California COVID-19 Activity This Week
Last updated:
Track current COVID-19 hospitalization activity in California with weekly CDC data. This page shows California's COVID-19 hospital admission rate, trends over time, and how it compares to the national average and nearby states. Data comes from the CDC's National Syndromic Surveillance Program (NSSP).
Key Takeaways
- 1 COVID-19 hospitalization activity in California is currently low, with 0.5 new admissions per 100,000 residents this week.
- 2 COVID-19 admissions have been relatively stable over recent weeks.
- 3 California COVID-19 activity is below the national rate of 1.2 per 100K.
CDC Recommendations at This Level
COVID activity is low — stay current on vaccines
- • Keep your COVID vaccines up to date — check if you're due for an updated booster
- • No special precautions needed at current levels for most people
- • People who are immunocompromised or high-risk should maintain their personal risk management plan
This is general public health guidance based on CDC recommendations — not personal medical advice. Talk to your healthcare provider about what's right for you and your family.
California COVID-19 Trend — 2025-2026 Season
New confirmed COVID-19 hospital admissions per 100,000 population per week.
Is COVID-19 Getting Better or Worse in California?
COVID-19 appears to be declining in California
COVID-19 activity is most likely decreasing, though there's some uncertainty. The overall trend points toward improvement in the coming weeks.
Technical details (CDC Rt estimate)
Reproduction number (Rt): 0.94 (95% CI: 0.83 – 1.06)
Probability of growth: 13%
Rt below 1.0 means each case leads to fewer new cases (declining). Above 1.0 means growing.
Based on CDC forecasting data as of March 31, 2026. Source
California vs. National Average and Nearby States
Nearby States
Sources & Methods
COVID-19 data reflects confirmed hospital admissions reported through the CDC's HHS Protect system. Activity levels are based on new admissions per 100,000 population per week. Hospitalization data may undercount total infections as most COVID-19 cases are now managed at home. Learn more about our methods .
More Health Data for California
Cities in California
Health data available for these California cities:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current COVID-19 activity level in California?
COVID-19 activity in California is LOW with 0.5 new hospital admissions per 100,000 people this week. There were 181 total new COVID-19 admissions.
Where does this COVID-19 data come from?
This data comes from the CDC's HHS Protect hospital reporting system. Hospitals across the United States report confirmed COVID-19 admissions, ICU usage, and bed capacity weekly. The metric shown is new admissions per 100,000 population.
How often is this page updated?
This page is updated weekly after the CDC publishes new hospital reporting data. There is typically a 1-2 week lag between when admissions occur and when data appears here.
Local Health Signal is not affiliated with the CDC or any government agency. Data is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended for clinical decision making. See our methods page for details on data sources and limitations.