New COVID variants are on the rise in Texas. What to know as kids start school
COVID-19 cases are climbing again just as Texas students head back into classrooms, with health officials tracking new variants that are spreading nationwide.
While overall test numbers are lower than in past surges, the percent of people testing positive is ticking up, and Texas is among the regions with the highest positivity rates, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The CDC continues to monitor cases, hospitalizations, and deaths weekly. Its latest update shows infections rising in the South and West, where experts say back-to-school season could add more pressure.
Here’s what to know about the newest variants, where cases are climbing, and what to keep in mind as fall approaches.
How many COVID cases are showing up nationwide?
For the week ending Aug. 9, nearly 9 percent of U.S. tests came back positive for COVID-19, according to CDC data.
That’s a small but steady increase from the week before. Infections leading to an emergency room visit are also showing slight movement upward, at about 1 percent.
The latest data shows 0.4 percent of cases in the past week resulted in death.
What does the data look like in Texas?
Texas falls under the CDC’s Region 6, which also includes Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
This region reported a test positivity rate of 11.8 percent for the week ending in Aug. 9, well above the national average.
The percentage has ticked up slightly compared to the prior two weeks, even as the number of people getting tested has dropped.
That suggests community spread may be stronger than the testing numbers alone show.
Which COVID variants are most common right now?
The CDC’s most recent breakdown shows NB.1.8.1 leading the pack in the U.S., responsible for more than four out of every 10 cases.
The variant LP.8.1 comes next, followed by a newer strain called XFG, — a combination of earlier strains — is still less common but slowly rising, accounting for 14 percent of all cases reported in the U.S. through late June.
What stands out is how quickly NB.1.8.1 became dominant. Just a few months ago, it accounted for almost none of the reported cases, but it’s now the top variant nationwide.
What do health officials say about vaccines now?
Vaccine guidance has become one of the most debated parts of COVID-19 policy.
Earlier this summer, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and his appointees announced several changes to CDC vaccine recommendations, including that only adults 65 and older and people with existing health problems would be required to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
That decision broke from earlier CDC recommendations that were broader and included children, pregnant people and healthy adults who wanted added protection.
The move has been controversial. Leading health groups such as the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics, and the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists continue to publish their own guidelines, which are more in line with the World Health Organization’s advice.
These organizations still recommend vaccination for:
- Adults 65+
- Immunocompromised individuals
- Pregnant or breastfeeding people
- Those living in long-term care facilities
- People who want to reduce their risk of long COVID or severe illness
Which symptoms are showing up with current COVID strains?
Health agencies stress that no one variant comes with its own unique symptoms, though some patients have described scratchy throats or hoarseness.
Overall, the most common signs remain the same:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
- Sore throat
- Runny nose or congestion
- Loss of taste or smell
- Fatigue or body aches
- Headaches
- Nausea or vomiting
