A sharp 12.5% spike in COVID-19 hospitalizations has been reported for the second consecutive week, with an additional 95,056 patients nationwide, according to the CDC.

Among the states facing this alarming surge, New Hampshire takes the lead with an almost doubled rate, a shocking 96% increase, in just one week. While some states have witnessed a decline, others, including Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and Maryland, have all experienced a surge of over 20%.

Experts like Jill Rosenthal of the Center for American Progress suggest that summer surges may become our reoccurring reality with increased travel and indoor socializing playing roles. A noteworthy point: the Omicron variant and its subtypes account for nearly all cases, 99.9%.

So as summer heats up, is this our new normal for the season and what does this mean for the coming weeks?

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