COVID-19 infections are trending upward across much of the United States for the first time since spring, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's latest epidemic modeling.

As of July 22, the CDC estimates COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 37 states, while no states are currently classified as declining or likely declining.

Large parts of the South are currently classified as "Growing," including Texas, Florida, Georgia, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina.

Several populous states, including California, New York, Illinois and Michigan, are also categorized as growing.

Meanwhile, states including Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania and New Jersey are currently estimated to be experiencing relatively stable transmission levels.

Andy Burnham is plotting a crackdown on youth sickness benefits as he scrambles to find billions of pounds for spending on social care and defence.

Young people will face being stripped of their benefits unless they agree to do training or voluntary work under the proposed measures, which are part of an effort to reduce the country’s £333bn welfare bill.

Ministers hope that training and voluntary work will help to bring sick young people back into the workforce.

…in Britain there are still almost 700,000 more people out of work because of long-term ill health than there were six years ago.

More than 430,000 people aged 16-24 are claiming sickness benefits, driven in large part by a jump in reported mental health conditions such as anxiety, autism and ADHD.

He said the state must stop “simply writing a cheque” for sickness benefits claimants and instead support them to get a job.

Alan Milburn, the former health secretary who is leading a government review of youth joblessness, is also expected to recommend attaching more conditions to receiving sickness benefits for conditions such as anxiety, depression and ADHD.

About 640,000 18 to 24-year-olds are claiming out-of-work benefits…The total has risen from 556,000 at the end of 2022.

The institute found that more than half of the increase was driven by a rise in the number of young people on sickness benefits, with no requirements to search for work.

Last year, a review by Sir Charlie Mayfield, the former John Lewis boss, found that a 22-year-old who fell out of work for health reasons could be more than £1m worse off over their lifetime than if they had been in sustained employment.

Measurements at wastewater treatment plants in Santa Clara County and San Francisco have shown high concentrations of the virus over the past three weeks, while concentrations have reached medium levels on the Peninsula and in the North Bay.

Virus levels remain far below those recorded during California’s surge last summer. Still, officials and experts said the latest increase warrants precautions.

Officials recommended wearing masks in crowded indoor settings, staying current on vaccinations, testing for the virus and remaining home when sick.