Ethan Rhodes
The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a large number of hospitalizations worldwide. The CDC in the US has reported summertime increases in cases across the country, with emergency room visits for COVID-19 on the rise. COVID-19 hospitalization rates are used to understand trends in virus circulation, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks. Various factors influence hospitalization rates, including the emergence of new variants, vaccination status, and underlying medical conditions. Tracking these rates provides valuable insights into the impact of the virus and helps identify at-risk groups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose of hospitalization rates | To understand trends in virus circulation, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks |
| COVID-NET surveillance area | Covers more than 34 million people and includes an estimated 10% of the U.S. population |
| COVID-NET data collection | Demographic data, including underlying conditions, hospitalization rates, and clinical characteristics |
| CDC data on vaccination | Unvaccinated people are at a much greater risk of dying from Covid-19 than those who are fully vaccinated |
| CDC estimates | The virus is growing in Arkansas, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia |
| CDC reports | Cases of COVID-19 are increasing in nine states and likely growing in another 16 |
| New York City data | Wastewater is tested to measure the amount of COVID-19 genetic material in it |
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What You'll Learn
- COVID-NET: Surveillance Network for COVID-19 Hospitalizations
- CDC data: Unvaccinated people at greater risk of hospitalization
- Hospitalization rates: Calculated using demographic data
- Wastewater testing: Used to estimate COVID-19 cases
- Vaccination status: Vaccines prevent severe disease and hospitalizations
COVID-NET: Surveillance Network for COVID-19 Hospitalizations
COVID-NET, the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) Hospitalization Surveillance Network, is a part of the CDC's (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Respiratory Virus Hospitalization Surveillance Network (RESP-NET). COVID-NET monitors and tracks COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among both children and adults. It covers over 34 million people, including an estimated 10% of the U.S. population.
COVID-NET defines a case as laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 in a person who lives in a defined COVID-NET surveillance area and tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 within 14 days before or during hospitalization. The surveillance area is generally similar to the U.S. population by demographics, but the data might not be generalizable to the entire country. COVID-NET comprises 185 counties and county equivalents in the 13 states participating in the Respiratory Virus Surveillance Network.
COVID-NET collects demographic data from cases, including hospitalization rates, which are calculated as the number of residents in a surveillance area hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, divided by the total population estimate for that area. The interactive COVID-NET dashboard presents rates that can be used to follow trends and comparisons of COVID-19-associated hospitalizations in different demographic groups and over time. The data can be viewed as weekly, monthly, or cumulative rates, and clinical characteristics can be viewed by month, quarter, or surveillance season.
The CDC uses COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates to understand trends in virus circulation, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks. By collecting and analyzing demographic and detailed clinical information, including underlying conditions, the CDC can better understand COVID-19-associated hospitalization trends and identify populations most at risk. This population-based surveillance approach involves the active collection, analysis, and interpretation of data on a population within a specified geographic area.
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CDC data: Unvaccinated people at greater risk of hospitalization
As of July 2025, COVID-19 cases are rising across the US, with 27 states reporting growing numbers. The current dominant variant, NB.1.8.1, is an offshoot of the XVD.1.5.1 strain, a descendant of the Omicron variant. This variant has been linked to a surge in hospitalizations in China and is causing concern in the US.
The CDC has been monitoring hospitalization rates to understand trends in virus circulation, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks. Their data shows that unvaccinated individuals are at a significantly greater risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 compared to those who are fully vaccinated. This information is crucial in guiding public health measures and recommendations.
The COVID-19 Hospitalization Surveillance Network (COVID-NET) is a valuable tool in monitoring COVID-19-associated hospitalizations. It covers over 34 million people, or about 10% of the US population, and provides insights into hospitalization rates by season, site, age group, sex, race, and ethnicity. COVID-NET data also helps identify underlying medical conditions, reasons for admission, and patient outcomes.
The risk of severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19 is not limited to unvaccinated individuals. Older adults, especially those over 65, are at the highest risk of severe illness, with 81% of COVID-19 deaths occurring in this age group. Additionally, individuals with underlying medical conditions are more likely to experience severe illness and require hospitalization.
To protect themselves and reduce the risk of hospitalization, individuals are advised to stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccines and follow preventive measures, especially if they are older or have underlying health conditions. Maintaining a healthy weight, being physically active, and quitting smoking can also contribute to reducing the risk of severe illness from COVID-19.
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Hospitalization rates: Calculated using demographic data
The CDC uses COVID-19-associated hospitalization rates to understand trends in virus circulation, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks. The CDC collects demographic and detailed clinical information, including underlying conditions, to better understand hospitalization trends and determine who is most at risk. COVID-NET, a surveillance area that covers more than 34 million people, or about 10% of the US population, began tracking COVID-19-associated hospitalizations in March 2020.
COVID-NET collects demographic data from cases to calculate hospitalization rates. The rate is calculated as the number of residents in a surveillance area hospitalized with lab-confirmed COVID-19, divided by the total population estimate for that area. The COVID-NET interactive dashboard allows users to view hospitalization rates by season, surveillance site, age group, sex, or race and ethnicity, as well as clinical characteristics, including underlying medical conditions, reason for admission, and patient outcome. The data can be displayed in graphs or tables and is updated weekly.
The CDC releases hospitalization data as a weekly figure per 100,000, which can be used to compare age-adjusted average daily case and death rates for vaccinated and unvaccinated people. This data shows that unvaccinated people are at a much greater risk of dying from COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated.
In addition to the CDC's data, other sources provide hospitalization data at the state and local levels. For example, the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene provides data on age-adjusted hospitalizations, and the NYS Department of Health monitors hospitalizations and wastewater surveillance to estimate changes in COVID-19 cases.
It's important to note that hospitalization data may not always be accurate due to differences in reporting practices and testing strategies across different regions. For instance, New York State no longer tracks day-to-day COVID-19 cases, and health experts no longer consider the number of COVID tests or test positivity rates as accurate data points. Furthermore, the CDC's data on emergency room visits for COVID-19, which account for a small percentage of total cases, may not accurately reflect the overall level of respiratory diseases in the US.
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Wastewater testing: Used to estimate COVID-19 cases
Wastewater testing has emerged as a valuable tool for estimating COVID-19 cases and tracking the spread of the virus across communities. This method, known as wastewater-based epidemiology, offers several advantages over traditional individual testing methods.
Firstly, wastewater testing provides a cost-effective means of near real-time monitoring of community-level transmission. By detecting the presence of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, public health officials can identify areas where COVID-19 is circulating. This is particularly useful in identifying asymptomatic carriers, as individuals with no apparent symptoms may still shed the virus in their faeces. Wastewater testing helps overcome the limitations of individual testing campaigns, which can be expensive and impractical, especially in large communities.
Secondly, wastewater surveillance can fill the gaps left by incomplete individual testing. The SEIR (susceptible-exposed-infectious-recovered) model, for example, has been used to predict active COVID-19 cases based on RNA mass rates in wastewater. This model accounts for under-reporting by using an estimated ratio of actual cases to confirmed cases. By comparing model predictions with confirmed cases, public health officials can better understand the true prevalence of COVID-19 in a community.
Additionally, wastewater testing is valuable in specific settings such as passenger ships. By testing wastewater from ships, researchers can assess the movement of COVID-19 across international boundaries. This helps estimate the number of pre-symptomatic and asymptomatic passengers on board, providing valuable data for public health interventions.
Despite its benefits, wastewater testing has limitations. One significant challenge is relating the prevalence of the virus in wastewater to the number of infected individuals. The quantitative value of knowing a community's viral load is essential for public health policy and local governance decisions. However, methods for estimating infection numbers based on wastewater RNA concentrations need improvement.
In conclusion, wastewater testing is a powerful tool for estimating COVID-19 cases and informing public health decisions. It complements individual testing by providing community-level data, filling gaps left by incomplete testing, and helping to identify asymptomatic carriers. While there are challenges in interpreting wastewater data, the benefits to public health surveillance and policy-making strongly support its continued use.
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Vaccination status: Vaccines prevent severe disease and hospitalizations
Vaccines are an essential tool in the fight against COVID-19. Vaccination status is critical in preventing severe disease and hospitalizations. While antibody treatments can slow hospitalizations, vaccines are still the best defense. Dr. Myron Cohen, director of the University of North Carolina Institute for Global Health and Infectious Diseases, emphasizes that "vaccination is what we need to do." The data supports this claim, showing that unvaccinated individuals are at a much greater risk of dying from COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated.
Vaccines work by training the immune system to recognize and combat the virus. In doing so, they reduce the likelihood of severe illness and hospitalization. This is particularly important for high-risk patients, including people over 65 and those with chronic conditions such as heart disease, obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure. By preventing severe disease, vaccines help to alleviate the strain on healthcare systems and reduce the number of hospitalizations.
In addition to vaccination, masks and monoclonal antibodies are also crucial tools in the fight against COVID-19. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-made drugs that mimic the body's natural antibodies, helping to prevent severe illness when administered early to high-risk patients. However, vaccines remain the most effective way to protect against COVID-19 and its severe consequences.
While vaccines are highly effective, it is important to acknowledge that there can be rare cases of anaphylactic reactions. These reactions are typically treated with an epinephrine injection, and the benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks. As Dr. Cohen states, it is better to prevent disease than to treat it, as the consequences of infection can be grave.
As COVID-19 continues to evolve, ongoing surveillance and data collection are essential. The CDC's COVID-NET Hospitalization Surveillance Network monitors laboratory-confirmed, COVID-19-associated hospitalizations among children and adults. This data helps to understand trends, estimate disease burden, and respond to outbreaks. By tracking hospitalization rates and vaccination status, we can better protect vulnerable populations and manage the impact of the virus.
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Frequently asked questions
As of 2025, the CDC is reporting summertime increases in cases across the US. The latest data from the CDC shows that people who are unvaccinated are at a much greater risk of dying from COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated.
Hospitalization rates are calculated as the number of residents in a surveillance area who are hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, divided by the total population estimate for that area.
The COVID-NET surveillance area covers more than 34 million people and includes an estimated 10% of the US population. It comprises 185 counties and county equivalents in the 13 states participating in the Respiratory Virus Surveillance Network.
Hospitalization data is updated weekly and can be viewed as weekly, monthly, or cumulative rates.
COVID-19 data in NYC is tracked through the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, which provides data on vaccinations, cases, and age-adjusted hospitalizations. The city also tests wastewater from the sewage system and measures the amount of COVID-19 genetic material in it to estimate changes in cases.
