COVID-19

  • National COVID-19 trends, July 14

    National COVID-19 trends, July 14

    As of early July, it’s clear that a summer COVID-19 wave is getting started in the U.S. Disease levels are going up in the South and parts of the West Coast. While national and regional estimates are still low following a long spring lull, it’s worth noting that the latest data are usually a week…

  • National COVID-19 trends, July 7

    National COVID-19 trends, July 7

    While national COVID-19 averages remain low in the U.S., signals continue to accumulate that a summer wave is getting underway. It’s starting most prominently in the South, but there are also notable increases and hotspots in other parts of the country. As the latest data are from late June (before the recent holiday), actual COVID-19…

  • Wastewater testing is vital for public health. It needs sustained funding to continue beyond fall 2026.

    Wastewater testing is vital for public health. It needs sustained funding to continue beyond fall 2026.

    Public health organizations are calling for Congress to fund the CDC’s wastewater surveillance program — which tracks COVID-19 and other diseases — in its 2027 budget, while state health departments plan ahead for potential gaps in grants.

  • National COVID-19 trends, June 30

    National COVID-19 trends, June 30

    As of mid-June, a summer COVID-19 wave appears to be slowly starting in parts of the Southern U.S. Disease levels are still low across most of the country, though — as best as we can tell from wastewater and PCR testing data — and it may be a few weeks before we see recent increases…

  • Will the new COVID-19 antiviral be accessible?

    Will the new COVID-19 antiviral be accessible?

    In June, the Food and Drug Administration approved the drug Xocova (ensitrelvir) as the very first post-exposure prophylaxis for Sars-CoV-2, and if taken within 72 hours, it could stop a SARS-CoV-2 infection in its tracks. The drug is also being studied as a potential Long COVID treatment and even maybe as a preventative. But how…

  • FDA approves COVID-19 antiviral Xocova as PEP. But will it be accessible?

    FDA approves COVID-19 antiviral Xocova as PEP. But will it be accessible?

    Shionogi, the Japanese company that makes Xocova (ensitrelvir), said the post-exposure prophylaxis drug will be available in mid-July in the U.S. and will have a list price of $1,400. But its impact will hinge on how easily people can access it, experts say.

  • National COVID-19 trends, June 23

    National COVID-19 trends, June 23

    COVID-19 levels remain very low across much of the U.S. as a deep lull between waves continues — at least, as far as we can tell from viral levels in wastewater, which do not translate directly to infections. However, there are accumulating signals that a summer wave may start soon, particularly in parts of the…

  • National COVID-19 trends, June 16

    National COVID-19 trends, June 16

    The U.S.’s low lull in COVID-19 spread continues. Disease levels in wastewater and healthcare data remain very low through early June. While there are possible increases in some places, particularly in the Midwest and South, it’s unclear if a summer wave — which we’ve seen every year since the pandemic began — is starting soon.…

  • National COVID-19 trends, June 9

    National COVID-19 trends, June 9

    National COVID-19 estimates have remained very low in the U.S. through the end of May. There are signals of potential increases in some locations, but it’s hard to say if these represent isolated outbreaks or the start of a summer wave. Meanwhile, future funding for wastewater surveillance is under threat.

  • National COVID-19 trends, June 2

    National COVID-19 trends, June 2

    A record-breaking COVID-19 lull has continued in the U.S. through late May. The latest national estimates for SARS-CoV-2 spread are the lowest they have been since spring 2021. While there are signs of possible case increases in some locations, these are preliminary and difficult to interpret.