Cases are rising in nearly every corner of the United States. – NYT

Hospitalizations remain low, partly a reflection of greater immunity in the population. Coronavirus cases and hospitalizations are rising in a majority of American states, in what appears to be the first widespread increase since the peak of the Omicron surge in January.

Europeans have decided COVID-19 is over. It isn’t. – Euronews

After two dramatic years plagued with shock, anxiety, chaos, outrage, fatigue and, for the most part, simple boredom, Europeans appear to have decided to collectively move on from the lethal pandemic that upended every single aspect of their daily lives, triggered a once-in-a-lifetime economic crisis and forever transformed professional and personal habits.

How to Change Your Mind About COVID-19 – The Atlantic

Understanding when to abandon beliefs and when to recommit to them can help us ride out this pandemic and prepare for the next one. In the spring of 2020, as Americans continued to proclaim their excitement for basketball games and parades, an ER doctor named Dylan Smith watched in dismay. Was everyone else ignoring reality? That March, New York City hesitated to close its schools during the city’s first COVID wave. Smith was horrified. A major pandemic was arriving, and softening its blow would require closing schools, which he believed was the best way to protect kids. “There were a lot of suggestions that kids would be these super–carrier vectors,” he says, “where they would come home and they would infect Mom and Dad and Grandma and Grandpa, and they would infect teachers at school.”

New York City Enters Higher Coronavirus Risk Level as Case Numbers Rise – NYT

The city moved into the medium risk level, known as yellow, as it sees a troubling increase in cases and the mayor weighs bringing back some restrictions.The city moved into the medium, or yellow, risk category for virus transmission as cases continued their steady rise, a development that could trigger the return of public health restrictions, although they are not required to be reinstated at this point.

Virus mutations aren’t slowing down. New omicron subvariant proves it – Washington Post

During those terrifying early days of the pandemic, scientists offered one piece of reassuring news about the novel coronavirus: It mutated slowly. The earliest mutations did not appear to be consequential. A vaccine, if and when it was invented, might not need regular updating over time.

South Africa’s latest surge is a possible preview of the pandemic’s next chapter. – NYT

The spread of two newly discovered subvariants has doctors watching closely. Coronavirus cases are surging again in South Africa, and public health experts are monitoring the situation, eager to know what’s driving the spike, what it says about immunity from previous infections and what its implications are globally.

Omicron variant did not wipe out Delta, it could return – study – Jerusalem Post

While the Delta virus wiped out the variants that preceded it, Omicron has not eliminated Delta, according to a new study from Israel’s Ben-Gurion University of the Negev.

Most Americans have now had Covid-19 – but experts are predicting the next surge – CNN

While it’s tempting to say much of life is getting back to normal, it’s probably more accurate to say it feels more comfortable and normal living alongside Covid-19.

Beijing’s Fight against Lockdowns – NYT

Beijing reopened the Xiaotangshan hospital, which has more than 1,000 beds, after recording a few hundred cases in recent weeks. On Monday, officials announced 50 new cases in the city of 22 million, down from the 59 reported on Sunday.

Emerging Infectious Disease Headlines

CDC Issues Treatment Recs for Suspected Bird Flu Cases – MedPageToday

Clinicians should be aware of the possibility of influenza A(H5N1) bird flu in humans with exposure to poultry after a Colorado inmate tested positive for the highly pathogenic strain, the CDC announced late Friday.

Mystery liver disease kills three more children after “unexpected significant increase” in cases reported – CBS

Three children in Indonesia have died from a mysterious liver disease, the country’s health ministry said, raising to at least four the global death toll of a fatal ailment puzzling doctors from the U.S. to Asia. This severe strain of acute hepatitis has been identified in nearly 170 children across 11 countries in recent weeks — raising concerns from the World Health Organization (WHO) of the disease’s “unknown origin.”

Post-COVID Myocardial Scarring in Young Healthy Man – MedPageToday

Case raises concerns about long-term consequences of undetected myocardial involvement. A 23-year-old man presented to an outpatient cardiology clinic reporting pain on the left side of his chest with physical activity that persists for 30-60 minutes. He had no preexisting conditions and had previously had an active lifestyle that included running two miles a day, 6 days a week without any problems. Three months prior to presentation, though, he said, he had “mild” COVID-19 that had been treated conservatively in an outpatient setting.

Study Looks for Long COVID Risk Factors – NIH

Many people recover quickly from COVID-19. But for some, symptoms can continue months after recovery and may involve multiple organs. This is known as Long COVID, or post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 (PASC). SARS-CoV-2 is the virus that causes COVID-19.

COVID and diabetes, what the science says – Nature

According to a massive study, even mild COVID can significantly increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes