As of June 2025, COVID-19 cases are increasing across the United States, with new variants driving a summer surge. Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows a slight uptick in infections, with emergency department visits for COVID-19 rising by 5.1% in the week ending June 7, 2025. About 0.3% of all emergency room visits are linked to the virus, signaling a growing presence in communities.
The CDC’s wastewater surveillance, which tracks virus levels in sewage, indicates rising transmission in several states. Experts estimate that around 1 in 189 Americans, or roughly 0.5%, are currently infectious. Louisiana and Alaska are seeing particularly high rates, with some reports suggesting nearly 1 in 30 residents in these states may be contagious. Nationwide, weekly new cases are estimated at around 50,700, with hospital admissions steady at 3,549 and 203 deaths reported in the week ending June 16, 2025.
New Omicron subvariants are fueling this wave. The dominant variants, LP.8.1 and NB.1.8.1, account for 38% and 37% of cases, respectively, followed by XFG at 8%. These subvariants are more contagious than earlier strains, with some reports describing symptoms like severe sore throats, compared to “razor blades” by those infected. The CDC notes that test positivity is at 3%, below the 5% threshold for uncontrolled transmission, but many cases go unreported due to widespread home testing.
Health officials are urging caution, especially for high-risk groups like the elderly or those with medical conditions. The bivalent booster, targeting BA.4 and BA.5 variants, is recommended for everyone six months and older to reduce severe outcomes. However, vaccination rates remain uneven, and some experts suggest new vaccine strategies to better tackle evolving variants. Dr. Mark Rupp from Nebraska Medicine emphasized, “We have a lot of disease out there. People should be careful and avoid high-risk settings or wear masks if they can’t.”
The CDC’s data also shows regional differences. As of June 9, 2025, infections are growing in one state, declining in 19, and stable in 23, based on the reproductive number (Rt), which measures how fast the virus spreads. States like New York continue to track cases closely, with weekly updates showing higher rates among certain age groups and ethnicities, though reporting lags make recent data incomplete.
Social media posts on X reflect growing concern, with some users warning of a potential spike to 500,000 daily infections by late July if trends continue. Others criticize the lack of public health messaging, noting that many still view COVID-19 as a “winter virus” despite its year-round presence. The end of the public health emergency in May 2023 has reduced official case reporting, making wastewater data and hospital admissions key indicators.
While severe cases remain lower than in previous years—July to September 2024 saw 0.86 times the cases and 0.42 times the deaths compared to 2021—health experts stress the importance of staying vigilant. Simple measures like masking in crowded places and staying up-to-date on boosters can help slow the spread. As the U.S. navigates this latest wave, the focus remains on protecting vulnerable populations while keeping an eye on emerging variants.
