COVID Symptoms Rise in 49 States: 7 Signs to Watch
COVID-19 is making another late-summer comeback across the United States, with recent federal data indicating that infections are increasing or likely increasing in 49 states. Although overall emergency department visits and the broader burden of severe respiratory illness remain low, the widespread upward trend is drawing renewed attention to COVID symptoms and the warning signs people should watch for.
The latest surge comes as Americans return from summer travel, students head back to school and more people spend time in crowded indoor environments. Health experts say the virus has established a pattern of increasing during the late summer in recent years, even as the overall threat of severe disease has declined significantly from the early years of the pandemic.
The good news is that current COVID activity has not produced the same level of hospitalizations and deaths seen during previous major waves. However, the virus is still spreading widely, and its symptoms can overlap with those of influenza, the common cold and other respiratory infections.
Here is what to know about the current rise in COVID cases and the COVID symptoms that may signal an infection.
COVID Activity Is Increasing Across Nearly the Entire Country
Recent surveillance data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed COVID activity increasing nationally while the overall level of acute respiratory illness remained very low.
The agency’s respiratory illness monitoring system uses multiple sources of information, including emergency department trends, laboratory data and wastewater surveillance, to track how respiratory viruses are spreading.
Because many people now use home tests or do not test for COVID at all, traditional confirmed case counts no longer provide the same complete picture they once did. Wastewater surveillance has therefore become an increasingly important tool for identifying changes in community transmission.
Recent reporting has indicated that COVID is increasing or likely increasing in 49 states, with Rhode Island standing out as the only state not showing a similar upward trend at the time of the report.
That does not necessarily mean COVID is causing widespread severe illness. CDC data continued to show that emergency department visits and overall respiratory illness levels remained relatively low even as infections increased.
Still, the broad geographic spread means people experiencing respiratory symptoms should not automatically assume they have a common cold.
1. Severe Sore Throat May Be One of the Symptoms to Watch
One symptom receiving particular attention during the current surge is a severe sore throat.
A sore throat has long been associated with COVID-19, but some people infected during recent waves have described throat pain as one of their most noticeable symptoms.
Health experts caution that a severe sore throat can also be caused by other illnesses, including influenza, strep throat and common respiratory viruses. The symptom alone cannot confirm a COVID infection.
However, when a sore throat appears alongside other COVID symptoms, such as fatigue, congestion or coughing, testing may help determine the cause.
The current dominant strain has been linked to the broader XFG family of variants, sometimes referred to by the nickname “Stratus.” Experts have said there is no clear evidence that the currently circulating strain causes more severe disease than earlier variants.
2. Fatigue and Unusual Tiredness
Fatigue remains one of the most common COVID symptoms reported during infections.
For some people, the feeling may resemble ordinary tiredness. Others may experience more significant exhaustion that makes normal daily activities difficult.
COVID-related fatigue can appear alongside headaches, muscle aches, fever or respiratory symptoms.
However, fatigue alone is not enough to identify COVID. Sleep problems, stress and many other illnesses can also cause exhaustion.
If unusual fatigue develops together with other symptoms, particularly after exposure to someone who is sick, a COVID test may be worth considering.
3. Congestion and a Runny Nose
Earlier in the pandemic, many people associated COVID primarily with fever, coughing and breathing problems.
Today, COVID symptoms can sometimes look much more like those of an ordinary cold.
A stuffy nose or runny nose may be among the first signs that a person is developing a respiratory infection.
That similarity makes it difficult to distinguish COVID from other illnesses without testing.
People should also remember that several respiratory viruses can circulate at the same time. A person with congestion and a sore throat could have COVID, influenza, rhinovirus or another infection.
Testing remains one of the most reliable ways to identify the cause when the result could affect treatment or decisions about contact with others.
4. Headaches and Body Aches
Headaches, muscle pain and body aches have also been widely reported during COVID infections.
These COVID symptoms can occur alongside fever, chills or fatigue, but they may also develop independently.
The intensity varies from person to person.
Some people may experience only mild discomfort, while others may feel symptoms similar to those caused by influenza.
Again, symptoms alone cannot always determine whether someone has COVID or another viral illness.
People who develop severe or unusual symptoms should contact a healthcare professional, particularly if they belong to a group at higher risk of serious complications.
5. Coughing Remains a Common Sign
A cough continues to be one of the more familiar COVID symptoms.
The cough may be mild or persistent, and its severity can vary throughout an infection.
Some people may develop a cough early, while others experience it later as the illness progresses.
Coughing is also associated with many other respiratory infections, including influenza and the common cold.
That overlap is one reason health experts recommend looking at the full pattern of symptoms rather than relying on a single warning sign.
A persistent cough accompanied by fever, shortness of breath or other serious symptoms may require medical attention.
6. Changes in Taste or Smell Can Still Occur
Loss of taste or smell became one of the most recognizable signs of COVID during the earlier stages of the pandemic.
The symptom appears to be less universally associated with more recent infections than it was with some earlier variants. Nevertheless, changes in taste or smell can still occur.
A sudden and unexplained change in either sense may be worth noting, especially when it appears with other COVID symptoms.
People should not rely exclusively on the absence of taste or smell changes when deciding whether they could have COVID.
Many infected individuals never experience those particular symptoms.
7. Fever and Chills Are Still Possible
Fever and chills remain potential signs of COVID infection.
However, not everyone who tests positive develops a fever.
That means a person can have COVID without experiencing one of the symptoms most commonly associated with viral illness.
Conversely, fever can also result from influenza and numerous other infections.
The best approach is to consider the overall combination of symptoms and, when appropriate, use testing to identify the cause.
Why COVID Is Rising Again in Late Summer
Health experts have observed a recurring pattern of increased COVID activity during both winter and late summer.
The exact reasons behind every surge can vary. However, several factors may contribute to increased transmission during this period.
Summer travel can bring large numbers of people into contact with one another at airports, events and tourist destinations.
Meanwhile, the return to school creates additional opportunities for respiratory viruses to spread among students, teachers and families.
Changes in weather and time spent indoors can also influence transmission patterns.
The current rise does not necessarily mean that the United States is facing a pandemic-scale emergency similar to those seen in previous years.
However, widespread increases in infection can still create risks for older adults and people with underlying conditions or weakened immune systems.
Current Strains Do Not Appear More Severe
One important piece of information surrounding the current surge is that experts have not found clear evidence that the dominant circulating strain is inherently more severe than previous recent variants.
The current virus is linked to an offshoot of the XFG variant family, often referred to as Stratus.
COVID has continued to evolve since the virus first emerged, producing numerous variants and subvariants.
However, the presence of a new or dominant variant does not automatically mean that a new wave will be more dangerous.
Widespread immunity from previous infections, vaccination and updated treatments has helped reduce the overall impact of many recent COVID waves.
Even so, individual risk can vary significantly.
Older adults, immunocompromised people and individuals with certain underlying medical conditions may still face a greater risk of severe disease.
How to Protect Yourself During the Current COVID Surge
There are several practical steps people can take when COVID activity is increasing in their communities.
First, anyone who develops COVID symptoms should consider testing, particularly before spending time with people who are vulnerable to severe illness.
People who are sick should also take reasonable steps to reduce the chance of spreading respiratory viruses to others.
Good ventilation can help reduce the concentration of airborne viruses in indoor spaces.
Hand hygiene remains useful for reducing the spread of many infectious diseases, even though COVID can also spread through the air.
People at higher risk may want to discuss vaccination and available treatments with their healthcare providers.
Masking can also provide an additional layer of protection in crowded indoor settings, particularly for individuals concerned about exposure.
When Should You Seek Medical Care?
Most COVID infections can be managed without hospitalization, but some symptoms may indicate a more serious problem.
Difficulty breathing is a major warning sign and should not be ignored.
Persistent chest pain or pressure, confusion, an inability to stay awake and other severe symptoms may also require urgent medical attention.
Older adults and people with medical conditions should pay particular attention to changes in their symptoms.
Early medical advice may also be important because some treatments work best when started soon after symptoms begin.
Anyone who is unsure whether their symptoms require professional care should contact a healthcare provider for guidance.
COVID Symptoms Can Overlap With Other Illnesses
One of the biggest challenges during the current surge is that COVID symptoms often resemble those caused by other viruses.
Influenza, rhinovirus, RSV and other respiratory illnesses can produce coughing, congestion, sore throats, headaches and fatigue.
As a result, it is impossible to identify every infection based on symptoms alone.
Testing can provide greater certainty, particularly for people who need to protect vulnerable family members or who may qualify for antiviral treatment.
The CDC has also emphasized that multiple respiratory viruses can circulate at the same time.
This means that an increase in respiratory symptoms within a community does not necessarily mean every illness is caused by COVID.
The Bottom Line on COVID Symptoms and the 49-State Rise
COVID-19 is increasing again across nearly the entire United States, but current data suggest that the overall level of severe respiratory illness remains low.
The latest late-summer surge is a reminder that COVID symptoms continue to evolve in how they are experienced by different people.
Severe sore throat, congestion, fatigue, headaches, body aches and coughing may all occur during an infection. Some people may also experience fever, chills or changes in taste and smell.
The current dominant strain does not appear to be causing more severe illness than recent variants, according to available expert assessments.
Still, widespread transmission means that people should remain aware of their symptoms and take appropriate precautions when they become sick.
For most people, the current COVID surge is unlikely to resemble the devastating waves experienced during the early pandemic years. But for vulnerable individuals, COVID remains a potentially serious illness.
As the virus continues to circulate, monitoring COVID symptoms, testing when appropriate and protecting those at higher risk can help communities manage the latest wave while reducing unnecessary transmission.
Health officials are expected to continue monitoring the situation as the late-summer surge develops and the country moves toward the fall respiratory virus season.
