COVID ‘summer surge’

Doctors across the U.S. have seen an increase or the latest “summer surge” in COVID cases lately.

Hospitalizations have been up by nearly 13% and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends almost all individuals aged six months and older should get the COVID booster vaccine if they are at high risk.

Will Humble, Executive Director at the Arizona Public Health Association, joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss details of the COVID-19 booster shot for Arizona residents.

“Just like every summer for the last few years, we are seeing an increase from the spread of the virus,” Humble said. “The best way we can measure that these days is with hospitalization admissions and with emergency department visits.”

Humble said they aren’t able to know exact case numbers due to many people testing themselves at home now and aren’t reporting themselves as sick.

It’s estimated 2% of inpatient hospitalizations and emergency room visits over the past three weeks have been due to COVID.