The latest variant of the coronavirus to reach the U.S., known as XBB, accounts for 18 percent of cases nationwide. According to Dr. Daniel Luban of the University of Massachusetts Medical School, there is no reason to think that XBB causes more severe disease than other variants, and the vaccines are still protective against severe disease among those without compromised immune systems. However, Dr. Andrew Pekosz of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health warned that there are currently 17 different variants circulating in the U.S., creating a “simmering stew” from which new variants could emerge at any time.
The presence of XBB in New York has caused hospitalization rates there to rise significantly. In Massachusetts, hospital admissions have been steadily increasing since Thanksgiving, likely due to the virus becoming more transmissible. To help protect against the virus and its variants, experts urge people to get booster shots, wear high-quality masks, and adhere to other safety guidelines. Vaccination and mask-wearing is the best way to protect against the virus and help keep hospitalizations down.