A new COVID-19 variant, known as XFG, has become the predominant strain across the United States. While testing and reporting have slowed compared with earlier phases of the pandemic, federal health agencies continue to monitor cases, hospitalizations, and deaths on a weekly basis.
Current COVID-19 Cases Nationwide
Through the week ending August 16, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that 9.9% of the nearly 33,000 Americans tested were positive for COVID-19. This marks a 1.4 percentage point increase from the previous week.
During the same timeframe, 0.4% of confirmed cases resulted in death, a rate unchanged from the prior week. Emergency room visits increased slightly, with 1.2% of cases requiring emergency care—up 0.2 percentage points from the week before.
Regional Trends
COVID-19 positivity rates vary by region. The West and South reported higher positivity levels, particularly in states such as Washington, Oregon, California, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Louisiana, and New Mexico.
Alaska also saw elevated numbers, contributing to broader concern across these regions.
The Rise of Variant XFG
Though official modeling has lagged due to limited reporting from states, wastewater surveillance offers a more current picture of variant prevalence. As of the week ending August 9, wastewater analysis indicated that XFG accounted for 65% of COVID-19 samples nationwide.
By contrast, variant LP.8.1 represented 7% of cases, while LF.7 and XDV.1 each made up 5%. The earlier dominant variant, NB.1.8.1, has declined after peaking at 43% of cases in late June.
Variant Evolution
XFG’s rise has been rapid. It emerged as a recombinant strain, formed from LF.7 and LP.8.1.2, and went from zero reported U.S. cases through March to 11% by early June and 14% by late June. Its trajectory mirrors the earlier surge of NB.1.8.1, which spread quickly in the spring.
Shifting Vaccine Guidelines
Confusion around COVID-19 vaccines has added to public uncertainty. On May 27, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced that the vaccine would no longer appear in the CDC’s recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women. The change departed from long-standing expert consensus.
Under these federal guidelines, only adults over 65 and individuals with underlying health conditions are recommended to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Public health officials warn that this narrowing could make access more difficult for others who still wish to be vaccinated.
Professional Organizations Push Back
Several medical organizations, including the American Medical Association (AMA), American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), have issued their own guidance in defiance of federal recommendations.
The AAP advises that children between six months and 23 months should receive the latest COVID-19 vaccine. For children and adolescents ages 2 to 18, the organization recommends vaccination as an option, even for those without high-risk factors.
Current CDC Position
The CDC itself has refrained from issuing specific recommendations in light of these disputes. Instead, it suggests that parents consult pediatricians on a case-by-case basis to decide whether vaccination is appropriate for their children.
Common Symptoms
Health agencies caution that symptoms remain consistent across variants, with no evidence that particular strains cause unique signs of illness. The CDC lists fever, cough, sore throat, congestion, fatigue, headaches, muscle aches, nausea, and loss of taste or smell as common symptoms.
Severe warning signs include difficulty breathing, persistent chest pain, confusion, and inability to wake. Depending on skin tone, bluish lips, nails, or skin may also indicate an emergency requiring immediate care.
COVID-19’s landscape continues to evolve, with XFG now the predominant variant across the U.S. While public health officials track cases and debate vaccine guidance, individuals are urged to remain vigilant.
Regular monitoring, timely medical consultation, and awareness of symptoms remain the best defenses in navigating the uncertainty of the pandemic’s latest phase.
