COVID-19 hospitalizations in Pennsylvania have increased, indicating a late summer surge throughout the U.S. More than a year after Pennsylvania removed its mask mandate and other safety measures, the state saw a 17% hike in the average COVID hospitalization rate from June to July, in line with national trends based on CDC data. The predominant variant in the U.S. is now EG.5, but it’s uncertain if this variant is the cause of the surge.
However, it’s essential to note that current hospitalizations in both the state and the nation are still significantly below their highest levels during the pandemic. Specifically, Pennsylvania’s hospitalizations are down by 83% from the previous year, and nationwide, the figures have decreased by 82%. Between July 30 and August 5, the CDC recorded 10,320 hospital admissions, which is a sharp contrast to over 150,000 in a single week in January 2022.
