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Summer COVID Surge: Cases on the Rise Again
11 Aug
Summary
- COVID-19 infections are reportedly growing in 43 states as of August 5, 2026.
- Wastewater surveillance indicates moderate to high COVID-19 activity in several states.
- Experts suggest COVID-19 may be developing a seasonal pattern similar to the flu.
Respiratory illness activity remains low overall, but signs point to a potential summer COVID-19 surge. Emergency department visits for COVID-19 have risen from 0.1% to 0.3% between July and August 2026. Wastewater data, now a key tracking method, shows moderate to high activity in California, Kentucky, and Hawaii, with Alaska reporting high levels.
As of August 5, 2026, the CDC estimates COVID-19 infections are growing in 43 states. Data also indicates high activity in the past 21 days across much of the western and southern U.S., especially in coastal cities. This mirrors an increase observed last August, leading experts to believe COVID-19 may be falling into a seasonal pattern.
This emerging seasonal trend, similar to influenza, is attributed partly to vaccine hesitancy and the continuous emergence of new variants. While COVID-19 vaccines remain effective in reducing severe illness, fewer people are opting for updated shots compared to flu vaccines.
