Michigan residents and communities across at least 37 U.S. states are facing a late-summer COVID-19 surge, according to county-by-county wastewater monitoring data compiled by the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative. Wastewater testing sites in communities including Ann Arbor, the city of Warren, and Mount Pleasant registered high levels of coronavirus activity as of September 16, while Jackson, Jenison, and Traverse City showed moderate levels with clear upward trends.
Wastewater Data Shows Widespread Transmission
Testing coordinated through WastewaterSCAN indicates that more people in Michigan had active COVID-19 infections in mid-September than at any time since March. Michael Hoerger, an associate professor of psychology, psychiatry, and oncology at Tulane University who leads the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative, notes that the state is part of a broader national wave. At least 37 states and three territories are currently experiencing coronavirus outbreaks, with additional transmission likely occurring in states with limited public health monitoring, such as Maryland, Idaho, Louisiana, and Tennessee.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have altered how wastewater data is mapped. The CDC updated its color-coding system to reclassify numeric thresholds, shifting higher viral detection levels into lower categories on public surveillance maps. This administrative change means transmission levels that previously registered as very high now appear as moderate or high on federal trackers.
Updated Vaccine Options for the 2026–2027 Respiratory Virus
As viral activity climbs, health officials recommend receiving an updated seasonal booster. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has authorized several updated COVID-19 vaccines for the 2026-27 respiratory virus:
- Nuvaxovid: A protein-based vaccine manufactured by Novavax and Sanofi, authorized for individuals aged 65 and older, as well as those aged 12 to 64 with underlying health conditions such as asthma, cancer, diabetes, or obesity.
- Spikevax: An mRNA vaccine produced by Moderna, available for people aged 65 and older and individuals between 6 months and 64 years old with at least one high-risk underlying medical condition.
- Comirnaty: An mRNA vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech, authorized for adults aged 65 and older and anyone aged 5 to 64 with underlying risk factors for severe disease.
- mNexSpike: A lower-dose mRNA vaccine from Moderna authorized for adults aged 65 and older and individuals aged 12 to 64 with qualifying underlying conditions.
Hoerger emphasizes that individuals who have not yet received a booster for the current season should consider vaccination to reduce the risk of severe outcomes, particularly given the widespread transmission documented across wastewater collection sites nationwide.
Keep reading