Wastewater data shows COVID-19 rates are on a “summer surge” in several Bay Area communities. The increase is showing up in wastewater from Marin County to the South Bay, giving health officials a sense of both where and how much COVID-19 is circulating in the community. While doctors say there are still reasons to be cautious, they’re also seeing signs this “summer surge” could look very different from those of the past. “It’s several fold higher than it was about a month ago and test positivity is increasing,” UCSF Professor of Medicine and Infectious Disease Specialist Peter Chin-Hong said. Palo Alto, Sunnyvale, San Jose and Marin are among the areas seeing high or rising levels of the virus; San Francisco is seeing its highest wastewater levels since last September, but hospitalizations for the virus remain very low. “It gives us a good sense for how much COVID-19 is being transmitted in the community. So, over the last few months, we’ve seen a sustained increase in COVID-19 levels, suggesting we are about to see a summer wave of COVID transmission,” Krishna Surasi, assistant public health officer and communicable disease controller for the Santa Clara County Public Health Department said. “We’ve been seeing a decline in hospitalizations over time and that’s because many people are seeing waves and waves of COVID-19 so their immune system is experienced,” Chin-Hong said. Now, with a growing number of schools back in session, doctors are watching to see whether more close contact drives transmission even higher. “With heat waves and extreme weather a lot of people gather indoors now for air conditioning, etc, and that brings a lot of noses and mouths together, so infection can spread that way,” Chin-Hong said. There’s also a new variant in the mix. It’s called the Cicada variant, and Dr. Chin-Hong says it’s showing more mutations than previous variants — another factor health departments are watching as COVID-19 continues to evolve. For now, health officials say the basics still matter, especially as students return to classrooms. “Washing your hands frequently, practicing good hygiene, and if you need to cough or sneeze do that into your elbow so you are not spreading it around the room, stay up to date on COVID-19 vaccines,” Surasi said. Experts say the next few weeks will be key in determining whether this is simply another summer wave or the beginning of a larger surge. A new COVID-19 vaccine is expected this fall. The CDC recommends an updated COVID-19 vaccine each year, with the timing based on the individual’s age and risk, but Chin-Hong says older adults and people at high risk for severe illness who are concerned about the current rise can talk with their doctor about getting a booster sooner. ...read more read less