US sees modest summer rise in COVID-19 cases, experts say

COVID-19 cases are climbing again this summer in the United States, according to infectious disease specialists. Dr. John Brooks of Emory University said the nation is experiencing a "growing summer surge of COVID" and noted that the increase is evident in most regions, especially the South and West, though overall levels remain low.

Brooks attributed the milder impact of the current wave to growing population immunity from prior infections and vaccinations, suggesting that "more and more people have had one or more infections that give them some immunity" and many have received multiple vaccine doses.

Caitlin Rivers, an epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University, warned that COVID-19 still poses a serious risk to older adults, infants and immunocompromised individuals, emphasizing that such risk factors are common in typical workplaces.

Unlike influenza, which peaks in winter, COVID-19 shows seasonal spikes in both summer and winter, a pattern that remains unexplained, Rivers said.

Public health officials continue to recommend vaccination and masking in crowded settings. Clare Hannan, executive director of the Association of Immunization Managers, urged people to get COVID-19 and flu vaccines, noting they are covered by insurers and recommended by medical societies.

A new antiviral medication, Xocova, is being positioned as a post-exposure option to reduce the likelihood of illness, Brooks said, and could be useful in hospitals and nursing homes.