According to the latest statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), over fifty percent of US states are currently experiencing “very high” COVID-19 activity levels.

The CDC tests wastewater in communities to detect traces of infectious diseases, including COVID-19.

The data gathered on August 9 indicates that 27 states across the nation are reporting “very high” viral activity in wastewater.

Current Wastewater Viral Activity Levels for COVID-19

The CDC offers a map indicating which states and territories report varying levels of wastewater viral activity from “very high” to “no data” as of August 9, 2024.

COVID-19 Has Now Been Declared Endemic: New Reports

During a discussion on NPR, CDC health officials have labeled COVID-19 as now being “endemic.”

“Currently, we can categorize COVID-19 as endemic globally,” stated Aron Hall, deputy director for science in the CDC’s division for coronavirus and other respiratory viruses.

An endemic refers to a disease that persists in a community at a consistent level, with randomness of sporadic outbreaks, as defined by the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control.

Which COVID-19 Variant is Currently Most Prevalent?

The CDC’s Nowcast data tracker estimates and projects COVID-19 variants over a two-week period, showing that the KP.3.1.1 variant accounts for 27.8% of confirmed cases, followed by KP.3 at 20.1% for the period spanning July 21 to August 3.

“The KP.3.1.1 variant is very alike to other variants currently active in the US. Every existing lineage is a descendant of JN.1, which first appeared late in 2023,” explained Rosa Norman, a spokesperson for the CDC.

Recent Changes in COVID-19 Test Positivity Rates

Data sourced from the CDC indicates that six Midwestern states in Region 5 have observed the largest increase (2.1%) in positive COVID-19 cases between July 28 and August 3, 2024. These findings were made public on August 12, 2024.

Below is a summary of the states and regions with changes in COVID-19 positivity rates over the last week:

• Region 1 (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont): +1.4%
• Region 2 (New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands): -1.3%
• Region 3 (Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia): +1.3%
• Region 4 (Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee): +1.4%
• Region 5 (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin): +2.1%
• Region 6 (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas): +1.5%
• Region 7 (Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, and Nebraska): +0.9%
• Region 8 (Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming): -1.2%
• Region 9 (Arizona, California, Hawaii, Nevada, American Samoa, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, Federated States of Micronesia, Guam, Marshall Islands, and Republic of Palau): -3.1%
• Region 10 (Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington): +1.2%

Recognizing COVID-19 Symptoms

While the CDC hasn’t specified whether KP.3 or KP.3.1.1 exhibit distinct symptoms, Norman has noted that symptoms linked with KP.3 are akin to those of JN.1. The CDC provides a guide on the common symptoms of COVID-19 on their official website. Symptoms can arise within two to 14 days of virus exposure and may range from mild to severe.

Here are some symptoms associated with COVID-19:

• • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing

• • • Difficulty breathing
    • Tiredness
    • Muscle or body pain
    • Headache
    • Reduced ability to taste or smell
    • Sore throat
    • Nasal congestion or runny nose
    • Nausea or vomiting
    • Diarrhea

The CDC advises you to seek medical help if you experience any of the following symptoms:

• • • Difficulties in breathing
    • Ongoing pain or pressure in the chest
    • New instances of confusion
    • Inability to wake up or stay awake
    • Pale, gray, or blue skin, lips, or nail beds