COVID infections are on the rise in Florida. What to know as new variants circulate

MIAMI — Are you feeling sick? You’re not alone.

Could it be COVID? It’s increasingly possible as a summer wave of the virus variant has hit Florida. The good news is it’s a modest wave compared to past trends.

Florida is one of 39 states that is seeing an increase or likely seeing an increase in COVID infections, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC no longer tracks cases and is relying on ER visits, hospitalizations and wastewater data to gauge the COVID situation. And while nationwide data shows that influenza and RSV levels remain low in the U.S, COVID infections are increasing. South Florida hospitals say they’re seeing more people sick with COVID too, though it’s not like previous summers.

“We’re seeing a slight increase in the number of COVID positive patients hospitalized and in the ER but it’s not dramatic compared to when we had the surges in the past,” said Dr. Paula Eckardt, the chief of infectious diseases at Memorial Healthcare System, the public hospital system in southern Broward County.

Here’s what to know:

What is the dominant COVID variant?

COVID’s alphabet soup continues to grow. And the most dominant variant in the country is KP.3, which is estimated to make up about 33% of the country’s cases, according to the CDC’s most recent estimates. It’s followed by KP.2, which makes up about 21% of cases. And scientists are closely watching LB.1, which has accelerated this month and could be on track to overtake its siblings soon.

All three descend from omicron and are offshoots of JN.1, which fueled much of the country’s winter infections. The people most at risk for severe COVID infections continue to be seniors 65 and older and people who are immunocompromised.

“There is currently no evidence that KP.3 or LB.1 cause more severe disease,” CDC spokesperson David Daigle told CBS News. “CDC will continue to track SARS-CoV-2 variants and is working to better understand the potential impact on public health.”

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