Overall, the risk of hospitalization or death from COVID-19 has gone down since the height of pandemic, but with yet another variant emerging, it's hard to predict what those risks will look like. 

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, an estimated 97 percent of Americans have built up an immunity to COVID either from prior infection or vaccines. 

However, recent data in August, shows COVID is on the rise. 

Center for Disease Control and Prevention data-updated weekly

Scientists are keeping a watchful eye on the new variant, BA.2.86, nicknamed "Pirola." 

What is BA.2.86? 

Each time the virus changes, we get a new "variant." BA.2.86 is a variant of omicron and has multiple notable genetic differences. It's too soon to know if BA.2.86 will cause more severe illnesses compared to its predecessors, but scientists are investigating how transmissible it is. Nearly all of the U.S. population has developed antibodies from SARS-CoV-2, so it's speculated that these individuals will be protected from the next variant as well. 

Current Cases

Nine variant sequences have been reported globally:  Denmark (2), South Africa (3), Israel (1), United Kingdom (1) and two cases in the U.S. including in a Michigan lab. According to the Detroit Free Press, Michigan's BA.2.86 case was found in an older adult from Washtenaw County, who had mild symptoms and was not hospitalized. 

How to prevent BA.2.86

The CDC lists several recommendations on how to protect yourself from the new variant: 

• Get your COVID-19 vaccines
• Stay home if you are sick
• Get tested for COVID-19 if needed
• Seek treatment if you have COVID-19 and are at high risk of getting very sick
• If you choose to wear a mask, wear a high-quality one that fits well over your nose and mouth
• Improve ventilation
• Wash your hands

The CDC is routinely checking wastewater from airplanes for BA.2.86, an effective and low-cost tool to monitor pathogens circulating globally. Upon examination, it's suggested that available treatment such as Paxlovid, Veklury and Lagevrio will be effective against BA.2.86. 

For more information, Very Well Health, provides a list of past COVID-19 variants.