Washington is among a dozen states seeing elevated levels of COVID as a new variant ripples through the nation.
Why it matters: The XFG “stratus” variant is driving up cases just as kids return to school — and as Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. unilaterally alters federal vaccine guidance.
Driving the news: The CDC updated its regional data for COVID-19 test positivity on Monday, Aug. 11. The data accounts for the week ending Aug. 2…