California's COVID-19 hospitalizations are near historic lows. Will the lull last?

https://news.yahoo.com/californias-covid-19-hospitalizations-near-130007693.html

SWIPE: COVID-19 hospitalizations are close to record lows in California, an optimistic sign as the state attempts to navigate its first surge-free summer of the coronavirus era.

It's difficult to say what the rest of the season will bring, however. The coming weeks will help determine whether some kind of uptick in coronavirus transmission is on tap, or if conditions will remain relatively calm until the autumn and winter.

The rate of new weekly COVID-19 hospitalizations in California — though near an all-time low — has been flat over the most recent two weeks for which data are available.

Nationally, weekly declines are starting to level off, too, with hospitalizations on the rise in some parts of the country.

Throughout the pandemic, hospitalization numbers have proved a useful, if lagging, indicator of coronavirus spread. A significant or sustained jump in patient counts would probably mean the coronavirus is circulating more widely in a community.

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Nebraska:
What COVID-19 variants are going around in July 2023?

https://www.nebraskamed.com/COVID/what-covid-19-variants-are-going-around

Currently, the dominant variant nationwide is XBB.1.16, with 17.5% of cases, followed by XBB.1.5, with 16.1% of cases, and XBB.2.3 with 13.4% of cases. "The original omicron variant is gone now," says Dr. Rupp. "Currently subvariants of omicron are circulating, including XBB.1.5, XBB.1.16 and XBB.1.9.1."

XBB.1.5, XBB, and XBB.1.16 variants dominating in Nebraska
As of July 8, 2023, XBB.1.16 is the dominant variant in Nebraska, making up 35% of cases. XBB.1.5 is second, making up 32% of cases and XBB is third, with 21% of Nebraska cases.