Ending emergencies will lead to renewed health equity issues

Last week, I gave you an overview of the changes coming with the end of the federal public health emergency (PHE). This week, I’d like to focus on the health equity implications of the PHE’s end. With the end of extra supplies and resources tied to the emergency, people who are already vulnerable to other health issues will become more at risk for COVID-19.

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COVID source callout: Iowa ends COVID-19 case reporting

As of April 1, Iowa’s state health department is no longer requiring public health laboratories to report positive COVID-19 test results—and no longer reporting statewide data to the CDC. This decision, announced in late February, is part of a growing trend away from relying on case data as people use at-home tests instead of PCR tests.

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COVID-19 is inspiring improvements to surveillance for other common viruses

This week, I have a new story out in Gothamist and WNYCabout norovirus, a nasty stomach bug that appears to be spreading a lot in the U.S. right now. The story shares some NYC-specific norovirus information, but it also talks more broadly about why it’s difficult to find precise data on this virus despite its major implications for public health. Reporting this story led me to reflect on how COVID-19 has revealed cracks in the country’s infrastructure for tracking a lot of common pathogens.

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Where to find wastewater data for your community

As we head into the holidays with limited COVID-19 testing and undercounted case numbers, wastewater surveillance is the best way to evaluate how much the virus is spreading in your region. And it’s now available in more places than ever, thanks to the many research groups and public health agencies setting up sewage testing.

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