Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Sept 1, 2024 1:48:40 GMT
Increase in COVID virus detected locally - Published Aug 31, 2024
ESCANABA — The amount of detectable DNA from the virus responsible for COVID-19 in Escanaba’s sewer system has climbed in recent weeks, a trend started at roughly the same time as the Upper Peninsula State Fair.
According to Sentinel Wastewater Epidemiology Evaluation Project (SWEEP), the sample submitted by the Escanaba Wastewater Treatment Plant on Sept. 12, the first day of the fair, contained more DNA than only 5% of samples submitted by the plant since the city started participating in SWEEP in August of 2021. On Aug. 14, the sample contained more DNA than 13% of samples, and on Aug. 19, the Monday following fair week, the sample contained more DNA than 37% of samples.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the incubation period for the virus is highly dependent on which variant of the virus is responsible for infection. In 2020, a pooled average for the virus was 6.5 days from exposure to symptom onset. The Delta and Omicron variants move faster during times of high transmission levels, with the Delta variant yielding symptoms in 4.3 days and Omicron yielding symptoms in 3-4 days.
Given the timeline for samples, it is likely that the influx of people to the fair inflated the amount of viral DNA in the sewers. However, infected individuals converging on Escanaba for the event — mingling with both uninfected Delta County fairgoers and visiting local businesses — could result in an increase in the next few samples.
Statewide, the number of COVID-19 infections found in healthcare settings by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) peaked at 4,202 cases the week of Aug. 17, after a steady increase in cases since June 15, when 834 cases were reported. Cases are down from that high statewide and across much of the Upper Peninsula.
The following is the infection data for the Upper Peninsula for the week of Aug. 24 from MDHHS. The number of infections from the week of Aug. 17 is in parentheses for comparison.
Gogebic – 17 (19)
Ontonagon – 1 (2)
Houghton – 17 (27)
Keweenaw – 0 (no data reported from Aug. 17; 5 cases reported Aug. 19)
Iron – 17 (5)
Baraga – 3 (1)
Dickinson – 19 (22)
Marquette – 30 (16)
Menominee – 7 (10)
Delta – 19 (19)
Alger – 1 (no data reported from Aug. 17; 0 cases reported Aug. 19)
Schoolcraft – 3 (3)
Luce – 3 (2)
Mackinac – 4 (2)
Chippewa – 4 (7)
ESCANABA — The amount of detectable DNA from the virus responsible for COVID-19 in Escanaba’s sewer system has climbed in recent weeks, a trend started at roughly the same time as the Upper Peninsula State Fair.
According to Sentinel Wastewater Epidemiology Evaluation Project (SWEEP), the sample submitted by the Escanaba Wastewater Treatment Plant on Sept. 12, the first day of the fair, contained more DNA than only 5% of samples submitted by the plant since the city started participating in SWEEP in August of 2021. On Aug. 14, the sample contained more DNA than 13% of samples, and on Aug. 19, the Monday following fair week, the sample contained more DNA than 37% of samples.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the incubation period for the virus is highly dependent on which variant of the virus is responsible for infection. In 2020, a pooled average for the virus was 6.5 days from exposure to symptom onset. The Delta and Omicron variants move faster during times of high transmission levels, with the Delta variant yielding symptoms in 4.3 days and Omicron yielding symptoms in 3-4 days.
Given the timeline for samples, it is likely that the influx of people to the fair inflated the amount of viral DNA in the sewers. However, infected individuals converging on Escanaba for the event — mingling with both uninfected Delta County fairgoers and visiting local businesses — could result in an increase in the next few samples.
Statewide, the number of COVID-19 infections found in healthcare settings by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) peaked at 4,202 cases the week of Aug. 17, after a steady increase in cases since June 15, when 834 cases were reported. Cases are down from that high statewide and across much of the Upper Peninsula.
The following is the infection data for the Upper Peninsula for the week of Aug. 24 from MDHHS. The number of infections from the week of Aug. 17 is in parentheses for comparison.
Gogebic – 17 (19)
Ontonagon – 1 (2)
Houghton – 17 (27)
Keweenaw – 0 (no data reported from Aug. 17; 5 cases reported Aug. 19)
Iron – 17 (5)
Baraga – 3 (1)
Dickinson – 19 (22)
Marquette – 30 (16)
Menominee – 7 (10)
Delta – 19 (19)
Alger – 1 (no data reported from Aug. 17; 0 cases reported Aug. 19)
Schoolcraft – 3 (3)
Luce – 3 (2)
Mackinac – 4 (2)
Chippewa – 4 (7)