Omicron XBB rapidly spreads in the United States this Holiday season

Data from CDC

With a total death count of 1,088,481 accounting for 10% of the total infection count of 100,622,056 in the United States as of December 29, Covid-19 continues to mutate into many variants and subvariants.

The variant of Omicron subvariant XBB has quickly spread throughout the United States during the Holiday season. According to Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), before December 24, the dominant variant of omicron was BQ.1 or BQ.1.1. Data gathered on December 24 now shows an Omicron variant called XBB becoming one of the most dominant strains.

Here is the data showing the rise in the XBB subvariant since December 2022. XBB subvariant is known to be a trigger of a new COVID-19 this winter. Also, XBB variant illnesses will be slightly different from those recorded in earlier outbreaks because the XBB subvariant is the most immune-evasive form of SARS-CoV-2, and the CDC has been closely tracking this variant.

Health Officials and CDC recommend wearing masks indoors to minimize getting this XBB subvariant this winter. Since the pandemic started, all Americans aged 5+ may take vaccines and boosters to protect themselves from the worst symptoms caused by the Covid-19 virus, including death.

Currently, 47,146,355 Americans which is only 15.1% of the total population are vaccinated with booster shots. The vaccines and the two boosters are available free of charge, but the 2023 booster may be the last free booster shots available for Covid-19. Better get them while they are still free. Please check your eligibility and availability at https://www.vaccines.gov/. Don’t struggle with multiple variants and subvariants of Covid-19, especially when some of them are becoming immune-evasive.