Developing Story Note: This report covers new developments involving the CDC's weekly COVID-19 epidemic trend estimates. Information may change as the agency releases additional data. The latest estimates reflect data as of Sept. 16, 2026, and were published Sept. 18, 2026. The CDC updates its respiratory illness data on Fridays, so the next update is expected Sept. 25.
The number of states where COVID-19 is still spreading faster has shrunk for a second straight week. As of Sept. 16, the CDC estimates infections are growing or likely growing in 27 states, declining or likely declining in 13, and not changing in 10, according to its epidemic trend estimates. One week earlier, 35 states sat in the growing column, and only eight were declining.
