Texas has the only ‘very high’ COVID wastewater levels in US – Houston Chronicle

Texas has the only ‘very high’ COVID wastewater levels in US  Houston Chronicle

Over the summer, Texas and Harris County saw their COVID-19 levels in wastewater grow to levels higher than those in any other state. Although COVID-19 infections are declining statewide, 38 wastewater monitoring sites in Texas detected the virus — making the state's community viral activity level "very high," according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The federal agency tests sewage water to detect signs of infection in communities, even from people who feel healthy. The Houston region also saw its emergency department visits related to COVID-19 peak this year in August, when they accounted for more than 1% of emergency department visits. ALSO READ: Houston transplant surgeon accused of falsifying patient records said he followed COVID guidance Here's what to know about this summer's COVID-19 cases and where to get tested.

How does Texas compare to other states? As of Sept. 16, Texas was one of 13 states in the country where COVID-19 infections were declining, whereas 27 other states saw its infections growing, according to the CDC. On the other hand, the agency labeled Texas as the only state that had "very high" community viral activity levels for COVID-19 based on wastewater testing. California, Florida and Washington followed the Lone Star State with "high" levels. What is the most common COVID-19 variant? While this summer's COVID-19 cases