COVID cases are surging again — these states are seeing the biggest spikes

The U.S. is facing a late summer COVID surge, according to tracking from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The biggest spike is in the South Central region — Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas — where about 15% of COVID tests are positive.

The Western U.S. is also rising, with more than a dozen states west of the Mississippi reporting positivity rates above 10% last week. Experts say the real number of cases is higher because many people use at-home tests, which are not reported to labs.

COVID surge tracked through wastewater

One unusual but effective method to track spread is wastewater testing, which shows how many people in a community might have COVID before they even see a doctor or feel symptoms. CDC explains that wastewater can detect virus spread earlier than clinical testing and also find asymptomatic infections.


Wastewater data from Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas and Utah are showing 'very high' levels of virus, however the full scale of the virus affliction is still unknown, with multiple states either not having enough testing sites or not reporting to the CDC. Experts say the summer surge is not shocking — it has happened every summer since the pandemic began, as per the report by New York Times.

Why COVID cases rise in summer

With air- conditioned spaces becoming a norm, even in sports arenas, Epidemiologists say poor ventilation is common in these places, leading to the quick spread of virus. Summers also see large gathering of people, which can also lead to spread of the virus

Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, senior epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis, told the New York Times that immunity from the last booster shot fades by summer, since most got it the previous fall.

The FDA just approved updated Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax vaccines for seniors, but limited access for younger adults and children without high-risk conditions. This means fewer Americans could get a COVID shot this year compared to before. It is still unclear how easy or hard it will be to get a shot covered by insurance this fall and winter. The CDC panel will meet in September to decide.

FAQs

Q1. Which states are seeing the biggest COVID spikes now?
The biggest COVID spikes are in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, with more than 15% test positivity, while Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas and Utah also show very high virus levels in wastewater data.

Q2. Why are COVID cases rising again in summer?
COVID cases rise in summer because people stay in air-conditioned indoor spaces, travel more, and immunity from the last booster shot fades by this time.