Early signs a new U.S. COVID surge could be on its way

The new bivalent COVID-19 booster is offered by the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. Health experts say getting more people boosted could help stave off a winter COVID surge. (Sarah Reingewirtz/ MediaNews Group/ Los Angeles Daily News via Getty Images)

As the U.S. heads into a third pandemic winter, the first hints are emerging that another possible surge of COVID-19 infections could be on its way.

So far, no national surge has started yet. The number of people getting infected, hospitalized and dying from COVID in the U.S. has been gently declining from a fairly high plateau.