United States sees nationwide COVID-19 summer surge

COVID-19 infections are experiencing a nationwide surge across the United States, according to epidemic modeling from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of late August 2026, the CDC estimates that infections are growing or likely growing in 47 states, marking a significant escalation from July when growth was limited to 37 states.

The current wave, described as a ‘summer surge,’ has expanded from regional clusters in the South and West to a nearly nationwide trend. This increase occurs ahead of the traditional respiratory virus season and coincides with summer travel and leisure activities.

Data from wastewater surveillance also indicates a sharp upward trend, with August values reported to be 105% higher than the previous month. The CDC utilizes the effective reproduction number (Rt) to track these transmission trends, providing an early warning signal before spikes become evident in hospitalization or emergency department data.