A ‘Silent’ COVID Surge May Hit the US Over the Holidays

A Risk of “Silent” Transmission Over the Holidays

As the holidays arrive and travel peaks, COVID-19 is on the rise again across the country. However, this year’s winter COVID wave is off to a later start than usual, and some experts are warning about a potential “silent” surge in transmission over the holiday season. They’re calling it “silent” because this winter wave follows a long period of unusually low COVID activity this fall, so many people are unaware that COVID levels have risen sharply over the past two weeks, the most recent wastewater data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show.

As a result, people may not know their risk of infection is increasing and not test if they have only mild symptoms, which can cause the virus to spread at holiday gatherings, during travel, and more.

As of Dec. 14, wastewater viral activity of SARS-CoV-2 — the virus that causes COVID-19 — is “high” or “very high” in 21 states, according to CDC data.

“There’s a good chance that a lot of people are going to get sick in the next couple of weeks and be unaware of it. Most people are not tracking CDC data, and so their only way of knowing whether we’re in a wave is if they’ve gotten sick,” Michael Hoerger, Ph.D., associate professor at Tulane University School of Medicine and public health expert on tracking COVID-19 trends, tells TODAY.com.

Where COVID is Spreading in the U.S.

Wastewater viral activity of COVID is currently “very high” in 5 states and “high” in 16 states, according to the latest CDC data. The states that have the highest COVID wastewater levels as of Dec. 14 include:

• Arizona
• Arkansas
• District of Columbia
• Illinois
• Indiana
• Iowa
• Kansas
• Kentucky
• Maine
• Massachusetts
• Minnesota
• Missouri
• Nebraska
• New Hampshire
• New Mexico
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Rhode Island
• South Carolina
• South Dakota
• Wyoming

“If you see increased COVID-19 wastewater viral activity levels in your area, it might indicate that there is a higher risk of infection,” says Yoder.

COVID-19 Symptoms in 2024

The symptoms caused by the dominant variants circulating, XEC and KP.3.1.1, are very similar to those caused by previous omicron subvariants, according to experts.

Common COVID-19 symptoms include:

• Sore throat
• Congestion
• Runny nose
• Cough
• Fatigue
• Headache and body aches
• Fever or chills
• Shortness of breath
• Nausea or loss of appetite
• Diarrhea
• Loss of sense of taste or smell

Symptoms will vary from person to person. Even milder infections can be “debilitating” for several days, says Schaffner.

Are New COVID Boosters Effective?

The updated COVID-19 vaccine for 2024–2025 is recommended by the CDC for everyone ages 6 months and older.

The new mRNA COVID vaccine is monovalent, which means it targets one variant — in this case, the KP.2 “FLiRT” variant. The strains currently circulating are closely related to KP.2, and the new booster should provide good protection, TODAY.com previously reported.

However, uptake of the new vaccine has been low so far — just 21% of adults in the U.S. have gotten the shot, per the latest CDC data.

“The best protection is to get vaccinated. Although vaccinated people sometimes get infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines significantly lowers the risk of getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19,” says Yoder.

How to Protect Yourself Against COVID-19

When COVID-19 levels are rising, it’s important for people to take steps to protect themselves and their families, according to the CDC.

You can take the following actions to avoid infection and prevent spreading COVID-19 to others:

• Stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations.
• Test if you have symptoms or an exposure.
• Stay home when sick.
• Seek treatment for COVID-19 if you are at high risk.
• Wear a mask.
• Practice social distancing.

Conclusion

As the holiday season approaches, it’s crucial to be aware of the rising COVID-19 levels and take necessary precautions to protect yourself and others. While the latest COVID-19 variants appear to be causing milder disease, they can still cause severe illness requiring hospitalization. Every time a person is infected with COVID, they are at risk of developing long COVID, which can cause symptoms that persist and reemerge for weeks or months after infection.

FAQs

Q: What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
A: Common symptoms include sore throat, congestion, runny nose, cough, fatigue, headache and body aches, fever or chills, shortness of breath, nausea or loss of appetite, diarrhea, and loss of sense of taste or smell.

Q: How can I protect myself against COVID-19?
A: You can take the following actions to avoid infection and prevent spreading COVID-19 to others: stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccinations, test if you have symptoms or an exposure, stay home when sick, seek treatment for COVID-19 if you are at high risk, wear a mask, and practice social distancing.

Q: Are new COVID boosters effective?
A: The updated COVID-19 vaccine for 2024–2025 is recommended by the CDC for everyone ages 6 months and older. The new mRNA COVID vaccine is monovalent, which means it targets one variant — in this case, the KP.2 “FLiRT” variant. The strains currently circulating are closely related to KP.2, and the new booster should provide good protection.

Q: What should I do if I have COVID-19 symptoms?
A: If you have COVID-19 symptoms, you should stay home, test if you have symptoms or an exposure, and seek treatment if you are at high risk.