Daily/Weekly Notes - Things are Steady - January 18, 2025

Daily/Weekly Notes - January 18, 2025

Fairly good news all around. Region 3 Positivity Rate is stable at 5.9%. Transmission Rating for our area remains at the low end of Moderate. Virginia wastewater report this week has 28 of the 35 sites. The CDC held the statewide Virginia wastewater rating at Low (where it probably has been). The wastewater viral levels in Virginia dropped from 2.76 to 2.07 (-25.0%). Virginia is still below the regional and national viral levels in wastewater. A look back at the corrected wastewater history shows we have remained (as a State) in a Low status since October 5, 2024.

The holiday season and federal holidays threw the data off. During holidays, two things typically happen: Slower and less complete data flows from healthcare systems; people change their normal patterns about when they visit doctors or emergency rooms. And we have another holiday this coming Monday.

Local health officials with the Roanoke City and Alleghany County Health Districts have reported that respiratory illnesses in Southwest Virginia have elevated. However, the trends overall remain stable.

The XEC variant is still in control (by a wide margin), which probably accounts for the smaller COVID surge we have seen this Winter. The Flu surge has been 4 to 5 times the level of the Covid surge.

I will probably take Monday off as most medical news services will be closed. No word yet if VDH is going to post Tuesday or Wednesday.

Stay safe!