COVID-19 cases are rising or likely rising in more than half of U.S. states, according to July data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As of mid-July, the CDC reported case growth or likely growth in at least 26 states plus Washington, D.C., with a broader national summary noting increases in the Southeast, South and on the West Coast. Emergency room visits for young children under age 5 have also reached their highest level since March 2025.
States with confirmed case increases include Arkansas, Hawaii, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Virginia. The CDC flagged likely increases in states including California, Georgia, New York, Tennessee and Wisconsin.
Are new COVID-19 variants more severe?
New COVID-19 variants circulating this season, nicknamed Nimbus and Stratus, are not more deadly than past strains, according to CBS News Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. Symptoms remain consistent with earlier forms of the virus — such as cough, sore throat, fever and fatigue — and hospitalization and death rates have continued to decline year over year.
What’s the CDC’s vaccine guidance?
The CDC currently recommends that adults age 18 and older receive the 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccine, especially those over 65 or at higher risk. For healthy children and other groups, the agency now encourages “shared clinical decision-making,” meaning people should consult with their healthcare provider.
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. also voiced support for this shared decision-making for adults, urging people to speak with a healthcare provider, according to LaPook.
Professional organizations differ on some guidance. For example, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy to help protect infants through passive immunity.
What’s the broader respiratory illness outlook?
Despite the summer COVID-19 uptick, overall respiratory illness activity remains very low across the U.S., according to CDC data as of July 18. Seasonal flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) activity are also low or very low. Emergency department visits and wastewater monitoring both indicate increased COVID-19 spread but no surge in other major respiratory viruses.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae infections remain slightly elevated in some areas, and cases of whooping cough (pertussis) remain higher than pre-pandemic levels but below their peak in late 2024.
