Summer's New Covid Threat. It's Real. Be Prepared and Stay Safe.

RFK Jr. Might Say There Is No Threat - Science Says There Is.

A new COVID-19 variant that has overwhelmed hospitals across China is now spreading in the United States, arriving just as the country prepares for its typical summer surge in respiratory illnesses.

NB.1.8.1 has become the dominant strain in China, driving emergency room visits and hospitalizations to levels not seen in over a year. In Hong Kong, COVID-19 rates have climbed to the worst levels in at least a year, prompting authorities to urge residents to mask in public transportation and crowded places. The variant has spread rapidly across 22 countries throughout Asia and beyond.

The variant appears to have a "growth advantage," making it significantly more transmissible than previous strains due to its enhanced ability to bind to human cells. However, there's no evidence it causes more severe illness than other circulating variants.

U.S. airport screening detected the first cases in late March from international travelers arriving in California, New York, Virginia, and Washington. Cas…