COVID-19 cases rise as scientists identify new subvariants
One scientist projected case counts could be five times higher than what's reported as many people have turned to at-home testing.
PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Experts are tracking Omicron subvariants that could be more contagious as COVID-19 cases increase around the world.
One scientist projected case counts could be five times higher than what's reported as many people have turned to at-home testing.
Health officials say the subvariant BA.5 evades vaccine protection as well as immunity from previous COVID infections, so they are asking everyone to proceed with caution.
"It doesn't evade just vaccine protection, it evades your past infections as well," said Dr. Marci Drees, chief infection prevention officer for ChristianaCare.
Experts are also tracking another subvariant of Omicron labeled BA.2.75.
"We're seeing more reports of cases that are being transmitted outside," said Carolyn Cannuscio, an epidemiologist with the University of Pennsylvania.
Experts say while it's not time to panic, it is still time to take precautions, like masking indoors. In Philadelphia, that's still strongly recommended.
"Worst experience, I hated that," said Angelique Gioyard who had COVID-19 earlier this year. She never wants to get it again so she's been keeping her mask on.
"I still wear my mask because I just feel more comfortable that way. I know I'm vaccinated and boosted but I just prefer to wear my mask," she said.
A lot of people in Center City Philadelphia had the same idea: to either keep the mask on or close by.
Nad Rosenberg keeps an N95 around her wrist. "I just met someone for coffee and made sure they had outside dining," she said.
COVID-19 cases are on the rise. Pennsylvania is averaging more than 2,121 cases daily, Delaware is averaging 241 cases and New Jersey is averaging 2,980 cases.
As of last week, there are six counties in New Jersey with high community levels, four of them are in South Jersey: Burlington, Camden, Cape May, and Atlantic.
According to the CDC, hospitalizations are up 1.8% in Pennsylvania, up 22% in New Jersey and down 9.4% in Delaware. But there's another vaccine on the horizon as we look ahead to the fall.
"Both Pfizer and Moderna are working on a combination of vaccines that will have the omicron variant as well as the original booster," said Drees. "The hope there is that it will not only give you better protection against omicron and the omicron subvariants, but it's still having that original strain in there, which will boost everything else."
Scientists also believe actual case counts could be five times higher.
"What's tricky about it is many people are testing at home or not testing at all. So we can expect that whatever we're seeing in the number of COVID-19 cases reported locally or nationally, actually many, many more people are sick with COVID-19 right now," said Cannuscio.
Cannusico says the best way to keep yourself safe is to get vaccinated and boosted. As cases and positivity rates rise, however, it may also be a good idea to test too, even if you're not sick.
