COVID cases expected to surge in NY: What to expect this August and back-to-school season

David Robinson, New York State Team

COVID-19 tracking data for early August in New York suggested the newly dominant KP.3.1.1 variant could spread widely in coming weeks, reinforcing the summer surge before fueling a back-to-school uptick in cases of the respiratory illness.

The latest infectious-disease warning signs emerged after emergency rooms across New York faced a more than 55% spike in visits tied to the illness in July, ending with a seven-day average of 316.

With 1,255 COVID-19 patients hospitalized statewide as of Monday, that key metric was at the second-highest level for an early August since the pandemic began in 2020.

At the same time, health officials urged New Yorkers to take steps to limit COVID-19 infections among the most vulnerable, including those ages 65 and older, pregnant or immuno-compromised. Even otherwise healthy people worried about illness impacting their work, vacations or other obligations should consider avoiding crowded indoor spaces or wearing well-fitting N95 or KN95 masks to limit the odds of infection, experts said.

This photo shows an at-home COVID-19 test by Abbott with a positive result.
This photo shows an at-home COVID-19 test by Abbott with a positive result.

How long are you contagious with COVID in August 2024?

The advice for people who catch COVID-19 remains the same: Stay away from others as much as possible for at least five days, though the contagious period can last up to 10 days.

People with COVID-19 can be infectious from one to two days before and up to eight to 10 days after symptoms begin, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says. The majority of transmission appears to occur during the early periods of infection, particularly in the one to two days before symptoms start and within the first few days of symptom onset, CDC adds.

COVID rising in NY this summer COVID rising again in NY as new variants spread. How bad will it get?

How bad is COVID now in Finger Lakes, Hudson Valley?

Finger Lakes and Hudson Valley communities faced varying levels of spikes in COVID-19 emergency room visits and hospitalizations in July, state data show.

A total of 118 COVID-19 patients were hospitalized as of Monday across the Finger Lakes, up about 27% from early July. COVID-19 emergency room visits last month peaked at a seven-day average of about 23 visits, more than doubling the average from early July.

By contrast, the Hudson Valley had 176 COVID-19 patients on Monday, more than doubling the number from early July and among the steepest increases statewide. COVID-19 emergency room visits last month peaked at a seven-day average of about 54 visits, a 50% increase from early July.

COVID symptoms to look out for in August

As new strains of COVID-19 spread in recent years, some New Yorkers have reported feeling varying symptoms with each reinfection. Whether severe fatigue or loss of taste and smell, each infection can cause different symptoms, experts noted, though no evidence has emerged that currently spreading variants are causing more severe illness.

Vaccination status can also impact symptoms, with state and federal research showing those who remain up to date on vaccinations face the lowest risk of severe illness and hospitalization.

These are some of the symptoms of COVID-19:

  • Fever or chills

  • Cough

  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

  • Fatigue

  • Muscle or body aches

  • Headache

  • Loss of taste or smell

  • Sore throat

  • Congestion or runny nose

  • Nausea or vomiting

  • Diarrhea

The CDC said you should seek medical attention if you have the following symptoms:

  • Trouble breathing

  • Persistent pain or pressure in the chest

  • New confusion

  • Inability to wake or stay awake

  • Pale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds

When to get a COVID vaccine

People at high risk of a severe infection can get an additional booster this summer, but now is not the time for healthy, young people to get another shot.

People at higher risk are eligible to get vaccinated three times a year, which experts say is effective at preventing cases serious enough to require hospitalization.

Anyone likely to get mildly sick, based on their age and other conditions, does not need a shot more than once a year, according to the CDC.

The shots available now are targeted against last year's virus and the one circulating this year is somewhat different. The new vaccine should become available in September.

Though because the virus tends to peak right after the holidays, it might be best to wait until later in the fall, unless you expect to be in a large crowd, around a vulnerable person or have a can't-miss event sooner. Experts recommend getting annual flu and COVID-19 vaccines together in October for winter protection.

Karen Weintraub and Adrianna Rodriguez of USA TODAY contributed reporting

David Robinson is the New York State Team health care reporter for the USA TODAY Network. His more than 15-year investigative reporting career has included awards for coverage of the opioid epidemic, hospital and nursing home abuses, health inequality, COVID-19 and emergency response failures.

This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: COVID cases to surge in NY: What to expect this back-to-school season

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