, test positivity and wastewater levels) preceded an increase in hospitalizations seen this past week," CDC spokesperson Kathleen Conley said in a statement.Despite the uptick in hospitalizations, a CDC spokesperson confirmed that COVID rates are still at"near-historic lows" in the U.S.They're now at the lowest rate since the CDC started keeping track, according to Jackson.More concerning are the"mutagenic" subvariants emerging in Asia, the doctor said.Dr.
"I am likely going to recommend the new XBB subvariant booster in the fall, especially for those in high-risk groups who haven't had a recent infection or vaccine," said Siegel. "Ordinarily, I would pay careful attention to wastewater analysis, but given the amount of immunity still around from prior infection and vaccination — coupled with the fact that we are still within the Omicron family with most infections remaining mild and hospitalizations showing only a slight uptick — I don't see this as a harbinger of another surge," he told Fox News Digital. More concerning to Siegel are the"mutagenic" subvariants emerging in Asia, the doctor said.