Aug. 31, 2026, 5:51 p.m. ET
COVID-19 instances are ticking up in nearly each U.S. state as summer season attracts to a detailed, based on the most recent information from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.
COVID exercise was nonetheless categorized general as “very low” nationwide by the company as of Aug. 28, although instances are constantly rising. That is doubtless the results of what has come to be generally known as the “summer season surge,” a sample that docs have noticed every year since round 2022. Not like different respiratory sicknesses such because the flu, COVID-19 tends to flare not solely throughout the typical winter chilly and flu season, but in addition towards the top of summer season.
Specialists beforehand advised USA TODAY that that is doubtless attributable to a number of elements, together with behavioral and environmental modifications (the period of time spent cooped up in AC, going again to highschool, and so forth.), in addition to the virus’ life cycle and the way our immunity to it waxes and wanes.
“COVID-19 is rising nationally however from a low baseline,” Dr. Syra Madad, infectious illness epidemiologist at Harvard’s Belfer Heart and chief biopreparedness officer for New York Metropolis’s public hospitals, beforehand advised USA TODAY. “The rise turned obvious in elements of the South and West throughout July and extra clearly nationwide by late July and early August.”
The most recent CDC information reveals that at the least one state has already entered the “excessive exercise” class for the virus. Here is what to know, together with state-by-state updates.
The place COVID-19 instances are rising: See map
As of Aug. 26, the CDC estimates that COVID-19 infections had been rising or doubtless rising in 48 states. Just one state, Iowa, didn’t present information. Rhode Island and Washington, DC, had been the one places the place viral exercise remained the identical week over week.
The place exercise is excessive: See map
In accordance with the latest CDC wastewater information for the week ending Aug. 22, COVID-19 viral exercise was constantly highest within the southern United States. Just one state, Texas, had “very excessive” ranges, whereas Mississippi reported “excessive” exercise.
A handful of states throughout areas, together with California, Nevada, Florida, Rhode Island, Louisiana and Washington, had “average” ranges, whereas most different states had been within the “low” or “very low” classes.
Wastewater monitoring is the testing of group sewage for viruses and different germs to assist well being officers monitor illness unfold and tendencies, usually earlier than instances present up in medical testing information.
