COVID-19 levels run high in Bay Area wastewater, prompting calls for precautions - The Mercury News

What the report says

The Mercury News reports that Bay Area public health officials and infectious disease specialists are advising residents to take renewed COVID-19 precautions after wastewater monitoring showed elevated virus levels in parts of the region. According to the report, treatment-plant data in Santa Clara County and San Francisco indicated high concentrations over the past three weeks, while sites on the Peninsula and in the North Bay showed medium levels. Wastewater surveillance is used as an indicator of community spread because it is not dependent on people taking or reporting COVID tests.

The reported levels are still well below those seen during California’s summer surge last year, but officials said the trend is notable during a season of travel and gatherings. Santa Clara County officials recommended steps such as masking in crowded indoor spaces, staying up to date on vaccination, testing when appropriate and staying home while sick. UC San Francisco infectious disease expert Peter Chin-Hong told the newspaper he expects more summer spread, consistent with patterns in 2024 and 2025, while noting that severe illness is less likely for most people than earlier in the pandemic.

The report emphasized added risk for older adults, pregnant people, young children and immunocompromised residents. Chin-Hong said adults 75 and older should ensure they have had a recent COVID vaccination, and he encouraged parents to consider vaccination as children prepare to return to school. The California Department of Public Health recommends COVID shots for children starting at 6 months.

The Mercury News also noted broader vaccination concerns, including falling COVID booster uptake and a rise in measles cases. State data cited in the article show about 18% of Santa Clara County residents and roughly 11% of Californians are current on COVID vaccination, while California has confirmed 52 measles cases this year.