Utah is one of the states most at risk for COVID-19 outbreaks due to high levels of the virus found in wastewater. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that five states, including Utah, have “very high” wastewater levels as of early August.
The annual fall spike in COVID cases comes as vaccine policies are revised by the Trump administration, causing confusion among parents and objections from doctors. In May, Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unilaterally removed healthy children and pregnant women from the CDC’s COVID vaccine recommendations, potentially making it harder for these groups to get booster shots covered by insurance.
According to data from 35 wastewater monitoring locations in Utah, 20 showed elevated virus levels as of Thursday, with most being concentrated in the Wasatch Front population centers. Additionally, 13 sites were on “watch” status, with four showing rising concentrations of the virus.
While levels at most sites are still lower than they were in August 2024, the CDC warns that increased wastewater viral activity may indicate a higher risk of infection. The XFG variant, also known as “stratus,” accounted for 65% of viral activity detected nationwide as of August 9. This variant is dominant in Utah and most other states.
It’s essential to note that there is no evidence to suggest the XFG variant causes more serious symptoms than other variants, according to a June report by the World Health Organization.
Source: https://www.axios.com/local/salt-lake-city/2025/08/21/utah-covid-risk-wastewater-vaccine-xfg