US COVID Cases Rise in 47 States as XFG.1.1 Drives Late-Summer Wave

2 articles · Updated · TODAY · Aug 25

CDC estimates COVID cases are growing or likely growing in 47 states as of Aug. 19, with the South and West seeing the fastest increases and Texas posting the nation’s highest wastewater levels.
WastewaterSCAN data show SARS-CoV-2 concentrations jumped 106% in August from July, pointing to a broad late-summer wave driven mainly by the XFG.1.1 variant, which made up 22%-40% of U.S. cases last month.
Experts say the surge still looks milder than last year’s summer wave: test positivity was nearly 5% in the week ended Aug. 13, versus more than 9% a year earlier, because current variants remain close to recent Omicron strains.
San Perlita ISD in south Texas closed campuses for Aug. 25-26 after rapid spread in the district, underscoring back-to-school transmission risks as millions of students return.
Researchers expect transmission to peak around early September, while updated 2026-27 vaccines targeting XFG are still not available and are expected sometime in September.