COVID levels are so high, they're hovering near 2020's initial peak

[usonian]

https://fortune.com/well/2023/09/16/united-states-covid-levels-approach-first-pandemic-peak-2020-who-urges-vaccination-boosters-high-risk/

U.S. COVID infections are hovering near levels of the pandemic’s first peak in 2020, and approaching the Delta peak of late 2021, according to wastewater surveillance and modeling by forecasters.

It’s yet another sign that while the official pandemic state may be over, the days of COVID are far from it.

Viral wastewater levels are not far behind all of the pandemic’s 2020 peaks except for one—the initial peak of March 2020, which they’ve already surpassed. And they lag just slightly levels seen during the deadly Delta peak of late 2021, according to Biobot Analytics, which monitors such data for the federal government.

A forecast issued this week by Jay Weiland, a leading COVID modeler, came to the same conclusions. On Thursday, Weiland estimated that 650,000 Americans are becoming infected daily, with 1 in 51 Americans currently infected with COVID.

I was the only one at the grocery store today wearing a mask.

Didn't check the pharmacy.
On edit: apologies for the accidental double post.

[RKP5637]

1. And the shit stain gov. of Florida and his idiotic health agent says none under 65 should

have a vaccine. They are not really tested. What a damn backward place, I guess he's trying to have the highest levels in the US again. Of course, he blocks any reporting when the numbers get too high.

[Lonestarblue]

2. I got my booster last week, and I now wear a mask wherever I'm shopping.

I’m looking at Covid as something we’ll have with us for a long time, and if I need an annual (or more frequent) booster shot, that’s what I’ll get. I’ve been very lucky to not get Covid, but I’ve noticed that I’ve also not had a cold for the past few years and I used to have at least one every winter. My routine is to wear a mask when out in public and wash my hands thoroughly with soap and fairly hot water as soon as I get home. I haven’t been using the disinfectant gel because it’s pretty rough on the skin, especially in winter. So far, so good.

[usonian]

5. I think that the disinfectant has been downgraded, but

If you touch your face, beware. Aloe in the gel seems to help. I was doing it with shopping carts for years. Seems to help keep the flu away.

Stay safe and healthy.

[underthematrix]

3. We don't trust people to be vaxxed boosted or masked because

it's all about how they feel. Not the health of their community but jut how the dumbphucks feel.

We have everything delivered. And even with that we use safety measures.

We have to go to the DMV next week to renew our DLs. We'll do some of our paperwork online to cut down on the time in an enclosed space.

[underpants]

4. I had no idea it was that bad.

Yikes.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

7. I'm not sure about those stats

Arizona has almost tripled in two months and it still hasn’t passed this years peak. It’s about a 10th of 2020’s. Cases arent remotely close to the worst they’ve been.

[usonian]

9. I get the feeling that reporting is very lax, and we have to rely on wastewater etc.

If so, good for Arizona on an absolute basis, if not the trend.

[dickthegrouch]

10. My county reflects the same conclusion

https://covid19.sccgov.org/dashboard-wastewater

Some fascinating data on those pages.

Including something I believe proves vaccinations work extremely well.
https://covid19.sccgov.org/covid-cases-wastewater
In that graph the two measurements stop tracking each other in about May of 2022. QED.

[Deuxcents]

6. Getting my booster on Monday..

Made my appt earlier today. Hope your post is a reminder to the rest of us to get their shot(s).

[Think. Again.]

8. Thank you for posting this...

I'm going for my booster, and a fresh supply of masks, this weekend.

[appalachiablue]

11. Thanks, new booster coming up, pronto!

[Elessar Zappa]

12. It's never going to be over

It’s endemic like the flu and common cold. Beyond getting the vaccinations and masking in super high risk areas like airplanes and crowded concerts, I’m done worrying about it. Life has to go on.