Here are the latest national COVID-19 trends, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and major wastewater surveillance providers:
- About 1.3 in every 100,000 people were hospitalized for COVID-19 during the week ending July 26.
- COVID-19 test positivity increased significantly, from 6.6% of COVID-19 tests returning positive results during the week ending July 26 to 8.6% during the week ending August 2.
- SARS-CoV-2 concentration in wastewater has increased 16% between the week ending July 26 and the week ending August 2, and the national wastewater viral activity level is “moderate,” per the CDC.
- SARS-CoV-2 concentration in wastewater increased 8% between July 22 and July 29, and the national wastewater trend is “medium,” per WastewaterSCAN.
COVID-19 rates continue to take off across the U.S. as our summer surge hits every region. All metrics report substantial increases in SARS-CoV-2 spread in recent weeks — and the latest data are from early August, meaning levels may be much higher now than our reported numbers.
Wastewater data from the CDC and WastewaterSCAN show continued increases in coronavirus levels. The CDC reported another substantial increase in its national wastewater viral activity level for the week ending August 2, of 16%. The prior week’s increase remains at 36% after the latest data update — the highest reported since last winter.
Coronavirus levels in wastewater remain highest in the South and West Coast: most states in these two regions report “very high,” “high,” or “moderate” wastewater viral activity levels, according to the CDC. And “high” levels in the CDC’s reporting system correspond to what other health experts might call “incredibly high.”
Test positivity and emergency department visits for COVID-19 also continue to increase across the U.S. Similar to last week, the CDC reported increased test positivity for every health region. And the test positivity for region six (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas), which I flagged last week, has remained very high: 12% for the week ending August 2.
The CDC’s disease forecasting center reports a similarly concerning picture. As of August 5, the center estimates, cases are “growing or likely growing in 45 states” and not declining in any states. These trends suggest that COVID-19 levels will soon be high across the country, if they are not already.
Rather than any kind of response to this summer’s COVID-19 surge, last week, the federal health department announced it was “winding down” a program for developing new mRNA vaccines, including canceling contracts for next-generation COVID-19 vaccines. This disastrous decision leaves us less prepared not only for future COVID-19 surges, but also for other emerging diseases, cancer research, and other areas.
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[…] decline. For example, in health region six (Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas), which I flagged in August, test positivity has declined significantly from its peak of 18.4% but is still at 11% as of […]