COVID activity continues at brisk pace across much of US

US COVID activity continues a steady rise across most of the nation, according to the latest indicators today from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

In its latest respiratory illness snapshot, the CDC said most areas of the country are seeing consistent rises in COVID activity. “Surges like this are known to occur throughout the year, including during summer months,” it said, adding there are many effective tools for preventing the spread of the virus or becoming seriously ill.

Test positivity is at 14.3% nationally, the highest since August 2023, according to CDC data. Levels are much higher—averaging 23.4%–in Texas and surrounding states, with levels in other parts of the Southwest also tracking higher than the rest of the nation. 

Emergency department visits for COVID—at the highest level since the middle of February— rose 13.5% compared to the previous week and make up nearly 2% of all ED visits. The levels are highest, at the moderate range, in Florida, Hawaii, and Texas.

Heading into July, hospitalization levels rose to the highest level since early March. In its respiratory virus snapshot today, the CDC said hospitalization rates are increasing, especially among people ages 65 and older.

Meanwhile, deaths from COVID are up slightly, with levels highest in Puerto Rico compared to the rest of the nation. Currently, only 1.1% of deaths are due to COVID, up 10% compared to the previous week.

Wastewater levels high, but levels dip in the West

Nationally, wastewater detections of SARS-CoV-2 have been at the high level over the past few weeks, with the highest levels in Western states over the summer months. However, the CDC’s latest data show though detections in the West are still the highest in the nation, the level declined in the most recent reporting week.

Wastewater detections are still rising steadily in the South. In the Midwest and Northeast, detections are still increasing, but at a slower pace.