COVID-19 Indicators Continue Decreasing in the USA

The U.S. CDC published Key Updates for Week #3, ending January 23, 2021, which include national surveillance indicators tracking levels of SARS-CoV-2 circulation, associated illnesses, and hospitalizations remain elevated but show decreasing trends in recent weeks. 

During week #3, the percentage of specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 decreased in all regions. The overall percentage of respiratory specimens testing positive for SARS-CoV-2 decreased from 12.0% to 11.0% during week #3.

Both COVID-19-associated hospitalizations and pneumonia, influenza, and COVID-19 (PIC) mortality for the most recent weeks are expected to increase as the CDC receives more data.

Among 16,006 sampled adults hospitalized during March - October 31, 2020, with information on underlying medical conditions, 90.5% had at least one reported underlying medical condition. The most-reported underlying medical conditions were hypertension (55.8%), obesity (48.5%), metabolic disease (41.3%), which includes diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (32.5%).

Among 996 children hospitalized during March - October 31, 2020, with information on underlying conditions, 52.0% had at least one reported underlying medical condition. The most-reported underlying medical conditions were obesity (37.6%), neurologic disease (13.3%), and asthma (11.1%).