Experts are also calling BA.2 a "stealth omicron," as there's a key difference in its genetic sequence that makes it harder to track.
During the past month, all other age groups have reported a decline in their share of weekly cases. But children are accounting for 12% more weekly cases than they did at the beginning of August.
Influenza was virtually a nonfactor last year, with masking, physical distancing and other measures to combat COVID-19. That may not be the case this flu season.
Sampson County hospital officials are worried that this Labor Day weekend could strain resources even more. They don't have enough beds or nurses to fight COVID-19 effectively.
"We are drowning in people who are dying with this illness, and I have yet to admit a single person because of a vaccine-related incident."
Right now, there are only a handful of concerning COVID-19 variants.
