COVID Map Update Reveals Most Active States for Virus Ahead of Christmas [Video]

As many Americans drive home for Christmas, COVID-19 levels are high or very high in 20 U.S. states, according to recent wastewater analysis by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Since the beginning of the pandemic, the CDC has tracked levels of SARS-CoV-2—the virus that causes COVID-19—in wastewater, including sewage.

This data captures infection levels from everyone using the wastewater system, including those without symptoms, who haven’t tested for COVID-19 and who haven’t reported their illness.

Wastewater testing can therefore give an earlier and more accurate indication of COVID-19 levels as the infection spreads to different areas, rather than just relying on positive tests.

The most recent wastewater data, published by the CDC on December 19, estimates levels of COVID-19 from Saturday, December 8 to Sunday, December 14.

It shows that five states reported “very high” levels of SARS-CoV-2, compared to six the previous week and just two the week before.

This …