Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 16, 2025 10 hours, 33 minutes ago
Medical News: Infections Rising Again Nationwide
COVID-19 is making a quiet but steady comeback across the United States, with signs pointing to a new summer surge. In California, experts are already warning of increased transmission, and similar trends are being seen in several other states including Nevada, Colorado, Florida, Arkansas, Alabama, and South Carolina.
COVID-19 Spike Returns Across the United States in New Summer Surge
This
Medical News report looks at why cases are rising again and what it could mean for the months ahead.
According to the US CDC COVID-19 tracker, COVID-19 test positivity rates have increased to 3.1 percent despite low testing rates.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently released data showing that COVID-19 activity is picking up in more than half the country.
https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data/activity-levels.html
The agency has now placed the national alert level at “medium” based on wastewater surveillance — a jump from “very low” just a week earlier.
In California alone, 95% of wastewater monitoring sites are now testing positive for traces of the virus, according to WastewaterSCAN, a program that tracks virus levels in sewage.
A Familiar Summer Pattern
Public health researchers have observed that COVID-19 cases tend to rise during the summer months, and this year appears no different. The amount of virus detected in wastewater has been climbing steadily since June, suggesting that a new wave may be forming — much like the summer surges of 2022 and 2023.
Several factors are believed to be driving the increase. People are traveling more, especially around the July 4 holiday. Large crowds at events like concerts, sports games, and festivals also make it easier for the virus to spread. And during recent heatwaves, many are spending time indoors where ventilation is poor — a condition that helps the virus thrive. On top of that, immunity may be waning in people who haven’t been infected or vaccinated in the last six months.
New Variants Behind the Surge
Genetic testing of wastewater samples reveals that the LP.8.1 variant is now the most dominant strain in the U.S., making up about 33.2% of all sequenced cases. It’s followed by another new variant, XFG, which accounts for 24.6%. Meanwhile, a smaller but notable variant called NB.1.8.1 — also known informally as “nimbus” or the “razor blade throat” variant due to its reportedly painful sore throat symptoms — is responsible for 7.5% of cases.
ovid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions">https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions
Though these newer variants are not yet causing a major spike in hospitalizations or deaths, the U.S. CDC reported that COVID-19 is still killing around 150 people every week — a reminder that the virus remains dangerous, especially for vulnerable individuals.
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#trends_weeklydeaths_select_00
Experts Expect Two Waves a Year
In a recent analysis, the U.S. CDC suggested that COVID-19 is now following a twice-a-year pattern, with cases usually peaking during the late summer (July to September) and winter (December to February). This pattern is driven by changes in a part of the virus called the S1 region, which is involved in how the virus enters human cells.
https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/31/8/25-0451_article
The report warns that as long as the virus continues to evolve and mutate, these seasonal waves are likely to continue for the foreseeable future.
Staying Cautious Still Matters
Health officials are reminding the public to stay alert. Testing is recommended for anyone experiencing symptoms, especially in areas where cases are rising. Mask-wearing is still encouraged in high-risk settings, particularly for the elderly and those with underlying health conditions.
While the current levels of infection are slightly lower than what was seen during the same time last year, the trend remains upward. Experts say that the summer wave may peak around late July or August, as it has in previous years.
It’s important to remember that even though COVID-19 is no longer in the headlines daily, it hasn’t disappeared. The virus continues to evolve, and each new wave poses fresh challenges.
For the latest COVID-19 News, keep on logging to Thailand
Medical News.
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