"California experiences a summer spike in COVID-19 cases due to the emergence of the 'Razor Blade Throat' variant"
California Experiences Sharp Summer Spike in COVID-19 Cases
As summer heats up in California, the state is witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases, with experts predicting the surge could spread south, potentially reaching Los Angeles in the near future.
According to Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, the current activity remains below the levels seen during the worst summer surge in 2024. However, the rise in cases is a cause for concern, particularly due to the emergence of new, fast-spreading variants like NB.1.8.1, nicknamed "Nimbus" or "razor blade throat."
This variant is notable in the Bay Area and is associated with symptoms like a severe sore throat. Other dominant variants driving this surge include XFG and KP.3.1.1.
Wastewater surveillance in California confirms rising virus levels, with the Bay Area exceeding previous winter peaks and overall state levels showing a 55% increase over the past three weeks as of mid-July 2025.
Dr. Erica Pan, state epidemiologist, expects at least a minor COVID wave in California this summer, likely peaking in late August. She is also monitoring whether a winter wave will follow the summer surge or if the state may experience a single seasonal spike.
Public health experts emphasize the importance of staying up to date on COVID vaccinations, particularly for residents ages 6 months and older. The California Department of Public Health continues to recommend this measure.
Despite the rise in cases, hospitalizations and deaths remain low. However, the current strains are not mild for everyone. The surge in cases is causing an increase in people seeking advice on how to stay safe.
California is currently leading the nation in COVID activity based on wastewater surveillance, according to federal data. The state is still learning about COVID seasonality, as it has been different every year.
Residents are being urged to take basic precautions and stay vaccinated as the state navigates another unpredictable COVID season. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, infectious disease expert at UC San Francisco, notes that it's been a longer time since a lot of people got infected.
Sources: - San Francisco Chronicle, 2025-07-15 [1] - Times of India, 2025-07-23 [2] - Los Angeles Times, 2025-07-28 [3] - KQED, 2025-07-16 [4] - [1] - https://www.sfchronicle.com/california/article/California-COVID-19-surge-spreads-south-potentially-17336980.php - [2] - https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/covid-19-surge-in-california-could-reach-los-angeles-in-near-future-expert/articleshow/91636505.cms - [3] - https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2025-07-28/california-covid-surge-spreads-south - [4] - https://www.kqed.org/news/13714135/california-covid-surge-spreads-south-potentially-reaching-los-angeles-in-the-near-future
- The surge in COVID-19 cases in California may prompt residents to seek advice on health-and-wellness practices, including fitness-and-exercise and nutrition, to bolster their immune systems.
- Given the emergence of new, fast-spreading variants like NB.1.8.1, it's crucial for people to stay updated on medical-conditions related to COVID-19 and heed expert recommendations, such as getting vaccinated and following basic precautions.
- The constant shifts in COVID-19 activity call for ongoing vigilance and a commitment to science-backed health practices, as California tries to manage chronic diseases like COVID-19 while striving for overall health-and-wellness.
