As spring nears, the 2024/2025 viral respiratory season is winding down. Across the US, COVID levels are the lowest they’ve been in three months. While COVID risks vary by state, Influenza A has also decreased to moderate levels. This article provides an update on the current state of COVID and other viral risks, highlighting key data and studies to keep you informed.
We’ll delve into the latest findings from the National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), which indicates a significant decline in COVID activity. We’ll also explore regional variations in viral prevalence and discuss the ongoing impact of COVID on long-term health. Stay informed and take necessary precautions to protect your well-being as viral risks evolve.
This update includes insights into: the current COVID viral activity across the US and in different regions, recent studies on the long-term health impacts of COVID, and practical advice on how to stay safe as viral risks decline but haven’t completely disappeared.
COVID Viral Activity is Low
The National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS) data shows a continued decline in COVID. The US level of viral activity is low for the first time since early December.
Regionally, risks vary. The Midwest had the highest COVID viral activity since Thanksgiving, but that has changed. Currently, COVID is more prevalent in the South than the Midwest. COVID viral activity is still high in 17 states, plus the District of Columbia. States with high COVID risks are scattered across the Northeast (Connecticut, Delaware, New Jersey, and Maryland), South (Alabama, Georgia, Kentucky, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas), Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota) and West (Colorado).
More Studies on COVID’s Impact to Long-Term Health
Unlike the flu, which declines to extraordinarily low levels and surges once a year each winter, COVID remains ever-present with multiple waves annually. According to NWSS data, flu was in the “very low” category for five months in 2024, and it was in the low zone for another four months. By comparison, COVID was “very low” for a single week last year while being high or very high in January, February, July, August, September, and December 2024.
Most have dropped their vigilance and care, but COVID researchers continue to warn that repeated infections are a danger to health and wellbeing. The risks of death from an acute infection have declined but are still meaningful, with almost 1,000 Americans dying a week. But the greater threat from COVID today is Long COVID and other long-term health impairments.
Recent research highlights the lasting impact of COVID on various aspects of health:
- Patients with ‘mild’ COVID-19 infection demonstrated a high frequency of abnormalities on SPECT (single-photon emission computed tomography) myocardial perfusion imaging that suggest subclinical cardiac involvement.
- The incidence of PCC (Post-COVID Condition) among pediatric patients with COVID-19 was 8%, with fatigue being the most commonly reported symptom across all age groups.
- A study of people with post-COVID condition identified structural brain alterations implying increased CTh (cortical thickness) and abnormal microstructural WM (white matter) integrity, and worse cognitive performance across various cognitive domains almost 2 years after COVID infection.
- COVID-positive participants had nearly twice the odds of ongoing symptoms as influenza-positive participants (OR: 1.92; 95% CI: 1.27–2.97).
- Young patients (ages 18–25) with LC (Long COVID) show signs of autonomic nervous system dysfunction four weeks post-infection.
- There was a significant rise in blood pressure among recovered COVID-19 patients, with systolic pressure increasing by 4.57 mmHg and diastolic by 4.46 mmHg over 12 months compared to controls.
- Immune alterations are observed in patients with PASC (Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID, or Long COVID). Patients with PASC displayed altered T-cells.
- A study of Acute kidney injury (AKI) found that kidney recovery was less frequent in COVID-19 patients, with a higher incidence of acute kidney disease in survivors (OR 1.99, CI 1.74–2.28).
- COVID-19 hospitalized subjects were at increased risk of death or hospitalization for various organ disorders up to 30 months after discharge, reflecting the multi-organ consequences of the disease.
- Neurological manifestations are common in patients hospitalized for COVID-19 regardless of severity. The high prevalence of anosmia and its association with headache and working memory impairment at 3 months suggest potential direct or indirect damage to the prefrontal cortex via invasion of the olfactory bulb by COVID-19.
Staying Safe
COVID risks are significantly lower than they were two months ago. That does not mean the risks have vanished. Take a little care in crowded indoor spaces, and consider wearing a mask, particularly if wastewater data indicates COVID viral activity is high in your city or state.
In conclusion, as spring approaches, the overall viral respiratory season is subsiding, with COVID-19 levels at their lowest in months. While this is encouraging news, it’s important to remember that risks remain, particularly concerning the long-term health impacts of COVID-19. The research continues to reveal potential long-term consequences of even mild infections, emphasizing the need for continued vigilance and care.
Staying informed is key. By monitoring data from sources like the NWSS and keeping up with the latest research, you can make informed decisions about how to protect yourself and your community. Consider taking precautions in crowded indoor spaces and consulting local wastewater data to assess viral activity in your area. While the threat of acute COVID-19 may be diminishing, the potential for long-term health impacts remains a significant concern. Take care, friends.