Onset of Summer 2025 COVID-19 wave
- Hubbub World
- May 19
- 2 min read
A new COVID-19 wave has started in New York City and Los Angeles
COVID-19 Prevalence in New York City & Los Angeles. May 19, 2025
Exactly 4 months since we called the peaking of the Winter wave on January 20, 20205, this week marks the start of a new COVID-19 wave in the US. The largest urban centers – New York City and Los Angeles – are seeing about a 20% increase in prevalence this week compared to last week. We expect prevalence to continue to grow in these cities over the next month.
National Prevalence
Over the next month, we expect an increase in COVID-19 prevalence across the Northeast & Southwest and also in Florida. In June, there should be a broader increase across most states in the country as well, continuing through the summer.
Follow our posts on social media – Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Threads, BlueSky or X – to know about the status of nationwide prevalence of top risks including COVID-19.
Reviewing the Winter 2024-25 COVID-19 wave
While an overwhelming majority of the population has had at least one prior COVID-19 infection or has been vaccinated, the contunual evolution of the SARS-CoV-2 virus means even a season with "milder" variants as in this past winter results in significant impact – estimated at up to 15.6 million ilnesses, 3.7 million office visits, 430,000 hospitalizations and up to 50,000 deaths. That is up to 225 persons dying with COVID-19 on the average every single day during the past 7 months. This shows that COVID-19 continues to be a significant threat that is much more lethal than other respiratory illnesses like Influenza.
Precautions
The available 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccines are based on JN.1 and KP.2 variants and will have reduced efficacy against the new generation of variants such as NB.1.8.1 and XF* that are starting to circulate. So practice other preventetive measures such as ensuring adequete ventilation or air filtration in indoor environments and wearing a N95 or better mask in crowded environments. If you are 65+, immunocompromised or have other health conditions, your risks are higher from an infection and hence practice preventetive measures accordingly.
Download bub for your iPhone
Get real-time alerts and 30-day forecasts for COVID-19, flu, RSV, allergies, and more — personalized to your exact location.
Do you check weather forecasts? bub is the same, but for health risks.
Why bub:
• Hyper-local risk scores refreshed all day
• Nationwide view — search any city, state, or the whole US
• Community risk — stay safe with friends and family
• 30-day outlook — plan ahead with confidence
• Instant alerts when risks spike at home, school or work
• Interactive maps and 30-day charts for deeper insight
• Widgets and Siri for at-a-glance updates
Built for everyone
Parents, travelers, and anyone caring for seniors or immunocompromised loved ones use bub to stay informed — not worried.
Get the bub app from the App Store to stay informed of the latest risks.
Follow hubbub on social media for weekly updates for your city or state: