Colorado COVID Wastewater Update - 1/12/24 Est 7day Avg Cases: 2800 (up 27% from 2197 last wk) Est Community Transmission Level: HIGH Estimated 7-Day Incidence: 338 per 100k The rise in Est'd cases returns (not good), but not as high as before Christmas, a possible reason for optimism/1

So while this is good news, and supported by the levels reported by many large utilities (for example, Metro WW Clear creek, shown below:), It's not time to let your guard dow. Wastewater levels nationally are very high. Levels here remain up. Next report should be enlightening

It seems that with schools closed and many people home for the holidays, we have seen a reprieve in the rise in the number of cases. Im not convinced the reprieve will last, school resumes soon and everyone will be back at work. And estimated cases remain elevated.

The median of all reporting utilities is dipping as well, but less steeply. The median remains above the level for the entire fall, and still very much looks like it is in "surge" territory.

We have gotten a lot less reports from wastewater utilities in the last week than usual due to the holiday disruption (Only 24, not 36). It's enough for a valid estimate, but likely more subject to "noise" than a typical report.

Colorado COVID Wastewater Update - 1/5/24 Est 7day Avg Cases: 2197 (down 40% from 3670 last wk) Est Community Transmission Level: HIGH Estimated 7-Day Incidence: 265 per 100k Estimated cases drop back to down to just over pre-christmas levels, but from limited data /1

How do they do it now? (Fascinating story, btw, Thank you for sharing!)

Some of them look REALLY bad, like this one: Metro WW - Clear Creak (serving Arvada, Westminster, and everything in between) So please take care. There is a LOT of COVID out there right now. It is a good time to limit your potential exposures.

None of this is surprising if you consider how many of our utilities are showing "steady increase" at the moment. But it is worrying. I strongly encourage everyone to check out their region specific trends at the CDPHE wastewater dashboard: cdphe.maps.arcgis.com/apps/dashboa...

This estimated COVID level is equivalent to: - The peak in November 2020, when our hospitals were overwhelmed - Much of the Delta surge in Nov/Dec 21, when our hospitals were overwhelmed, & about 2/3 of the peak in Nov 22, when our pediatric hospitals were overwhelmed.