From fortune.com:



Experts are warning that a mix of respiratory pathogens could result in an escalated strain on hospitals across the country this winter. This includes the highly mutated Omicron strain, Pirola JN.1, as well as other winter illnesses like RSV and flu. COVID infections in the U.S. are largely dominated by the JN.1 variant, and levels of it are rising in many parts of the country, leading to increased hospitalizations. While vaccines are helping to keep hospitalizations at bay, low vaccination rates continue to pose a significant challenge. U.S. hospital systems have been preparing for another winter surge and have made advancements in emergency planning and the development of new vaccines. However, people are still encouraged to get vaccinated and exercise caution in light of the increased prevalence of respiratory illnesses. The U.S. may be facing a challenging winter “syndemic” and it’s important to take steps to protect hospital capacity in order to ensure care for those who need it most, particularly the immunocompromised and elderly.



Original: JN.1 could cause one of the largest U.S. COVID waves yet, experts say. When each state could see the variant peak