Recently, over half of U.S. states have been reporting ‘very high’ levels of COVID-19 activity, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) through their wastewater data. The spread of the virus is increasing in various parts of the country.
There are currently 27 states experiencing ‘very high’ levels of viral activity in wastewater, while 17 states are reporting ‘high’ levels. The western part of the country bears the highest burden, followed by the South, Midwest, and Northeast in that order.
Although current COVID levels are approaching those seen during the winter months, they still remain lower. Winter tends to see a higher spread of respiratory diseases.
Despite its limitations in representing community spread, wastewater data has proven to be crucial. Dr. John Brownstein, an epidemiologist and chief innovation officer at Boston Children’s Hospital, points out, “While wastewater is not a perfect measure, it’s increasingly vital in filling the gaps left by the absence of comprehensive case reporting and hospitalization data.”
National surveillance systems have been scaled back since the public health emergency ended, leaving limited resources for tracking the virus. Wastewater analysis has thus emerged as one of the most reliable tools to monitor COVID-19 activity in communities.
Other remaining surveillance tools, such as emergency department visits and test positivity rates, are also showing an increase according to the CDC. However, death rates from the virus have remained relatively stable compared to previous years.
Looking ahead, federal health authorities have announced that updated COVID vaccines will be available this fall. The FDA has recommended manufacturing vaccines based on the KP.2 strain, which is a variant of the omicron and currently makes up around 6% of cases.
The CDC advises that everyone aged 6 months and above get the updated COVID vaccine once it is available, pending FDA authorization. While an exact date for the vaccine’s release hasn’t been shared, it is anticipated to be available by late August or September, similar to previous years. Vaccine manufacturers are prepared to ship doses as soon as they receive the go-ahead from the FDA.
