August 7, 2023 – Even though COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the U.S. have been increasing since July, the chances of getting infected are “still not hugely likely,” according to Bill Hanage, associate professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Hanage, one of the experts quoted in an August 3 NBC article, said that occasional upticks in COVID-19 cases are not surprising. He explained that the current increase may be partially driven by people spending more time indoors in hot areas of the country. The trend does not necessarily indicate the start of a fall surge, which is more likely to happen around October or November.
Hanage noted that people who are vaccinated have a “very slim” chance of getting seriously ill. But he added, “The virus isn’t going away, and we can do things to protect ourselves. Let’s make sure we do.”
Read the NBC article: Covid hospitalizations are rising again. Here’s what to know.