---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Patrik D'haeseleer <patrikd@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 9, 2022 at 4:44 PM
Subject: Covid numbers rising rapidly around the Bay
From: Patrik D'haeseleer <patrikd@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 9, 2022 at 4:44 PM
Subject: Covid numbers rising rapidly around the Bay
For those of you who have gotten used to thinking that Covid is over - here's a reminder that we are still very much in the midst of a pandemic!
The two metrics that I personally put most stock in these days include wastewater monitoring, and *asymptomatic* test positivity rates.
Covid levels in East Bay wastewater have been rising rapidly over the past few weeks, and are now back at levels we've seen during the main Omicron surge early January:
As far as I know, only UCSF reports asymptomatic test positivity rate, which is currently around 3.4% - see https://coronavirus.ucsf.edu/dashboard Meaning that if you are in a room with 30 perfectly healthy looking people, there will likely be at least one who has an asymptomatic infection and may be infecting others.
The good news is that infection fatality rate has dropped to almost the same level as the flu, thanks to vaccinations, protection from prior infections, and improved drugs to treat Covid patients. It is still a pretty nasty disease though, so do yourself a favor, and keep that mask on indoors and whenever you're in a crowd!
Patrik