(STATEWIDE) If it feels like more people around you are getting COVID-19, you're not alone. Recent testing shows that over half of the U.S., including Tennessee, is seeing the highest levels of SARS-CoV-2 detection in wastewater.

With fewer people reporting COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have turned to monitoring wastewater to track the presence of infectious diseases.

As of August 9th, Tennessee is among the states on the "very high" list for SARS-CoV-2 detection, along with others like California, Texas, and Florida.

CDC data shows the presence of the virus in wastewater has more than quadrupled nationwide since June 1.

The CDC recently announced that new COVID-19 vaccines will be available later this year and recommend everyone, except for babies under six months old, get vaccinated.