Masks, social distancing and other visible signs of the coronavirus pandemic have largely disappeared, but federal data shows the virus is far from gone in Utah and neighboring states.
Levels of the COVID-19 virus were “very high” in wastewater at monitoring sites across the Beehive State in mid-July, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That puts Utah amid a group of 20 states with the highest virus levels compared to the baseline level for each wastewater treatment plant.
There no is longer much in the way of detailed updates on COVID-19 cases — Utah’s dashboard for COVID-19 surveillance hasn’t been updated since November, and case counts through the state’s Public Health Indicator Based Information System, or IBIS, are only current as of Dec. 31, 2023.
But the Utah Department of Health and Human Services notes that viral activity is increasing.
That matches CDC data last updated on Friday showing Utah has higher-than-average viral activity.
Utah — along with neighboring states Colorado, Idaho, Nevada and Wyoming — was among 20 states with “very high” levels of viral activity in the week ending July 20, based on that data. There was no data available for Arizona that week, but the previous week showed a major increase, according to trend data.
Utah also was one of eight with the highest activity level “score” of ten.
The CDC notes that the median viral activity level might not represent transmission and viral rates in every community because of how monitoring sites are distributed.
Utah has 35 monitoring sites, most of which are along the Wasatch Front.
All the sites in or near the Wasatch Front had viral activity levels that were at least 60% higher than past levels, and many had at least 80% higher COVID-19 levels.
Two sites — one in Washington County and the other in Duchesne County — had levels that had increased between 40% and 59%. No sites had less than a 40% increase compared to past levels, as of the most recent measurement taken.
Though wastewater monitoring shows higher viral activity levels, that doesn’t necessarily mean more people are sick.
Wastewater can detect traces of infectious diseases circulating in a community even if people don’t have symptoms, the CDC notes, and can serve as an early warning that there’s a higher risk of infection.
The federal health agency recommends some key steps people can take to protect themselves from COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses:
Staying up to date with immunizations.
Practicing good hygiene by covering coughs and sneezes, washing or sanitizing hands often, and cleaning frequently touched surfaces.
Bringing in fresh outside air, purifying indoor air, gathering indoors and other steps to access cleaner air.
People who might have a respiratory virus should take precautions to prevent spread, including staying home and wearing a mask, and seek health care for testing or treatment, especially if they are older, pregnant or have other risk factors.
Megan Banta is The Salt Lake Tribune’s data enterprise reporter, a philanthropically supported position. The Tribune retains control over all editorial decisions.
