA.2.12.1 has increased to 28.7% from 19% in the USA. Regardless, US cases and positivity rose continuing the current small wave. US hospital admissions (which measure Covid activity) have increased from 1485 to 1635 now 1941 based on CDC’s most recent daily numbers as well as CDC’s separate charts.
SOMEWHAT RECENT NEWS
Dr. Fauci said the USA is out of the pandemic phase on 04/26/22, he then clarified that by saying “the nation is moving into a transitional phase, from a deceleration of the numbers into hopefully a more controlled phase and endemicity. By no means is it over, we still are experiencing a global pandemic.”
Dr. Gottlieb said the use of rapid at-home COVID tests result in under-counting cases. Dr. Gottlieb said recorded cases could be only one-eighth of the picture: 04/11/22
The European Medicine’s Agency is not supporting a second mRNA booster for ages 60-79 as there is little evidence immunity from severe disease is waning for those with the first booster. Over 80 then yes.
https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/ecdc-ema-issue-advice-fourth-doses-mrna-covid-19-vaccines
See PDF below for full repot: