Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Sep 1
US COVID-19 Rises in 48 States as Texas Hits Very High Wastewater Levels
Updated
Updated · Newsweek · Sep 1

US COVID-19 Rises in 48 States as Texas Hits Very High Wastewater Levels

3 articles · Updated · Newsweek · Sep 1

Summary

  • CDC data show COVID-19 infections are growing or likely growing in 48 states as of Aug. 26, with none declining and Iowa lacking sufficient data.
  • Texas was the only state at “very high” wastewater activity and Mississippi the only one at “high” in Aug. 16-22 readings, while seven other states were rated “moderate.”
  • The shift marks a sharp jump from July 23, when Alaska was the only state at “moderate” and all others were very low, low or missing data.
  • Wastewater monitoring can flag rising transmission before clinical testing does, offering an early warning as millions of children return to school.
  • Two schools have already faced disruptions: San Perlita ISD in South Texas canceled classes after rapid spread, and a Louisiana academy also temporarily shut down after an outbreak.

Insights

If COVID-19 is now less deadly, why are experts still relying on wastewater data to predict nationwide back-to-school disruptions?
With immune-evading variants driving a late-summer surge, are urban wastewater early-warning systems masking a much larger rural outbreak?
As schools face sudden localized closures, could newly approved antivirals be the missing key to stopping the next massive seasonal wave?