Covid hospitalizations on the rise across United States

(KYMA, KECY/ NBC News) - According to an NBC News analysis, Covid-related hospitalizations are up in all but four states, doubling since May.

The biggest increases are being reported in the south. The increase is being driven by the Omicron subvariant BA.5, accounting for 65% of new cases for the week ending July 9th, according to the CDC.

The BA.4 subvariant accounts for just over 16% during that same time frame.

Both subvariants are more "transmissible and more immune evading" than previous versions of Omicron.

While the vaccines don't offer protections against infection with BA.4 and BA.5, they can reduce the risk for severe complications, according to medical experts.