Mapped: COVID heating up in Arkansas

COVID-19 viral activity is very high in Arkansas' wastewater as a summertime wave expands.

Why it matters: The prevalence of COVID is up in 45 states and territories — especially in the West, where test positivity in the region stood at 15.6% and viral activity in wastewater has been rising for weeks, according to the Centers for Disease Control.

• More than 70% of infections come from KP variants — or descendants of the highly contagious JN.1 strain, which surged over the winter — and are among the so-called FLiRT variants .

Zoom in: Hospitalizations reached 40 last week in Arkansas, the state Health Department reported. That was up from just five the week before but only slightly higher than June and most of May.

• Still, according to CDC's wastewater analysis, the virus spiked in the Natural State the week before the July 4 holiday.

Threat level: COVID-19 cases have risen in the U.S. every summer, usually around July 4 travel.

• Hospitalizations remain low; however, the summertime surge poses a risk to the elderly, immunocompromised individuals and those with respiratory or cardiac conditions.
• As vaccinations get more out of date and the virus mutates, the risk of a severe wave becomes greater.

State of play: The latest COVID vaccines target an Omicron subvariant that played itself out last year but still offer some protection against the prevailing variants.

What's next: Drugmakers are eyeing combination flu-COVID-19 vaccines that would offer more convenience and protection against two respiratory viruses.