COVID is no longer dominating the news cycle, but there is a new strain that's dominating the new cases reported this summer called EG.5 or Eris.

The strain is more transmissible than the last variant of the omicron strain.

Health care writer Lilo Stainton is here to lay out the latest in the COVID evolution.

Lilo great to talk with you.

It has been a while since we checked in on the COVID numbers.

Tell us what's going on out there in the world.

Right.

So no need to panic, but the numbers are definitely going up.

We've heard about this for a while.

We've seen numbers like 20% increase in hospitalizations nationwide in the last week.

In New Jersey over the last sort of six weeks.

Hospitalizations have essentially doubled.

But that's from a really, really low point, like the lowest point ever.

So it is important to keep in context that when we talk about, you know, these numbers going up, we're still talking in the hundreds.

So 300, 350 people may be hospitalized now with COVID.

Very small number.

And the point is, even as infection numbers are going up, even more people point out that's not a real number because we're not capturing that, the home tests.

But the truth is, you know, people aren't going to the hospital as much as they used to be.

As your reporting delves into really its older senior citizens, those living in group homes and seniors homes, that are most vulnerable.

What are the risks there right now as we see these hospitalizations increase?

Yeah, I mean, those risks continue.

And that's where a lot of people are focused on their you know, with their concern where everybody is is encouraging that group to be sort of the first to get vaccinated.

Right.

We have this new vaccine coming out in September, mid-to-late September.

You know, pharmacists expect older people to come first.

That sort of more vulnerable group.

Nursing homes are definitely still having outbreaks.

There were, I believe, nearly a thousand people, staff and residents who were tested positive sort of in the last week, which would have been at least a week old data.

So, you know, it's hard to tell, but it is still circulating, that is for sure.

Lilo, are we at the point with these outbreaks that it compares to other viruses and other outbreaks that we might see in a nursing home?

Yes.

And, you know, sorry to go back to the vaccines, but again, this year, you're likely to see and hear about sort of three options for vaccines that you can get in the fall or should get in the fall.

The COVID vaccine, of course, which they have the new one coming out, as well as the flu vaccine, which a lot of people get every year, especially in nursing homes.

And if you're in sort of a higher risk group and then there's RSV, which is available for also higher risk groups, and there's some infant options as well.

And doctors want us to use these tools.

Obviously, you know we're just reporting on this.

You're not in a position necessarily to project.

But from your reporting, does it look like there's going to be high demand, high push for this vaccine among average citizens, younger people?

Not based on what I'm hearing.

I mean, I think there's a tremendous amount of confusion over who can get it still.

You know, if it was do you do you have to have been boosted last year to get this?

Do you need the original original series?

My understanding is no, everybody can get this new vaccine.

It doesn't matter what your past history is, but please talk to your doctor.

Pharmacists told me that they will expect a certain number of people at the beginning, but it's nothing like we saw in the past.

Lilo Stainton health care writer, thank you so much.

Thank you.

Joanna.