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COVID-19 cases are on the rise in these 48 states. See map
USA Today • • health
Key Points:
- COVID-19 cases are increasing in nearly every U.S. state as summer ends, though overall activity remains "very low" nationwide according to CDC data as of August 28.
- This summer surge pattern, observed annually since 2022, is attributed to behavioral changes like increased indoor time with air conditioning and school reopenings, as well as fluctuations in immunity and the virus’s life cycle.
- By late July and early August, rising cases were evident across the South and West, with 48 states showing growing or likely growing infections as of August 26; only Iowa lacked data, and Rhode Island and Washington, DC saw stable activity.
- Wastewater data from the week ending August 22 indicated the highest viral activity in the southern U.S., with Texas reporting "very high" levels and Mississippi "high," while several states had moderate levels and most others remained low or very low.
- Wastewater surveillance helps detect virus trends early by testing community sewage, providing a proactive tool for monitoring COVID-19 spread before clinical cases rise.
