Is COVID rising in the US right now?
Are COVID-19 cases going up or down in America? Live US COVID-19 activity with 12-week trend, based on CDC NHSN weekly confirmed hospital admissions per 100,000.
This page tracks how much COVID-19 is circulating, not symptoms or diagnosis.
Influenza: Low
Low
No. Flu activity in the United States is currently low and rising (as of 28 Aug 2026).
Data window: Week 34 · Aug 17 – Aug 23 · Source: CDC (weekly) · Update overdue: source publishing late
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View the last 8 weeks
In week 34 of 2026, Influenza activity in the United States is classified as low.
The reported value is 20% higher than in week 33.
Across the last 8 reported weeks the highest reading was week 34; the level was low in 8 of them.
The last 8 reported weeks
| Week | Relative | Level | vs prior week |
|---|---|---|---|
| Week 34 | 100 | Low | +20% |
| Week 33 | 83 | Low | +5% |
| Week 32 | 79 | Low | unchanged |
| Week 31 | 79 | Low | −10% |
| Week 30 | 88 | Low | +5% |
| Week 29 | 83 | Low | −9% |
| Week 28 | 92 | Low | unchanged |
| Week 27 | 92 | Low | – |
Relative means the highest of these weekly values is set to 100. Exact incidence rates are in the app.
Current activity
- InfluenzaLowrisingWeek 34Trend: rising · Week 34
- COVID-19LowrisingWeek 34Trend: rising · Week 34
- RSVLowstableWeek 34Trend: stable · Week 34
What this means
In week 34 of 2026, activity of COVID-19 in the United States is low. The trend, derived from clinical surveillance, is rising. A clear upward movement has emerged over the past few weeks.
Data, context and methodology
The current picture for the United States is built on the CDC's National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN) weekly hospital admissions data. NHSN collects laboratory-confirmed admission rates per 100,000 population for influenza, COVID-19 and RSV, submitted by participating hospitals nationwide. We rescale these hospitalization rates into a consultation-equivalent signal so the qualitative “low / moderate / high” categories are consistent with how we report other countries.
CDC NHSN (Hospital Respiratory Data)
NHSN is the CDC's national surveillance system for healthcare-associated infections. Since 2022, hospitals report weekly counts of confirmed influenza, COVID-19 and RSV admissions. We use the jurisdiction-level USA rates (admissions per 100,000 population per week), which give an unbiased picture of severe illness pressure on the healthcare system.
CDC FluView
CDC FluView is the long-running weekly flu surveillance report, drawing on outpatient ILI visits via the ILINet sentinel network, public health laboratory results, and hospitalization data. While our headline level is driven by NHSN, FluView provides the context for how a season compares to the typical seasonal curve.
Why hospitalization rates
Unlike clinic visits or self-reports, hospital admissions remain reliable across changes in testing behaviour and reporting practices. They reflect severe outcomes, the load that matters most for health-system capacity, and are reported with a roughly one-week lag.
Qualitative classification
The “low”, “moderate” and “high” categories follow seasonal reference values and epidemiological thresholds calibrated to match our classifications for other countries. Hospitalization rates are scaled to consultation-equivalent incidence using pathogen-specific conversion factors derived from typical seasonal peaks in both systems. Data refreshes weekly when the CDC publishes the latest NHSN update, typically late in the week.
Source and seasonal pattern by pathogen
- Influenza
- The classification is based on the CDC's NHSN weekly hospitalization data and the FluView surveillance report. Seasonally, infection waves in the United States typically peak between December and February; activity is usually markedly lower during the summer months.
- COVID-19
- The classification is based on CDC NHSN weekly confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population. Seasonally, infection waves in the United States typically peak during winter, with frequent summer waves driven by new variants; activity is usually markedly lower in late spring between waves.
- RSV
- The classification is based on CDC NHSN weekly RSV hospital admissions and the RSV-NET surveillance system. Seasonally, infection waves in the United States typically peak between November and February; activity is usually markedly lower in spring and summer.
Frequently asked questions
How is COVID-19 tracked in the United States?
The CDC tracks COVID-19 primarily through its COVID Data Tracker and the NHSN network of hospitals. Weekly hospital admission rates, emergency department visits, wastewater surveillance, and variant sampling combine to give a picture of current activity. Since population-wide testing has wound down, hospital and wastewater signals have become the most reliable indicators of transmission.
Is COVID-19 still a serious illness?
For most people, especially those who are vaccinated or have had prior infections, current COVID-19 variants tend to cause illness similar to a bad cold or moderate flu. However, the virus continues to cause significant hospitalizations and deaths, particularly among older adults, the immunocompromised, and those with underlying conditions. Long COVID remains a concern across age groups, though the risk appears lower with vaccination and in those with milder initial infections.
Do I need a COVID-19 booster?
The CDC currently recommends that everyone 6 months and older stay up to date with the latest COVID-19 vaccine, with specific additional doses recommended for adults 65 and older and immunocompromised individuals. Boosters reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization, and long COVID. Timing matters: aim to get boosted before the winter respiratory season if possible.
When do COVID-19 waves typically occur?
Unlike influenza, COVID-19 has not settled into a clear single seasonal pattern. The US has consistently seen a winter wave (December–February), but summer waves have also occurred regularly, often driven by new variants that partially escape existing immunity. Activity can rise quickly once a new variant takes hold, so tracking wastewater and hospitalization trends remains useful year-round.
What does wastewater surveillance tell us?
Wastewater surveillance measures how much SARS-CoV-2 genetic material is being shed in sewage. Because infected people shed virus before they get tested or seek care, the signal can indicate rising community transmission days to weeks ahead of clinical case counts. The CDC and state health departments publish wastewater dashboards that are particularly useful now that home testing makes case counts unreliable.
More situation reports
Data last refreshed: Sep 1, 2026, 11:13. Update cadence: weekly.
This page is not medical advice and does not replace consultation with a healthcare professional. For specific symptoms, please contact a medical professional.
About this page
Published by Renderei Martin GmbH, Berlin. No commercial interest in individual health recommendations. The app is optionally monetised via a freemium subscription.
Content is based exclusively on the linked official surveillance publications. Medical statements are curated against the guidance of RKI, ECDC and WHO.
Methodology enquiries: press@infectrisk.com