Hospitals see rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations

The now-dominant BA.5 omicron variant caused a steady rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Hospital admissions rose to a seven-day average of 5,851 from July 6-12, a 14.4% increase from the prior week’s average and more than 20% higher than the average from two weeks ago. Seven-day average deaths increased last week to 352, up 12.6%. In light of the continuing pandemic, the Health and Human Services Department again extended the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration. (CDC data tracker, 7/15/22).