The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now predicting an acceleration of COVID-19 hospitalizations over the next month.

The new weekly hospitalizations nationwide jumped by 22% over the last week and it's the fifth week in a row of increased admissions.

"Overall the numbers are still relatively low," said Dr. Sheila Nolan, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at Maria Fareri Children's Hospital.

Nolan said the uptick in hospitalizations is not cause for alarm.

"The levels we are seeing in the community, at least based on hospitalizations I don’t think warrant universal masking," she said.

While universal masking is not warranted, Dr. Nolan said if you catch COVID, she recommends masking up for at least five days when you are most contagious.

A new COVID vaccine is awaiting federal approval that's expected to protect against emerging new Omicron subvariant.