COVID map update shows US states with 'very high' virus activity in wastewater

Concentrations of the virus that causes COVID-19 remain high in the U.S., although the number of positive case reports across the country has recently declined. However, new data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that virus activity varies significantly across different states.

As of September 21, the overall level of virus activity in wastewater across the country has been downgraded from “very high” to “only high,” although 13 states still see “very high” levels. These are particularly concentrated in the Midwest. Twenty-one states now have “high” wastewater activity and nine are classified as “moderate.”

“Low” levels have now been detected in six states, with “minimal” levels, the lowest rating, observed in New York.

After a surge in COVID-19 cases this summer, infection rates appear to be falling. Positive tests now account for 11.6 percent of all COVID tests (excluding at-home tests) in the U.S., down 1.8 percent from the previous week. Coronavirus levels remain high in certain states, particularly in the central US

The map below shows which states have had the most sewage detections.

Virus concentration in wastewater is a useful indicator of disease prevalence within a population.

The recent surges in COVID-19 cases have been driven largely by a new class of subvariants nicknamed FLiRT, after the location of mutations on the virus's spike proteins, the projections that allow them to enter our cells .

These proteins are also used as targets by immune systems and vaccinations, so changes in their structure can make it easier for the virus to evade the body's defenses. However, existing vaccines are likely to provide at least some protection against more severe symptoms and long-term COVID illness.

As of September 28, the now-dominant KP.3.1.1 subvariant accounted for more than 59 percent of all U.S. COVID-19 cases over the past two weeks, according to the CDC, with the FLiRT variants accounting for more than 80 percent of the total cases .

But while the U.S. saw a steady rise in infections over the summer, hospitalizations and deaths remained relatively low. It appears that while the new FLiRT variants are more contagious, they generally do not cause as severe symptoms.

According to the CDC, symptoms include the following:

• Fever or chills
• Cough
• shortness of breath
• fatigue
• Muscle or body pain
• Headache
• Loss of taste or smell
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Nausea or vomiting
• Diarrhea

More vulnerable people may still be at risk of serious illness. Therefore, it is important to self-isolate if you receive a positive COVID test.

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