New disease indicator results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show a significant recent increase in COVID-19 virus in Oregon wastewater. Wastewater (sewage) can be tested to detect traces of infectious diseases circulating in a community, even if people don’t have symptoms. You can use these data as an early warning that levels of infections may be increasing or decreasing in your community. Virus levels across 27 states have increased on average by more than 400% (a four-fold increase) between June and August 2024. In Oregon, virus levels surged by more than 1000% (a ten-fold increase), the fastest increase and the highest levels reported for any U.S. state. As of Sept. 9 it was reported that in Oregon, “the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently ‘Very High.’”
Wastewater detection gives public health officials time to increase immunization to help prevent widespread disease and death. Clinical COVID cases typically appear around a week after increases in the virus in wastewater. The CDC reports that although COVID-19 hospitalizations are now trending upward, case severity typically appears to be more moderate than the previous two years. This may be because more people are now immunized.
The Oregon Health Authority reports the August 10, 2024, state-wide COVID-19 test positivity rate (16.7%) is the highest ever for this time of year since the pandemic began.
Published reports indicate the updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccines are expected to be available at the end of August or early September. These COVID-19 vaccines are designed to be effective against the most recent variants. Health officials say because the COVID-19 virus continues to evolve, annual COVID-19 shots may become routine, like influenza vaccines. The OHA recommends vaccination, masking, and social distancing to help control the spread of COVID-19.
If you have questions about whether to take precautions against this potentially deadly virus, contact your healthcare provider.
How to Protect Yourself and Others
What to know
CDC’s Respiratory Virus Guidance provides strategies you can use to help protect yourself and others from health risks caused by COVID-19 and other respiratory viruses.
These actions can help you lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission (spreading or catching COVID-19) and lower the risk of severe illness if you get sick.
Core Prevention Strategies
CDC recommends that all people use core prevention strategies to protect themselves and others from COVID-19:
-Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines.
Although vaccinated people sometimes get infected with the virus that causes COVID-19, staying up to date on COVID-19 vaccines significantly lowers the risk of getting very sick, being hospitalized, or dying from COVID-19.
-Practice good hygiene (practices that improve cleanliness)
-Take steps for cleaner air
When you are sick:
Use precautions to prevent spread, including staying home and away from others (including people you live with who are not sick) if you have respiratory symptoms.
Learn when you can go back to your normal activities.
Seek health care promptly for testing and/or treatment if you have risk factors for severe illness. Treatment may help lower your risk of severe illness, but it needs to be started within a few days of when your symptoms begin.
Order your free COVID-19 tests at the end of September.
U.S. households will be eligible to order 4 free COVID-19 tests at COVIDTests.gov. The COVID-19 tests will detect current COVID-19 variants and can be used through the end of the year.
Visit COVIDTests.gov
Additional Prevention Strategies
In addition, there are other prevention strategies that you can choose to further protect yourself and others.
Wearing a mask and putting distance between yourself and others can help lower the risk of COVID-19 transmission.
Testing for COVID-19 can help you decide what to do next, like getting treatment to reduce your risk of severe illness and taking steps to lower your chances of spreading COVID-19 to others.
What to watch out for
Using these prevention strategies can be especially helpful when:
Respiratory viruses, such as COVID-19, flu, and RSV, are causing a lot of illness in your community.
You or those around you have risk factors for severe illness.
You or those around you were recently exposed to a respiratory virus, are sick, or are recovering.