Trump signs order reducing recommended childhood vaccines
U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday (August 10) calling for fewer childhood vaccinations by limiting the inoculation schedule to 11 immunizations.
COVID-19 cases are ticking up in almost every U.S. state as summer draws to a close, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
COVID activity was still categorized overall as “very low” nationwide by the agency as of Aug. 28, though cases are consistently increasing. This is likely the result of what has come to be known as the “summer surge,” a pattern that doctors have observed each year since around 2022. Unlike other respiratory illnesses such as the flu, COVID-19 tends to flare not only during the typical winter cold and flu season, but also toward the end of summer.
Experts previously told USA TODAY that this is likely caused by multiple factors, including behavioral and environmental changes (the amount of time spent cooped up in AC, going back to school, etc.), as well as the virus’ life cycle and how our immunity to it waxes and wanes.
“COVID-19 is rising nationally but from a low baseline,” Dr. Syra Madad, infectious disease epidemiologist at Harvard’s Belfer Center and chief biopreparedness officer for New York City’s public hospitals, previously told USA TODAY. “The increase became apparent in parts of the South and West during July and more clearly nationwide by late July and early August.”
The latest CDC data shows that at least one state has already entered the “high activity” category for the virus. Here’s what to know, including state-by-state updates.
Where COVID-19 cases are growing: See map
As of Aug. 26, the CDC estimates that COVID-19 infections were growing or likely growing in 48 states. Only one state, Iowa, did not provide data. Rhode Island and Washington, DC, were the only locations where viral activity remained the same week over week.
Where activity is high: See map
According to the most recent CDC wastewater data for the week ending Aug. 22, COVID-19 viral activity was consistently highest in the southern United States. Only one state, Texas, had “very high” levels, while Mississippi reported “high” activity.
A handful of states across regions, including California, Nevada, Florida, Rhode Island, Louisiana and Washington, had “moderate” levels, while most other states were in the “low” or “very low” categories.
Wastewater tracking is the testing of community sewage for viruses and other germs to help health officials monitor disease spread and trends, often before cases show up in clinical testing data.