COVID-19 cases have skyrocketed since Thanksgiving, according to a new health update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). In the last week, the agency has seen a seven percent increase in positive COVID test results and a spike in COVID-related emergency room visits. Following the winter holidays, the CDC has released a list of U.S. states where COVID levels are surging—and the numbers don’t look good. Keep reading to see if your state has been impacted by the holiday surge. Plus, what you need to know about the new COVID variant XEC.
RELATED: The COVID XEC Variant Is Spreading—This is the No. 1 Symptom to Look out For.
There’s a new COVID variant making the rounds.
Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron are just some of the variants that have surfaced since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. And now, there’s a new coronavirus variant called XEC that experts are keeping an eye on.
XEC is a hybrid of two JN.1 variants (a subvariant of the Omicron strain), explains the CDC. The XEC variant first popped up on the agency’s COVID Data Tracker map in Sept. 2024. However, at the time, it accounted for less than 10 percent of new cases. But by mid-November, that number had increased to 20 percent. It has since more than doubled and, by doing so, has kicked KP.3.1.1 (also known as one of the FLiRT variants) out of first place.
Between Dec. 8 and 21, XEC was responsible for 45 percent of new COVID cases, per CDC data.
Typically, the CDC updates its COVID Data Tracker map every other Friday, but “due to sequencing uploads over the holidays,” a revisioned version won’t be available until Jan. 17, 2025. It’s likely XEC numbers will be even higher following what has been a busy travel season.
RELATED: Flu Levels Are "Very High" and "High" in These 14 States.
More than half the country is experiencing "very high" and "high" COVID levels.
The CDC tests for the "viral activity level of SARS-CoV-2" via wastewater samples from participating states and tribal and local health departments. Rigorous lab testing can indicate regions where another COVID outbreak is possible—or conversely, highlight communities where COVID cases are on the decline.
With this data, the CDC publishes its COVID-19 Current Wastewater Viral Activity Levels Map. The interactive tool allows concerned residents and travelers to view viral activity levels by state and severity.
As of Dec. 28, a total of 16 states are testing for "very high" COVID levels:
- Wyoming
- New Mexico
- South Dakota
- Nebraska
- Kansas
- Minnesota
- Iowa
- Wisconsin
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Pennsylvania
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Rhode Island
- Maine
- Utah
- Colorado
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Alabama
- Georgia
- Ohio
- Maryland
- Delaware
- Vermont
- Massachusetts
- Connecticut
COVID-19 vaccine rates are also down.
Per the World Health Organization (WHO), "Most changes have little to no impact on the virus’s properties. However, some changes may affect the virus’s properties, such as how easily it spreads, the associated disease severity, or the performance of vaccines, therapeutic medicines, diagnostic tools, or other public health and social measures."
For these reasons, health experts say it’s important to stay up-to-date on your COVID vaccine. In 2024, this wasn’t the case. The CDC estimates that only 21 percent of adults received their COVID booster shot.
