Credit CDC
#19,246
Reassuringly, in their latest update (July 10th), the CDC is reporting very low respiratory illness in the United States right now.
What to know
- As of July 10, 2026, the amount of acute respiratory illness causing people to seek health care is very low.
- RSV activity is very low in most areas of the country. Emergency department visits and hospitalizations for RSV are low but remain highest among infants and children younger than 4 years old.
- COVID-19 activity is low and stable nationally but is beginning to increase from low in a few areas of the country.
- Seasonal influenza activity is low.
- Parainfluenza (PIV), a respiratory virus that can cause illnesses such as croup, is elevated nationally. Rhinovirus/enterovirus (RV/EV), which often cause cold-like respiratory illness, are also elevated nationally but is going down. Whooping cough (pertussis) is still circulating.
But, as mentioned above, some states are showing signs of increasing COVID activity, as depicted in the following CDC map.
While we've yet to see a summer surge in COVID this year in the United States, the virus continues to circulate - and evolve - around the globe, and some places are reporting increased activity.
The most recent update from Hong Kong indicates COVID cases are rising:
Meanwhile, Taiwan's CDC issued the following (translated) statement today (July 14th).
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to escalate, the public is urged to get vaccinated; those at risk of severe illness should seek medical attention immediately if they experience suspected symptoms.
Release Date: 2026-07-14
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) stated today (July 14th) that the domestic COVID-19 epidemic continues to escalate. To protect their own health and the health of others, the CDC urges the public to take self-prevention measures and get vaccinated against COVID-19 this season. It is recommended to wear masks when entering and exiting medical care facilities and in crowded places where proper social distancing cannot be maintained or ventilation is poor. If fever or respiratory symptoms occur, it is recommended to stay home and avoid unnecessary outings. Individuals with severe risk factors should seek medical attention as soon as possible if they experience suspected symptoms. A doctor can assess and conduct a rapid test, or they can use a commercially available home rapid test. A doctor can also assess and prescribe antiviral drugs for those with severe risk factors who test positive for COVID-19, reducing the risk of serious complications or death after infection.
The CDC stated that the domestic COVID-19 epidemic continues to rise. In the 27th week (July 5th-July 11th), there were 2,811 outpatient and emergency room visits for COVID-19, an increase of 34.4% compared to the previous week. Last week (July 7th-July 13th), there were 17 new local cases of severe COVID-19 complications, with no new local deaths. Since October 2025, a total of 136 local cases of severe COVID-19 complications have been reported, with 18 deaths. The majority of severe cases were among those aged 65 and above (72.1%) and those with a history of chronic diseases (83.8%). 94.9% of these cases were not vaccinated this season.
Globally, the COVID-19 positivity rate has recently increased, showing an upward trend in all regions except the Eastern Mediterranean region. Neighboring countries/regions such as China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and Singapore are also experiencing rising cases. Currently, the predominant circulating strain globally is NB.1.8.1, followed by JN.1 and XFG.
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) indicates that as of July 12, 2026, approximately 1.732 million COVID-19 vaccinations have been administered this season. The vaccination rates among those aged 65 and above are 20.97% for the first dose and 0.51% for the second dose. International research has found that receiving the current season's COVID-19 vaccine provides additional protection on top of existing immunity.
Vaccination with the current season's COVID-19 vaccine can reduce the risk of visiting the emergency room or emergency outpatient clinic due to COVID-19 by approximately 48%–50%, and reduce the risk of hospitalization by approximately 53%–55%. This demonstrates that COVID-19 vaccination effectively reduces the severity of the disease and the medical burden caused by COVID-19, and has a significant protective effect in preventing severe illness and hospitalization.
The Taiwan Centers for Disease Control (CDC) urges that, as the majority of severe local COVID-19 cases in Taiwan are still among the elderly aged 65 and above and those with a history of chronic diseases, and most of them have not yet received the current season's COVID-19 vaccine, the CDC urges high-risk individuals, such as those aged 65 and above, who have not yet been vaccinated or have received their first dose at least 6 months ago, to get vaccinated as soon as possible to enhance their immune protection and reduce the risk of severe illness and hospitalization.
Whether we get a significant summer surge in COVID remains to be seen, but the recent extended lull is no guarantee that futures outbreaks will not occur. The CDC adds:
Season Outlook
CDC has observed a trend of declining COVID-19 hospitalizations nationally over time. However, it remains possible that there could be larger increases this summer, particularly if a variant that the immune system no longer recognizes becomes more common .
Scenario modeling indicates that regions which did not experience a substantial level of COVID-19 activity during the most recent winter months (South and West) are expected to experience increases in COVID-19 activity in the summer months. Read more: 2026 COVID-19 Summer Outlook | CFA: Qualitative Assessments | CDC
Which is why I've recently (May) gotten a COVID booster shot to hopefully boost my protection through the summer.
