The US is seeing a growing number of COVID-19 cases, with no state experiencing a decline in cases as of August 5. According to the CDC, 45 states have reported an increase in cases.
Meanwhile, the XFG variant has become more prevalent, accounting for 14% of cases in the US and ranking third among all variants nationwide. However, public health experts emphasize that the current variant is not linked to more severe illness.
The XFG “stratus” variant was first detected in January. Oregon, Alaska, Idaho, New Mexico, Texas, Oklahoma, and others have seen similar high positivity rates, with 11.1% of cases reported by the CDC. This trend suggests a growing epidemic, with no state seeing a decline in cases.
Source: https://www.axios.com/local/seattle/2025/08/18/washington-covid-19-stratus-variant-cases-surge