Rates of severe disease may be staying at relatively low levels, but experts agree that there are probably more infections than the current surveillance systems can capture.
“There is more transmission out there than what the surveillance data indicates,” said Janet Hamilton, executive director of the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists. “And we should be paying attention to it, because we are starting to see an increase.”
Weekly hospital admissions have nearly doubled over the past month, including a 19% bump in the most recent week, CDC data shows. And a sample of laboratories participating in a federal surveillance program show that test positivity rates have tripled in the past two months.
There are some hopeful signs: Biobot data shows that wastewater levels may be starting to flatten, and relatively low hospitalization rates suggest that there may be a lower risk of severe disease for many.
I still mask not because of covid but because I have not been sick in any significant way since 2019. Maybe even late 2018. Before that I used to get sick about once a year. maybe go 18 months without being sick but maybe being sick again in 3 months. Now I have went practically 5 years (I don’t recall the last time I was sick I just remember the approx rate it showed up in the before times) and if I don’t have something specific I need my mouth hole for then its staying covered unless im at home or outside without being near anyone (like when I walk my dog)
You wear a mask year-round just to avoid getting sick once? Whew.
Once a year. And yeah. I know. Crazy right. So. So. Onerous. To wear something on your face like you would your hands, or feet, or top of your head. For some silly reason like its a tad cold, or my religion says I should, or its in fashion. Yeah that is just the type of incredibly disciplined person I am. To take on such an arduous task.
Mmhmm.