A strong increase in COVID-19 According to the American newspaper The Guardian, cases are reported in all fifty American states Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
“As of August 12, 2026, we estimate that COVID-19 infections are increasing or likely to increase in 50 states, decreasing or likely to decrease in 0 states, and unchanged in 0 states,” the CDC said.
While Covid is typically seen as a winter virus, along with flu And RSVExperts see infection rates rising despite the warm weather, especially in southern and western states California And Texas among those reporting the highest spike in cases.
Despite this increase, the CDC said the weekly percentage of emergency room visits attributed to COVID-19 remains very low, at just 0.3 percent. The agency added that overall levels of respiratory illness across the country also remain low.
Wastewater data is helping fill the gaps in tracking COVID-19, as fewer people are testing for the infection than during the height of the pandemic. The national level of COVID activity in wastewater is rated “very low,” according to CDC data as of August 8.
In contrast, data from WastewaterSCAN, an infectious disease monitoring program managed by Stanford University, found that COVID activity in wastewater in the US is “high,” with an “upward trend” over the past three weeks.
The dominant variant spreading across the US is XFG.1.1, which was responsible for 22 to 40 percent of all COVID-19 cases in July, according to the CDC. The variant is more contagious than previous strains, but does not appear to cause more severe illness.
Yet the weekly number of positive COVID-19 tests has declined year over year. Last week, about four percent of tests were positive, compared to more than nine percent at the same time in 2025.
A sharp increase in COVID-19 cases is being reported in all fifty US states
Health experts aren’t too surprised by the increase in cases toward the end of the summer, with some noting that a similar trend occurred last August. They think COVID-19 may have entered a seasonal pattern.
“If you look back over the last few years … the lowest numbers across the country tend to be in late June, early July, and then in August you start to see this increase in numbers,” Dr. Susan Kline, professor in the division of infectious diseases and international medicine at the University of Minnesota, told HuffPost.
‘And last year there was even a peak at the end of August and mid-September. And we’re not sure if that will repeat itself this year, but it is a possibility.”
Experts also say the current wave of COVID-19 infections appears to be less severe than previous years.
The CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccination for everyone six months and older, emphasizing that staying up to date on vaccinations is a “more reliable way to build protection” against the disease than getting infected.
However, recent data show that since October 2025, the number of people who say they will probably or definitely not be vaccinated has increased.
People with COVID-19 can experience a wide range of symptoms, from mild to severe, which can occur two to 14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms may start mild and progress to a more serious illness.
A map from the CDC showing the growing COVID-19 trend
Common symptoms of COVID-19 in 2026 include cough, sore throat, congestion, fever, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue
Common symptoms in 2026 include cough, sore throat, congestion, fever, shortness of breath, headache, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue.
While most recover on their own, those most at risk for severe illness include adults 65 and older, people with weakened immune systems and people who have not been vaccinated.
The infection can be treated with antiviral medications, which can reduce the severity and duration of symptoms if taken early.
The CDC recommends staying home and away from others until symptoms have improved and you are fever-free for at least 24 hours without taking fever-reducing medications.
