COVID-19 cases increase nationwide as summer ends, physicians urge vaccination and mask use

COVID-19 infections are climbing across the United States as the country moves toward the end of summer, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The upward trend is observed in every state, with the greatest increases reported in the South and West regions.

"Overall, put together in the U.S., the trend does seem to be going up," said Dr. Geeta Sood, an infectious-diseases physician and epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins Medicine.

Experts note that COVID-19 typically peaks in September-October and again in winter. Dr. Michael Angarone, an infectious-diseases specialist at Northwestern Medicine, said the current risk of infection remains relatively low but could rise as the fall season approaches.

"The number of cases and the burden of SARS-CoV-2 is on the low side, but that can change as we go into that fall, early winter season," he said.

The most frequently reported symptoms continue to be upper-respiratory signs such as runny nose, congestion, sore throat and fever, with more severe cases presenting difficulty breathing, a strong cough and shortness of breath.

Immunity in the population is considered low, partly because only about 17.5 % of adults have received a recent COVID-19 booster and many have not been infected recently. Both physicians emphasized that vaccination remains the most effective tool to prevent serious illness and hospitalization.

"I still recommend to people to get vaccinated. We know the vaccine is the best way to prevent serious illness," Dr. Angarone said.

They also advised basic “air hygiene” measures—opening windows, avoiding crowded indoor spaces and wearing masks—to reduce transmission of COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.

For those who test positive, health officials recommend staying home, notifying a doctor and considering antiviral treatments such as Paxlovid. A newer prescription, Xocova, may be used within 72 hours after a confirmed exposure for people aged 12 and older, though clinicians should assess the benefit based on individual risk factors.

"If you’re in a nursing home or are living with somebody with high-risk conditions, it’s a truly effective medication," Dr. Sood said.