Over half of U.S. states have ‘very high COVID’ activity as virus surges in much of the country: CDC wastewater data —
The more transmissible Data variant has pushed nearly 25% increase to nationwide case counts from last week
“Wastewater viral activity is “very high” in at least 27 states and it’s classified as “high” in another 17 states”
The highest level is still in the western region, followed by South and Midwest and then finally Northeast.
Those numbers are close, but lower than their peak during the winter months when respiratory illnesses in general tend to spread more readily.
That said, while health experts argue that wastewater data falls well short of how a virus spreads within the community overall, it might be among the best available.
“Wastewater may not be the perfect solution, but in the absence of more comprehensive case reporting and hospitalization data, monitoring RT through wastewater remains a crucial resource”
Given that the national public health emergency declaration has ended, many of the federal surveillance systems have been scaled back and now there are fewer resources available to authorities keep tabs on how this virus is moving across our country.
“Wastewater analysis has become one of the most consistent indicators we have to track COVID-19 in other ways as traditional surveillance systems have shrunk” said Brownstein.
CDC data also show that other more limited COVID-19 surveillance systems like emergency department visits and test positivity are increasing.
The number of deaths due to the virus still remain somewhat level, particularly if compared with previous year.
New shots for updated COVID vaccines due to be ready in the fall: U.S. health officials at the time, The U.S. Food and Drug Administration suggested to vaccine companies that they create vaccines using strains of KP. 2 variants, a descendant of omicron expected to represent 6% of cases by now.
The CDC made that recommendation to get a COVID vaccine booster dose earlier this season for everyone age 6 months and older.
The guidance will become effective as soon as there is a vaccine that gets FDA approval.
No expected delivery date has been announced for the updated COVID vaccines, but in previous years shots rolled out by late August or early September.
