Update for 11/17/2023!

Good morning SARS2PAians!

I hope your late autumn is going healthy. 🍁

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VOCs

Nationally, JD.1.1 making some fast progress in random sequencing. JN.1 at .66% with JN.3 not that far behind at .60%.: https://ibb.co/vqm62GH

All very fast variants are highlighted in gold on the Tableau chart.

XCR and especially XCT are concerningly fast recombinant variants and until they show extreme slowing of growth I'll try to keep track of them specifically, too.

In PA, not a whole lot of sequencing going on but JD.1.1 and now JN.2 are not good to see here.: https://ibb.co/HTYY1mM

In NY/NJ, HV.1 still in the lead by far but JN.3 already over 3% 👀, JN.1 already over 1%. Vanilla BA.2.86 sems also to be doing well in the tri-state area (.87%) where in some countries it's slowed quite a bit compared tot its children (BA.2.86.1, JN.x).: https://ibb.co/j3y98fd

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Wastewater

Nationally, the beginning of the winter increase is in full swing.: https://ibb.co/72CH0v2

Regionally, 3/4 regions on a slow steady increase. The Midwest is ever so slightly declining but we'll see how long that lasts, unfortunately.: https://ibb.co/TczfwBB

In PA, very spotty shed reporting this week. MontCo trending upwards but not anywhere near national levels at this point. Lackawanna seems to have handled their vertical increase!! Chester and Bucks trending sharply upward past national levels, but Luzerne nad Franklin are smashing it!!: https://ibb.co/cF3kT3h

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CDC

New hospital admits holding steady thoughout the State except the arc from Lycoming down to Somerset and Bedford Cos.: https://ibb.co/XzJCbk3

Staffed beds holding very steady throughout the State except for the Huntingdon area.: https://ibb.co/BKr7J7d

Staffed ICU beds have increased all along the I-80 corridor from Easton aaaallll the way over to Lawrence Co. Also the southwestern corner of the State seems to be having consistent trouble in the past few weeks with hospital levels.: https://ibb.co/5hSLvSj

Unfortunately, there have been a large number of States with a substantial increase of deaths over the past three months. We have lost 662 people to COVID in the last three months, and that seems an increase from the usuall number of around 400 to 450.: https://ibb.co/ft8nNRc

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We can prevent life, learning, and financial loss by doing some common-sense things for each other, especially during the winter. Wearing a quality respirator, keeping the air clean, getting the new XBB vaccination, and staying home if you are sick are small things that add up to a healthier State in the long run!! 🍁🍁🍁❄️

#Covid #covid19 #BA286 #JN1 #XCT #CovidIsNotOver #WearAMask #CleanTheAir #SARS2PA #Pennsylvania #PA #CDC