The COVID-19 pandemic continues to claim lives across the United States, with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reporting an average of 350 deaths per week over the past month.

Health experts warn that these numbers highlight the virus’s persistent circulation in communities nationwide.

Dr. Tony Moody, a professor of pediatric infectious diseases at Duke University Medical Center, told ABC News, “The fact that we’re still seeing deaths just means it’s still circulating, and people are still catching it.”

Adding to concerns, the CDC has detected a new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, through its airport surveillance program. The variant, linked to a recent surge in infections in China, has been identified in travelers arriving at airports in Washington state, California, Virginia, and the New York City metropolitan area. While not yet classified as a variant of concern, health officials are closely monitoring NB.1.8.1 for its potential impact on transmission and vaccine effectiveness.

Public health authorities are urging continued vigilance, emphasizing the importance of vaccinations, booster shots, and preventive measures, especially for high-risk groups, to curb the spread of the virus and its emerging variants. (ILKHA)