If it seems like everyone is sick right now, it’s not just all in your head. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) over a dozen U.S. states are experiencing higher-than-usual rates of infections this winter. Of course, COVID-19 is on the rise again, yet another indicator that the pandemic isn't truly over. Recent CDC data reports COVID hospitalizations are up 17% and deaths are up 25% from last week. But respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) cases are also “elevated," in addition to pneumonia and flu cases. There's a lot going around right now, making a lot of people wonder, is this normal?
Similar to the urban myth with children, which is that more kids are getting sick more frequently post-pandemic, a similar belief is circulating that more people are getting more sick in post-pandemic winters. In July 2023 the CDC estimated 77.5% of the U.S. population had antibodies from at least one COVID-19 infection, meaning only 1 in 4 had yet to get the infection.
