Key Points

• Incidence rates remained stable across all age groups, while positivity rates were rising from low levels. Testing rates continued to decline.

• The BA.5 lineage of the Omicron variant was no longer dominant. This decline was offset by recombinants, which became dominant, particularly XBB.1.5. These recombinants share characteristics similar to other Omicron sublineages.

• Visits to community medical emergency rooms for “suspected COVID-19” and to hospital emergency departments were rising moderately among older age groups and were stable or declining elsewhere.

• The number of new hospitalizations and the number of new admissions to critical care units remained stable. The number of hospital deaths related to COVID-19 was rising moderately.

• The total number of new COVID-19 cases reported by healthcare facilities remained stable this week.