CDC Reports COVID-19 Activity Is Increasing Across US

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported a nationwide increase in COVID-19 activity as of late August 2026, though overall levels remain classified as "very low." According to the CDC’s Friday update, infections are growing or likely growing in 48 states, with no states reporting declines and two states showing no significant change. Wastewater data indicates particularly high activity in Texas and elevated levels in Mississippi, while several other states, including California and Florida, show moderate levels.

Emergency department visits due to COVID-19 are also at "very low" levels, the lowest tier on the CDC’s tracking scale. The agency noted that while COVID-19 infections are rising across most of the U.S., other respiratory viruses present a mixed picture. Influenza activity is increasing nationwide, while respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) levels remain unchanged week-to-week. Rhinovirus and enterovirus infections are also on the rise, whereas Mycoplasma pneumoniae, associated with "walking pneumonia," and pertussis, or "whooping cough," are at low levels.

The CDC’s findings coincide with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent approval of updated COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna, Novavax-Sanofi, and Pfizer-BioNTech. These vaccines target the dominant XFG variant, following recommendations from a CDC advisory panel. Despite the availability of updated shots, vaccine uptake remains low, with just 17.5% of adults and 10% of children receiving a dose in late 2025 and early 2026.

Internationally, China’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported a significant rise in COVID-19 cases in July, with 522,000 cases compared to 443,000 in June. Experts suggest the actual number can be higher, as local conditions may lead to underreporting. COVID-19 first emerged in late 2019 in or around Wuhan, China, before spreading globally.

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