New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows activity of COVID-19 is increasing across a wide swath of the country.
As the U.S. approaches the midpoint of summer, the CDC is reporting cases of the virus are growing or likely growing in more than half of all states, including many in the South and Southeast.
The center’s July 18 report shows at least 26 states plus Washington, D.C., are encountering a summer surge, according to its epidemic trend modeling, using data from emergency department visits. The CDC notes its modeling indicates trends in overall cases, not the actual numbers of current infections.
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A familiar summer surge
The rate of positive COVID-19 tests is increasing nationally, the CDC said of the last week in data, with emergency department visits for the virus are increasing among children 4 years old and younger.
Though there is an uptick in COVID-19 cases in more than two dozen states, the CDC says the overall amount of people seeking care for acute respiratory illnesses is at a very low level. That’s accompanied by low levels of seasonal influenza activity and very low levels of RSV activity, the CDC says.
Overall, trends in COVID-19 cases continue downward as compared to the last few years, according to long-term data trends in deaths, emergency room visits and positive cases.
The U.S. has seen a wave of higher COVID-19 cases every summer since 2020.
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COVID-19 cases are growing in 10 states:
The CDC’s latest report says cases are likely growing in more than a dozen other states, plus Washington, D.C. In one state − Montana − COVID-19 cases are likely declining.
COVID-19 cases are likely growing in the following 16 states:
Kathryn Palmer is a national trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: COVID-19 cases rising in these states amid summer wave: CDC data
