COVID-19 cases rise slowly across the United States as nation, DC region, prepares for possible summer rise

WASHINGTON – COVID-19 cases are rising slowly across the United States as the nation prepares for what could be a possible summer rise.

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On April 27, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the current seven-day moving average of daily new cases was 53,133 – an increase of just over 25 percent compared to the previous seven-day moving average of 42,427.

The increase in cases can be traced to Omicron’s BA.2 and BA.2.12.1 subvariants. That Virginia Department of Health says behavioral changes and Omicron’s sub-variants may drive the summer rise with models suggesting cases and hospitalization stops somewhere between levels seen below the Delta and Omicron waves.

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VDH officials say that Omicron’s BA.2 subvariant is dominant in Virginia at the moment, and that the BA.2.12.1 subvariant has begun to make inroads – especially in New York and the Northeast.

Health authorities with VDH say the expected deaths are much lower than previous waves in Virginia.