Sonoma and Napa counties are experiencing a summer surge in COVID-19 cases. Health officials attribute the rise to increased travel, gatherings, and the emergence of new variants. Hospitalizations have also seen a slight uptick, though they remain lower than previous peaks. There have been 39 COVID-19 deaths in Sonoma County this year, 15 of them in the last two months. Authorities are urging residents to stay vigilant, consider masking in crowded places, and get vaccinated or boosted if eligible to help curb the spread. Updated vaccines should be available in August or September.