LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Are we heading towards a summer time COVID-19 surge? US well being officers are preserving a really shut eye on the newest FLiRT variant for the reason that UK reported an increase in hospitalizations.It is a mixture of varied omicron descendants, and Dr. Daniel Kijner, an emergency room doctor at Windfall Holy Cross Medical Heart in Mission Hills, stated there was a rise in instances.”Fortunately, morbidity and mortality have remained the identical,” he stated.Within the final three weeks, there’s been an increase in COVID-related diseases, in response to Kijner. The truth is, he ended up testing constructive himself.”This time, the variation was somewhat little bit of extra muscle aches, and I did have lack of style and scent, however simply very briefly,” he stated.The commonest signs are sore throat, congestion, and fatigue. Case counts in Los Angeles County have remained under 100 instances per week since April.In June, it jumped to greater than 150 instances per week, which is an undercount. Total, hospitalizations stay decrease than this time final 12 months.Whereas FLiRt is far milder than earlier variants, it may well nonetheless be harmful to individuals with numerous well being circumstances.”Coronary heart issues, lung issues, persistent, immune-compromised equivalent to most cancers. If you are going to be out in public, I’d put on a masks,” stated Kijner.The Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention says infections seem like rising in 39 US states and territories.Whereas consultants say they’re anticipating a number of summer time journey, many individuals plan to remain near house and can proceed with protected practices.”A number of my conferences can occur over the cellphone and thru Zoom,” stated Robert De La Torre.No matter vacation plans you’ve, Kijner counsel you be very conscious.”It’s totally contagious,” he stated.Copyright © 2024 KABC Tv, LLC. All rights reserved.