Key Metrics
12.71
Heat Index-
Impact LevelMedium
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Scope LevelNational
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Last Update2025-08-26
Key Impacts
Positive Impacts (7)
Negative Impacts (5)
Event Overview
Escalating public health concerns characterized by nationwide increases in infectious disease indicators signal renewed epidemiological challenges. Rising test positivity rates and infection estimates highlight the persistence of viral transmission and the regional variability of health threats. Such data-driven warnings emphasize the vital role of surveillance systems, the need for adaptive health response strategies, and the shifting landscape of pandemic management as threats evolve over time.
Collect Records
US COVID-19 Indicators Continue to Rise, CDC Reports
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported today that COVID-19 markers are continuing to rise across most parts of the United States. In the past week, test positivity increased from 8.9% to 9.9%, with levels reaching as high as 15% in the southcentral region and between 10% and 12% in western states. The CDC's modeling estimates indicate that COVID infections are likely increasing in all states.
Emergency department (ED) visits for COVID, which remain at low levels, rose by 15.2% compared to the previous week. The CDC noted that ED visit rates are higher in the South, Southeast, and West, and are rising across all age groups, with the highest rates in young children.
Hospitalization rates have shown a slight upward trend since July, while the rate of deaths from COVID remains low and unchanged compared to the previous week.
The CDC did not report wastewater data for COVID-19, influenza A, or respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) today due to technical issues, but stated that updates would resume as soon as possible. Last week's CDC report indicated that overall detection levels in wastewater were low, with the highest levels in the West.