SANTOSTILO COVID-19 CASES RISING IN U.S. STATES AMID SUMMER WAVE

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What’s happening

  • Summer wave returns: Recently released data shows COVID‑19 cases are climbing in around 25–27 U.S. states, particularly across the Southeast, South, and West Coast. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports an uptick in transmission in half the country, marking the onset of the 2025 summer wave

  • Wastewater detection: A significant increase in viral load in wastewater has pushed national COVID levels from “very low” into “low–medium,” reflecting a steady rise in silent community transmission

  • ER and test‑positivity signals: Emergency room visits for COVID and test positivity rates have climbed in regions like the Pacific Northwest and Southeast, reaching levels not seen since winter–spring 2025

What’s driving it

  1. Seasonality & immunity trends
    COVID‑19 continues to follow a biannual pattern, peaking in summer (July–September) and winter (December–February), driven by recurring mutations in the virus’s spike (S1) protein and waning immunity after infection or vaccination New variants

    • NB.1.8.1 (“Nimbus”): This Omicron subvariant is now widely circulating, accounting for roughly 33–37% of U.S. cases by early July. While not more severe, it is more transmissible and causes distinctive sore throats often described as “razor‑blade sore throats” XFG (“Stratus”): Also gaining momentum, XFG makes up around 24–25% of cases. It remains under WHO monitoring and may become dominant

    • LP.8.1 and others: LP.8.1 is still active, contributing over 30%, alongside other subvariants like JN.1 and XEC Behavioral & environmental catalysts
      The wave coincides with factors such as summer travel, large gatherings (holidays, concerts, events), indoor air‑conditioned spaces, and waning immunity—all conducive to virus spread.

Impact on health

  • Severity & hospitalizations: Hospital admissions remain relatively low overall, but older adults and immunocompromised individuals are seeing a slight increase in some areas  Symptom profiles: New‐variant infections mirror Omicron — including sore throat, fever, cough, fatigue, congestion — with Nimbus especially linked to severe throat discomfort

  • Co‑circulation of other respiratory viruses: While COVID rises, influenza remains low, and RSV activity is very low, according to CDC data.

What public health experts recommend

To protect yourself and contain the wave:

  1. Stay UTD on boosters: Updated COVID vaccines for 2024–2025 offer strong protection, particularly to vulnerable groups (age 65+, immunocompromised, pregnant, infants) Test if symptomatic: Even mild symptoms should prompt testing. At‑home rapid tests are reliable, especially when used early

  2. Mask in risk zones: In crowded indoor spaces—airports, transit, events—high-quality masks (N95/KF94) are advisable Improve ventilation: Boost indoor airflow—open windows, use air purifiers—to reduce viral exposure

  3. Practice hygiene & isolation: Regular handwashing, avoiding face touching, staying home when sick, and isolating if positive remain effective strategies Early antivirals: High‑risk individuals who test positive should consider antivirals like Paxlovid to reduce progression to severe disease

 Outlook

Thanks to widespread immunity and less severe variants, this summer’s wave is expected to be milder than early-pandemic surges. Still, tens of thousands of COVID-related deaths occur annually, and long COVID remains a concern

The CDC’s seasonal modeling predicts ongoing twice-yearly peaks, and experts emphasize maintaining vigilance — especially as the fall–winter booster approaches.

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