Rapid Spread of JN.1 COVID-19 Subvariant in the US

The CDC reports that the JN.1 COVID-19 subvariant is spreading rapidly in the US, becoming the dominant strain in the Northeast and causing more than one in five COVID cases nationwide. JN.1 is a descendant of the BA.2.86 variant and has shown an ability to evade prior immunity and potentially reduce the effectiveness of vaccine antibodies. COVID-related hospitalizations have increased by 51% in the last four weeks. The CDC and World Health Organization recommend staying up to date on vaccinations, wearing medical-grade masks, and practicing good hygiene to mitigate the spread of the variant.