COVID-19 activity is increasing in many U.S. states in a late-summer/early-fall surge, experts say, with wastewater levels and cases rising. Cases are highest in the South, along the Atlantic seaboard and in the West, while hospitalizations remain relatively low.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong said the lower level of severe illness may reflect the absence of a new “blockbuster variant”: XFG is the predominant strain in 2026 and has circulated for a while. He said this pattern applies to younger adults, not older adults, who are more susceptible; adults 65 and older are recommended to get a COVID-19 shot twice a year rather than once.
Symptoms include cough, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, fever, fatigue, headache and body aches; nausea and diarrhea may also occur. Because symptoms overlap with flu and other respiratory illnesses, they may not identify the infection on their own. Experts advised testing when symptomatic, staying home after a positive result or wearing a tight-fitting mask if going out, and staying up to date on vaccination, especially for higher-risk groups: adults 65 and older, pregnant people, immunocompromised people and children under 2. The article also notes a new FDA-approved medication to help prevent COVID-19 after exposure.
