COVID surge hits California as officials urge people to start wearing masks again
California is experiencing a significant COVID-19 surge in September 2025, with statewide test positivity and wastewater signals rising. Public health officials strongly recommend indoor masking again, particularly in high-positivity counties such as Central California and Los Angeles.
Key takeaways
- Statewide test positivity roughly doubled since July, reaching about 12.07% for the week ending Aug. 23, 2025.
- Local hot spots: Central California reported 18.4% positivity; Orange County climbed to 18.1%; Los Angeles County rose to about 13.44%.
- Wastewater monitoring shows high viral levels across many regions and is now a key surveillance tool as clinical testing declines (wastewater reports).
Statewide trends and testing data
What changed: After a summer of lower testing and fewer reported infections, multiple indicators now show rising spread. Statewide test positivity has roughly doubled since July, reaching about 12.07% for the week ending Aug. 23, 2025, suggesting more people with COVID are circulating in communities.
Some regions are seeing much higher rates. Central California reported an 18.4% positivity rate, the highest there in at least three years. Orange County and Los Angeles County each showed substantial month-to-month jumps, underlining uneven local burden.
“These rates may underestimate spread in some communities because fewer people now take clinical tests,” public health experts note, making other tools more important.
Wastewater data: a clearer signal of spread
With clinical testing down, authorities are leaning on wastewater surveillance to track SARS-CoV-2. Wastewater measures viral fragments in sewage and captures infections among people who do not get tested. Recent local and CDC-aligned reports show high viral concentrations across many sewersheds, aligning with county test-positivity increases (wastewater data; case reporting).
Officials say wastewater is an early warning that transmission is widespread even where hospitalizations have not yet climbed sharply — and it helps prepare for potential increases in severe disease.
Mask guidance and the official response
The California Department of Public Health and local agencies are strongly recommending indoor masking during the surge. This is a strong recommendation rather than a statewide mandate, leaving enforcement and details to local jurisdictions and businesses (reporting).
Officials cite several drivers: the appearance of more contagious variants, increased travel and gatherings, and school returns that increase mixing. Even with lower severe outcomes overall, masking reduces transmission and protects higher-risk people.
Mask fatigue and public behavior
Mask fatigue complicates public messaging. Many Californians stopped routine masking after mandates lifted, and reporters note people are tired of changing rules (coverage; local reporting).
Public health communicators recommend clear, practical steps: wear a well-fitting mask indoors, consider KN95 or surgical masks for better protection, test if symptomatic, and get updated vaccines if eligible.
Vaccines, access and confusion
Vaccination remains the strongest defense against severe illness and death, but confusion about eligibility for updated shots and uneven supply complicate uptake. Local health departments are expanding access and clarifying rules, but officials warn vaccines alone may not stop transmission quickly enough this fall — hence the renewed masking advice (wastewater analysis; report).
Why masking matters now
Masks provide immediate reduction in transmission and protect vulnerable populations — older adults and immunocompromised people. They also help limit opportunities for the virus to evolve into more dangerous variants. Public health leaders emphasize layering protections: vaccination, indoor masking during surges, testing when symptomatic, and staying home when sick.
Implications for San Diego, California
Economic impact: Businesses may see short-term shifts if people avoid crowds or venues reinstate masking policies. Conversely, masking that prevents workplace outbreaks could reduce sick days and keep more businesses open.
Political consequences: Local leaders must balance public health guidance with residents’ tolerance for renewed measures. San Diego officials will likely weigh CDC and state guidance alongside local wastewater and hospitalization data.
Social and cultural effects: Mask fatigue is widespread; renewed recommendations could lead to mixed compliance. San Diego’s outdoor culture may make indoor masking feel counterintuitive, but messaging that frames masking as a short-term, pragmatic step to protect family, neighbors, and the local economy may resonate.
Practical steps for residents and organizations:
- Watch local test positivity, hospitalizations, and wastewater reports.
- Carry high-quality masks and wear them in indoor public spaces.
- Test if symptomatic and seek booster shots if eligible.
- Employers: provide masks at entrances, improve ventilation, and communicate expectations clearly.
Sources and reporting
- ABC7: “COVID summer surge wastewater data shows high levels in California”
- Stocktonia: “Central Valley COVID positivity rate”
- The Independent: “COVID surge in California: masks and vaccines”
- Lookout: “Why California is hoping people keep wearing masks even as coronavirus cases fall”
Reporting by Times Media Service
