Summer COVID levels are on the rise: Track the spread by region

The heat is not the only thing rising this summer. COVID-19 is on an upswing as well.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that COVID-19 levels have increased in most states based on wastewater sample data. More than 70% of the illnesses stem from the highly contagious JN.1 strain, which grew more prevalent over the winter. These COVID-19 variants are known as FLiRT variants.

Wastewater testing acts as an early warning system for public health professionals and can help in slowing or preventing outbreaks.

COVID-19 wastewater activity levels on the rise

Even in communities where residents are not showing symptoms, it is possible to test wastewater, or sewage, for the presence of infectious diseases. In turn, the CDC can determine the levels of illnesses in your region.

According to the CDC, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is "high" and "very high" in 26 states.

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The CDC's COVID-19 Data Tracker shows how the COVID-19 variants have grown and mutated. Since May, the prevalence of JN.1 has steadily declined while cases of KP.3 and KP.2 have increased. For the two weeks from June 22 to July 6, the leading variant in the country was KP.3, accounting for 31.3% of infections.

Hospitalization rates are still low, but this summer's spike puts at risk older people, immunocompromised people, and people with heart or respiratory diseases.

COVID-19 wastewater monitoring by region

Across the regions, varying levels of COVID-19 have been detected in wastewater samples. The West and South have shown the largest increase of COVID-19 levels.

More: The world is the happiest it has been since COVID-19, new report shows

How to protect yourself from the new COVID variant

Regardless of viral vaccination history, the CDC recommends that all people ages 6 months and older, with a few exceptions, have an updated 2024–2025 COVID-19 vaccination.

CONTRIBUTING Ahjanê Forbes and Katie Wiseman

SOURCE Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, COVID Data Tracker, USA TODAY research

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Summer COVID levels are on the rise: Track the spread by region