COVID-19 and work: 3 permanent changes employees may see in the office
Here are three big changes we can expect as employees return to the workplace after the COVID-19 pandemic:
Staff video, USA TODAY
Cases of the newest COVID-19 variant, also known as KP.3, are on the rise in the United States.
According to the data Collected According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the KP.3 variant has overtaken the previously dominant JN.1 variant to become the dominant variant in the United States.
Using CDC data Nowcast Data Tracker KP.3 has been shown to account for 25% of COVID-19 cases in the United States over a two-week period from May 26 to June 8. Other variants of the virus, including KP.2 and “FLiRT,” continue to cause COVID-19 infections in the United States.
Here’s what you need to know about the KP.3 variant of COVID-19.
Fact check: No, study does not attribute excess deaths from the pandemic to COVID-19 vaccines
What is the KP.3 variant?
CDC spokesperson Rosa Norman previously told USA Today that KP.3 is a “sublineage of the JN.1 lineage” and is derived from the Omicron variant.
“KP.3 evolved from JN.1, the major virus lineage circulating since December 2023,” Norman said. “It is very similar to JN.1, with only two spike changes compared to JN.1.”
The KP.3 chain is Accounting for 25% of new COVID-19 cases According to the CDC’s most recent data, in the two weeks ending June 8, the KP.2 strain accounted for 22.5% of cases, followed by the KP.3 strain, the CDC reports.
What is the COVID situation in the United States?
The data also shows that while death and hospitalization rates have fallen significantly, positive test rates and emergency room visits are trending upward.
As of June 10, the CDC reported an increase of 0.4%. Test positive COVID-19 cases increased 16.2% from last week. Emergency department visit From last week.
COVID-19 test positivity rates by state
Below is a display from the CDC showing the positivity rates of COVID-19 tests for the week ending June 1st.
Weekly COVID-19 deaths in the U.S.
The number of COVID-19 deaths recorded during the week ending June 1 (144) was the lowest since March 2020, according to CDC data.
KP.3 What are the symptoms of COVID-19 variants?
In a statement previously provided to USA Today, Norman said symptoms associated with KP.3 are identical to those of the JN.1 variant. Symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- cough
- sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- headache
- muscle pain
- Difficulty breathing
- Malaise
- New loss of taste or smell
- “Brain fog” (waking up feeling semi-conscious)
- Gastrointestinal symptoms (upset stomach, mild diarrhea, vomiting)
The CDC notes that this list is not all-inclusive and symptoms may change with the new variant and may vary from person to person.
In general, the agency states: People infected with COVID-19 show a variety of symptomsSymptoms can range from mild to severe and may appear anywhere from 2 to 14 days after infection.
COVID fall vaccine targets JN.1
The notable emergence of the KP.3 variant comes on the heels of an FDA committee meeting this month to discuss COVID vaccine updates for the fall.
Between Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory CommitteeMedical experts from vaccine manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax each told the committee they are ready to offer vaccines targeting JN.1 in August, pending FDA approval.
The improved vaccine is expected to be released in the fall as a rise in COVID-19 cases is expected over the winter.
Contributors: Eduardo Cuevas, USA Today.