The predominant COVID-19 variant in the U.S. is showing a significant decrease after several months of high transmission rates.
JN.1, which surged late last year, accounted for 86% of new infections in the past two weeks, down from 90% in early March.
This variant, closely related to BA.2.86, had been the fastest-growing strain, driving infections during the fall and winter.
Another variant, JN.1.18, is also increasing but to a lesser extent, comprising less than 2% of recent infections.
Despite the rise of different subvariants, overall COVID-19 cases are declining across much of the country.
The CDC reports that while respiratory illness remains high in many regions, key COVID-19 indicators are dropping. For instance, weekly hospitalizations decreased by nearly 14% last week, falling below 10,000 new admissions for the first time since July 2023.
The decline in COVID-19 mortality has contributed to a rise in life expectancy in 2022 in the U.S., according to recent CDC data.
Although this increase marks a reversal from the past two years, it still represents less than half of the life expectancy lost during the pandemic.