COVID in wastewater increases, but the severity of the disease “decreases”

In Minnesota, more COVID-19 is appearing in wastewater, but the worsening trend has not yet produced the serious consequences of previous pandemic waves.

Sampling at St. Paul’s Metropolitan Wastewater Treatment Plant found that the average amount of viral material in sewage has increased by 11% over the past week. update on friday. This week, elevated levels were detected in all seven surveillance areas throughout Minnesota. Based on sampling At 40 processing plants, which make up 67% of the state’s population.

The highly contagious BA.2 coronavirus submutant is responsible for 97% of the viral material found in Twin Cities sewers, but by sampling, it spreads more rapidly than causing cases of COVID-19 BA.2.12. The first traces of the .1 mutant were identified in the northeastern United States. Genome sequencing of positive specimens from minesotan using COVID-19 also found this mutation in eight cases earlier this month.

Neither variant has produced the levels of COVID severity that Minnesota encountered in previous pandemic waves, and health officials say that high levels of immunity from infections and vaccinations play a protective role. I believe. Minnesota reported 276 COVID-19 infections on Thursday, up from 183 on April 10.

Dr. Mark Sannes, an infectious disease specialist at HealthPartners, who runs the Regions Hospital in St. Louis and the Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, said: ..

“Clinical syndrome is different because about half of the patients identified by the test as having COVID are infected with something other than COVID,” he added.

Minneapolis-based Allina Health also reported an increase in the positive rate of COVID-19 tests in outpatients from 3.8% to 8.2% in the last three weeks. However, this increase has not produced a comparable increase in hospitalization.

Wastewater sampling is considered a purer measure of COVID-19 activity than case count. This can be determined by whether people with mild infections seek publicly reportable diagnostic tests. Both measures are now in agreement with the trend.

The Minnesota Ministry of Health reported 1,979 infections on Friday, with a seven-day average of new infections increasing from 374 per day for the week to March 20 to 1,053 per day for April 23. The fare will be 12,508. However, the 7-day tendency for COVID-19 deaths has decreased to 2 per day.

An estimated 61% of Minnesotans have already been infected with COVID-19 in the last 1-2 years. Reexamination Percentage of blood samples submitted for medical tests since early September. Experts at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say this does not mean that 61% of minesotan is protected, and there is no herd immunity rate to control the spread of the coronavirus as immunity declines over time. I warned that it seems.

“We expect seroprevalence to continue to rise over time and eventually approach 100%,” said Dr. Jefferson Jones, a specialist in CDC preventive medicine. Their blood.

Vaccination and infection immunity play a role, especially since half of the COVID-19 cases identified in Minnesota have occurred since last fall, Sannes said. “That’s why we’re seeing a decrease in the severity of the disease. We have many people who are immune from several different mechanisms. The unknown remains: it’s How long will it last? “

The latest CDC information on Thursday showed that Olmsted and Wabasha counties in Minnesota are at high pandemic risk levels based on current infection and hospitalization rates. Minnesota and Wisconsin are the only states with high-risk counties except in the northeast, and the BA.2.12.1 variant is the leading source of virus spread. In high-level counties, it is advisable to wear a mask in indoor public spaces.

The rest of Minnesota is in the middle or low range, but Minneapolis responded to local trends on Thursday and recommended wearing masks to the city.

Luisa Pessoa-Brandao, Epidemiology Manager, Minneapolis Health Department, said the high-risk designation means that hospitalization has already reached the level. “We know that masks are a good way to suppress communication. Why wait until we are at a high community level?”

Health officials are encouraging more people to seek COVID-19 vaccination. The state is stuck with 49% of eligible residents over the age of 5 vaccinated.