Wastewater monitoring has revealed a significant increase in coronavirus levels throughout the country, suggesting that the trend of rising cases during the summer is still on the rise.
On Friday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released estimates indicating that national virus measurements in sewage had reached “high” levels for the first time this summer. According to the agency’s report, COVID-19 is either growing or likely growing in 44 states and the nation’s capital.
According to the latest CDC data for the week ending July 6, California is experiencing “very high” levels of coronavirus in its wastewater, marking the first time since winter. Joining California in this concerning category are Arkansas, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon, and Texas. Additionally, 19 other states across the country, spanning all regions, have reported high levels of coronavirus in their sewage.
The levels of Coronavirus in California’s wastewater have been estimated to be considerably higher than last summer. Recent reports from Northern California reveal that two of the largest sewersheds, which cover San Jose and Palo Alto in Santa Clara County – the region’s most populous county – have reported elevated levels of the virus in their wastewater.
California is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, with an alarming increase in the rate of positive test results. The latest data shows that for the week ending July 8, 13% of tests came back positive, compared to just 4.8% a month earlier. This marks a significant jump and brings the state close to the peak of last summer, when the positive test rate reached 13.1% in late August and early September. The situation is concerning and highlights the need for continued vigilance and adherence to public health guidelines to curb the spread of the virus.
Wastewater levels of coronavirus have significantly increased in Los Angeles County, which happens to be the most populous county in the United States.
The L.A. County Department of Public Health has stated that there has been a surge in COVID-19 cases, emergency department visits, and hospitalizations. They have also mentioned that it is too soon to predict whether this surge will result in a greater wave of cases this summer compared to last year.
According to the health department, coronavirus levels in L.A. County sewage for the 10-day period ending June 29 were at 27% of last winter’s peak. This is a notable increase from the prior comparable period, which ended on June 22 and saw levels at 17% of last winter’s peak.
The county has seen a significant increase in COVID cases too. The daily average of new cases has jumped from 121 a day a month earlier to 307 for the week that ended on July 7. It’s worth noting that the daily average during the peak of last summer was 571 cases for the week that ended on August 26.
Although officially reported cases are likely to be an undercount, as they only include test results from medical facilities and not from at-home tests, they still provide a useful way to assess overall trends. Additionally, fewer people are getting tested for COVID-19 when they are feeling sick, which further contributes to the likelihood of an undercount in reported cases.
In L.A. County, the percentage of emergency room visits related to coronavirus has increased. As of the week ending on July 7, 2.5% of ER visits were linked to COVID-19, which is up from 1.5% a month ago. For the week that ended on Aug. 27 last year, the highest peak was recorded, with 5.1% of emergency room visits being related to the coronavirus.
In May, the surge of COVID cases began earlier than usual, marking a midyear increase. Typically, L.A. County experienced a midyear spike in cases and hospitalizations in early July, as seen in 2021 and 2023. However, in 2022, this surge occurred in early May.
According to officials, there has been an increase in cases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, particularly among outpatients. The healthcare provider is closely monitoring the situation and taking necessary measures to ensure the safety and well-being of its patients.
Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Southern California, stated that the numbers are steadily increasing. She mentioned that it is necessary to keep an eye on the situation as we have passed the Fourth of July, and this is the time when we usually observe a surge in cases. She added that we have to wait and see where things are headed.
Health authorities across the country are closely monitoring the surge in COVID-19 cases. The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene in New York City has advised residents to consider wearing masks, particularly in crowded indoor areas and for those at higher risk. In light of the increasing number of cases, the agency posted a message on social media, encouraging everyone to “Mask up, NYC!” The post also featured an illustration of commuters on mass transit wearing masks.
As coronavirus cases continue to surge, a new subvariant called FLiRT has emerged, which is believed to be 20% more contagious than the dominant subvariant from last winter. According to reports, the FLiRT subvariants, namely KP.3, KP.2, and KP.1.1, made up approximately 70.5% of COVID specimens across the country for the two-week period ending July 6. This figure is a significant increase from the 54.9% recorded just a month prior.
According to the CDC, there are currently no states in which the COVID wave during the summer is declining or showing signs of decline. Hawaii, New Mexico, and Oregon have either a stable or uncertain trend in COVID cases, as per the CDC. However, there are no estimates available for Missouri, Wisconsin, or Wyoming.
