US Sees Summer Covid Surge Amid Wastewater Data and Rising Emergency Visits
Emergency department visits for COVID-19 are increasing in the U.S., with infections growing in 43 states. Wastewater data indicates moderate to high activity in several states, becoming a key tracking method as at-home testing declines.
Key takeaways
- The US is experiencing a summer surge in COVID-19 activity with increasing emergency department visits.
- Wastewater data shows rising COVID-19 levels in many western and southern states.
- Infections are estimated to be growing in 43 states, according to CDC trends.
- Experts suggest COVID-19 may be developing a seasonal pattern similar to the flu.
- Vaccine hesitancy is a factor in the variability of the virus's pattern.
The United States is experiencing a summer increase in COVID-19 activity, characterized by a rise in emergency department visits and growing infection rates across numerous states. This trend is emerging even as public attention to the virus has diminished.
What Happened
Emergency department visits for COVID-19 increased from 0.1 percent to 0.3 percent of all visits between July and August, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The agency estimates that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 43 states as of August 5, 2026, with activity not changing in 7 states.
Wastewater data, now considered a reliable indicator due to decreased individual testing, shows high activity levels in the past 21 days across the majority of the western and southern U.S. California, Kentucky, and Hawaii are reporting moderate levels, while Alaska is experiencing high activity. Cities in coastal states like California and Florida have shown the highest levels.
Background
This summer surge follows a similar increase observed last August. Experts suggest COVID-19 may be settling into a seasonal pattern, analogous to influenza, with lower rates typically occurring in late June and early July, followed by an increase in August and September. However, this pattern is likely more variable than the flu due to lower vaccination rates for COVID-19 and the continuous emergence of new variants.
Vaccine hesitancy has contributed to a rising number of adults indicating they are unlikely to get a COVID-19 vaccine since the previous fall. COVID-19 infections can lead to severe illness and death, with over 1.1 million Americans having died during the pandemic. COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of serious illness and save lives.
Key Facts
- Emergency department visits for COVID-19 rose from 0.1% to 0.3% between July and August.
- As of August 5, 2026, COVID-19 infections are estimated to be growing or likely growing in 43 U.S. states.
- Alaska is reporting high activity in wastewater data, while California, Kentucky, and Hawaii are at moderate levels.
- Wastewater data indicates high activity in most of the western and southern U.S. over the past 21 days.
- A similar increase in COVID-19 activity was recorded in August of the previous year.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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