Wastewater testing in various states across the United States is revealing concerning trends that suggest a potential rise in COVID-19 infections. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has reported significant increases in the virus levels detected in Montana and Florida, with several other states showing high levels in their wastewater, including Alaska, California, Connecticut, Georgia, Maryland, and New Mexico.
In addition to the wastewater data, emergency room visits related to COVID-19 have been on the rise, spiking by 12.6% in just one week. States like Delaware, Iowa, Illinois, Indiana, Nebraska, New Jersey, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, and West Virginia saw the biggest jumps in emergency room visits last week.
Despite the increase in cases, hospitalizations for COVID-19 remain relatively low nationwide, with only 0.6% of all emergency department visits resulting in a COVID diagnosis. The CDC has also reported a 1% increase in positive tests, yet it is noted that many positive cases from at-home COVID testing may go unreported.
The rise in cases could be attributed to new dominant subvariants like FLiRT and KP.3, which, although vaccines remain effective against them, could pose a threat to those who have not received a booster shot in some time. Ilan Rubin, a research fellow at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, highlighted the possibility of a population becoming susceptible during the summer if vaccinations occurred in late fall and winter.
As summer brings about increased travel and social gatherings, individuals may face higher exposure to the virus. It is essential for the public to remain vigilant and continue following health guidelines to prevent further spread of COVID-19.