Recent data provided by the CDC indicates an improvement in the U.S. COVID situation:-

• Effective August 12th, the seven-day case average was 105,412, a 15 percent decrease over two weeks. The U.S. total of diagnosed cases is at 62.6 million.
• Forty percent of counties, districts, or territories had high community levels of COVID Cases have fallen by 20 percent in twelve states since the beginning of August.
• The seven-day hospitalization average was 42,816, a three percent decrease over two weeks. A total of 4,964 ICU beds were occupied by patients with or due to COVID.
• Daily fatalities averaged 490, up 12 percent over two weeks. U.S fatalities have attained 1.03 million
• As of August 12th, 261 million, or 79 percent of the U.S. population, have received at least one dose of COVID vaccine and 67 percent have received two doses. Only 108 million or 32 percent of the population have received a booster dose, representing approximately 50 percent of those eligible.
• The CDC estimates that the Omicron subvariant BA.5 is responsible for 86 percent of current U.S. COVID cases.
• The seven-day average test volume for the week ending July 28th was 500,250, down 11 percent from the previous week with a positivity rate of 17 percent.

Notwithstanding, the incremental decrease in incidence rate, hospitalization, and fatalities, common sense precautions are still required to further reduce infection following CDC recommendations on vaccination, including boosters. Vaccination is strongly recommended especially with the resumption of schools and universities.  It would also be advisable to receive the seasonal influenza vaccine when available.  Booster vaccines containing mRNA of the Omicron variant are expected during the fall.