COVID Is Rising Again in California — Here's What You Need to Know
Finn's Take· TL;DR- California COVID cases rising again with test positivity up from 1% to 3.4% in one month; pattern spreading across western and southern states.
- Current dominant variant XFG causes severe sore throat but shows no increased severity or hospitalization risk compared to previous strains.
- Health officials recommend vaccination, especially for older adults, pregnant individuals, immunocompromised people, and those with underlying health conditions.
A Familiar Summer Pattern Returns
California is experiencing a summer increase in COVID-19 activity, with health officials reporting rising test positivity rates, emergency room visits, and other indicators that suggest the virus is spreading more widely than it was a month ago. It's a pattern that's becoming as predictable as the heat itself — and while alarm bells aren't ringing, health experts say it's time to pay attention.
For the week ending July 18, 3.4% of COVID-19 tests in California were positive — up from just over 1% a month earlier. That's lower than at the same time in the prior two years, but it's still a notable increase. "COVID-19 activity has been gradually increasing across California based on test positivity trends. Wastewater concentrations are also increasing," according to Grant Boyken, a spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health.
Not Just California — A Wide Swath of the Country Is Affected
COVID-19 is on the upswing across a swath of the West and the South, a sign that the virus may be starting its seasonal summer uptick. The CDC estimates that COVID is growing in California, Texas, Florida, Missouri, Alabama, Oregon, Utah, Nevada, New Mexico, and Hawaii. As of July 22, 2026, the CDC estimates that COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 37 states.
The latest increase in infections is not playing out uniformly across California. The uptick was first registered in Northern California and only started being seen in Southern California more recently. In Northern California, wastewater levels are nudging higher: San Francisco's monitoring network is picking up increases, and Santa Clara County has reported that readings in the San José and Palo Alto sewersheds are now considered "high," a pattern that often comes before a rise in reported cases.
Should You Be Worried?
It remains to be seen whether this latest uptick foreshadows the sort of misery seen last year — when California was hit by its worst summertime surge since 2022 — or proves fleeting. But officials and experts say it's nevertheless a reminder of the seasonal potency of the still-circulating virus. The primary COVID-19 variant circulating right now is XFG, also known as "Stratus," in the omicron lineage — nicknamed "razor blade throat" for the intense sore throat it causes. Beyond that, it presents the kind of primarily respiratory symptoms most people now expect: sore throat, cough, congestion, fatigue, and fever.
While any news of new COVID-19 variants might bring flashbacks to the game-changing emergence of omicron, experts say the vast majority of the latest strains aren't giving medical professionals sleepless nights. "Nothing has shown a severe increase in severe disease or hospitalizations, or that they will be resistant to antivirals," one Stanford infectious disease expert noted. State officials say hospital admissions and deaths remain low for now, but they are watching the numbers closely as the season unfolds.
What You Can Do Right Now
Dr. Sharon Balter with the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health said she hopes any summer increase remains less severe than those in previous years, but emphasized that the disease can still lead to serious illness. "Some people will still get very ill so for an individual person, it's good to consider your risk and it's good to get vaccinated," she said.
Health officials stress this is "particularly important for higher-risk individuals, such as infants and toddlers, pregnant individuals, older persons, and others with risks for serious disease." Those age 65 and older or who are immunocompromised may need two doses six months apart, and officials are recommending that those groups get the current 2025–26 version of the vaccine this summer while waiting for the 2026–27 version, which will be released in the fall. Pharmacies are also expecting a new vaccine formulation to become available next month, similar to annual updates made to flu vaccines. Summer is no longer just a break between COVID waves — it's become a season to watch in its own right.