Several states in the western US are experiencing a surge in new Covid-19 infections, according to latest CDC data
Several states in the western US are experiencing a surge in new Covid-19 infections, according to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
An update released on Friday shows Covid-19 activity in wastewater has risen to a “moderate” level nationwide, up from “low” the week before. The highest levels are in the western US, including in states such as Alaska, California, Colorado, Nevada and Utah, all of which are marked as “high”.
“Wastewater monitoring can detect viruses spreading from one person to another within a community earlier than clinical testing and before people who are sick go to their doctor or hospital,” the CDC notes. “If you see increased wastewater viral activity levels, it might indicate that there is a higher risk of infection.”
Wastewater tracking is often used as an early detection tool for monitoring potential future upticks. According to the California department of public health’s own wastewater tracking, statewide infection numbers have now surpassed winter highs.
