COVID source callout: CDC Community Levels
The CDC’s Community Levels are pretty useless when it comes to actually determining one’s COVID-19 risk. Moreover, the CDC isn’t even consistent with its calculations of these metrics.
Read MoreMonth: May 2022
Sources and updates, May 29
Sources and updates for the week of May 29 include potential changes to hospitalization data reporting, new research on Omicron subvariants, and more.
Read MoreNew Long COVID studies demonstrate danger of breakthrough cases
Two new studies on Long COVID, published this week, provide an important reminder of the continued dangers this condition poses to people infected with the coronavirus—even after vaccination. Neither study provides wholly new information, but both are more comprehensive than many other U.S. papers on this condition as they’re based on large databases of electronic health records.
Read MoreWe need more data on who’s getting Paxlovid
Last week, I shared a new page from the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), reporting statistics on COVID-19 therapeutic distribution in the U.S. The new dataset is a helpful step, but it falls far short of the information we actually need to examine who has access to COVID-19 treatments (particularly Paxlovid) and address potential health equity issues.
Read MoreNational numbers, May 29
America’s largely-ignored BA.2 surge continues: the U.S. reported over 100,000 new cases a day last week, while an average of 3,600 new COVID-19 patients were admitted to hospitals each day. Both of these metrics rose about 8% from the week prior.
Read MoreCOVID source shout-out: The Yankee Candle Index
I regret to announce that the Yankee Candle Index is once again suggesting a lot of COVID-19 is circulating in the U.S. right now.
Read MoreSources and updates, May 22
Sources and updates for the week of May 22 include Paxlovid data, local actions responding to COVID-19, new Long COVID studies, and more.
Read MoreWastewater data gap follow-up: an update from Biobot
Last week, I pointed out a data gap on the CDC’s National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) dashboard: hundreds of sewershed sites on the dashboard have not been updated with recent data in weeks. This week, I’m excited to share an update on the situation, courtesy of Biobot.
Read MoreInterpreting limited data in our undercounted surge
There’s no sugarcoating it: we are in an extremely confusing and frustrating phase of the pandemic. We see the rising (yet undercounted) case numbers, we hear from friends and family members who have recently tested positive. And yet the CDC’s official COVID-19 guidance is still based on a mostly-green map, while local leaders refuse to reinstate mask mandates or other safety measures.
Read MoreNational numbers, May 22
The Omicron BA.2 surge continues in the U.S., with a 19% increase in officially-reported COVID-19 cases in the past week to over 100,000 new cases a day. Of course, the official case numbers severely underestimate true infections, as PCR testing sites close and more people use rapid tests; actual case counts may be five or more times higher.
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