Ancestors

Toot

Written by ikuo on 2025-01-19 at 18:26

There's a lot of chatter about how the CDC has - once again - changed the way they report on covid-related data. They now have "updated baselines" for wastewater reporting based on previous 12 months of data.

https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-currentlevels.html

It's a lot of math & I don't pretend to understand it. I don't feel equipped to pass judgment, but I am worried that this new method will obscure meaningful information about how much "baseline" prevalence is acceptable/reasonable.

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[#]CovidIsNotOver

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Descendants

Written by ikuo on 2025-01-19 at 18:30

This graph shows weekly wastewater data in my area since the beginning of the pandemic.

Data source: https://www.mwra.com/biobot/biobotdata.htm

In 2020-2021, values ~250 copies/mL were considered high & justified mitigations like mask mandates.

In 2024, the same ~250 copies/mL is the new "baseline", considered "normal/low" & no mitigations exist.

Maybe new variants shed more into wastewater? Maybe there was steady population growth in my area? Or maybe covid is actually more prevalent? 🤷🏻‍♀️

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[#]CovidIsNotOver

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Written by Huskify on 2025-01-19 at 18:46

@ikuo1000 This shifting wastewater baseline by the CDC reminds me of how the US has shifted their sizing in clothing bc a majority of Americans are overweight or obese. I used to be a size 4 decades ago and am still the same weight now, except now I’m a size 2 or zero. CDC shifts ww baselines and makes it look not as bad. It loses perspective looking at ww levels throughout the entire pandemic. Just how I see it

[#]COVID #Wastewater

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Written by ikuo on 2025-01-19 at 19:09

@huskify Agree. We're losing the ability to see the entire pandemic through a consistent metric. And adjusting the baseline has the potential to shift perceptions of what is "normal".

Also like clothing sizes: I sometimes wear 6, 8, or 10 depending on the brand. So I can find a dress to back up a claim of fitness whatever my actual weight. Without objective covid metrics, there's too much wiggle room for everyone to argue about reality.

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