#XBB15 is really quite something. It is now 66% of all samples in US. All samples is a relative term though as the amount of genomic surveillance has dropped a great deal. Suffice it to say there's a lot of this variant in circulation now. (1/4)
Showing modest gains in all regions, but 4, 5, 6, and 9 have definitely increased in share to dominance over last week. NE is showing a sustained dominance. Noteworthy, recently cases started increasing again in that region. (2/4)
Unfortunately, wastewater data is now quite lagging. This is data released 1/30 for samples collected 1/23. Approaching 10 days ago. We certainly are not getting out ahead of this. (3/4)
Nationwide hospitalizations that we have decided count as #COVID19 are now entering what may be a plateau - typically indicative of a turn in trajectory. We should expect to see a modest wave of hospitalizations from XBB.1.5 occur over the rest of the country now. Be safe. (4/4)
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The #mask argument has become a situation that's out of control. A thread 🧵
One side, people argue that they work and will bring the pandemic under control - just wear them! The other side, people argue they don't work - They're ridiculous for aerosols! (1/11)
Here's the problem, and why it is so polarizing - they're both right (and both wrong).
Confused? So is just about everyone (I even make these mistakes - guilty).
It is a false dichotomy. Arguing about masks will only continue to be divisive and is unproductive. (2/x)
You can amass an arsenal of many studies and experts in various fields stating they can and do work for mitigating transmission.
The same is also true of the argument against masks being effective for aerosolized virus. Many experts and many studies will say masks = bad. (3/11)