INDIANA – A late summer surge in COVID-19 cases is occurring across the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The spike is most pronounced in a region that includes Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas, where about 15% of reported COVID tests are positive.
While data from August 2025 in Indiana indicates a potential uptick in some metrics, overall activity remains low, and metrics for other respiratory illnesses are higher.Â
The trend extends across much of the western U.S., with a dozen other states west of the Mississippi River reporting test positivity rates above 10% last week. However, the actual number of cases is likely underreported, as more people are using at-home tests instead of getting lab tests.
To get a better sense of community spread, health officials are monitoring wastewater. The CDC states that wastewater monitoring can detect the virus earlier than clinical testing, even before people show symptoms. Wastewater data currently shows “very high” virus activity levels in Alaska, Hawaii, Nevada, Texas, and Utah. However, this data does not provide a complete picture, as some states have no or very few testing sites that report to the CDC.
This summer surge is not a new phenomenon; it has followed a similar pattern every summer since the pandemic began. Epidemiologists believe this is due to more people gathering in poorly ventilated, air-conditioned indoor spaces and an increase in travel. Additionally, immunity from the previous fall’s booster shots may be waning by summer.
Access to COVID-19 shots may be more limited this year. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved updated vaccines from Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax for seniors but restricted access for younger adults and children without high-risk health conditions. The ease of getting a shot and whether it will be covered by health insurance this fall and winter is yet to be determined, as a CDC panel is scheduled to meet in September to discuss the issue.
