We're entering the 8th pandemic wave, likely surging to >2% infectious (>1 million cases/day) in a month.
Today's numbers:
🔹 1.41% (1 in 71) are infectious
🔹 >670,000 C0VID cases/day
🔹>34,000 #LongCovid cases/day
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Note that the different forecasting models show high convergence.
December 11 by the Numbers:
🔹 2.25% (1 in 44) likely to be infectious
🔹 >1 million anticipated C0VID cases/day
🔹>50,000 resulting #LongCovid cases/day
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Zooming out to the full #pandemic, there is no debate we're in an 8th U.S. C0VID wave, likely entering a "surge" in my view. That's not a word I take lightly.
There's more transmission than during 54% of pandemic days.
#MaskUp #VaxUp 😷💉
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How Does the Oncoming 8th Wave Compare with Prior Waves?
I suspect we’re headed somewhere between the magnitude of Wave 2 (winter 20-21) & Wave 6 (last winter). If so, I would characterize us as heading into a surge. I do not use the word “surge” lightly.
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In comparing waves, I see a qualitative distinction at about 1 million daily infections (wastewater levels of 750 copies/mL).
Waves 1, 2, 3, and 7 all hovered around that mark. I refer to these as waves, not surges.
Wave 4, 5, and 6 all had sustained time periods of weeks with over 1 million infections per day. The “area under the curve” is substantially higher, and I refer to these as “surges.”
If one ventures to use this distinction, will Wave 8 be a wave like Waves 1, 2, 3, and 7, or more of a surge with sustained daily infections of >1 million per day?
Remember, the model uses a combination of historical data plus what is happening during the preceding 4 weeks. This means we will know best when a couple weeks out. Beyond 4 weeks, the model is relying heavily on historical data, and the three prior winters (Waves 2, 4, and 6) are very different. Wave 4 is an outlier among the waves, obviously. Wave 2 was more typical of a non-winter wave. Wave 6 (surge) piggybacked on Wave 5 (surge) and may have been unique in that regard due to any fleeting population-level immunity. My model suggests we’re headed toward a surge slightly bigger than last year, and I could see that, because any fleeting immunity from Wave 7 is likely less than that derived from Wave 5, and people are not up-to-date on vaccinations. Other behavioral precautions are similar for this versus last winter: mostly non-existent. However, the model does not capture any of that. It’s predicting worse (more infections) than last year because it’s influenced by the BA.1 wave.
Acknowledging that, I suspect we will peak slightly lower than Wave 6, perhaps around the 1.5 million infections/day rate. Anything between Wave 2 and a 20% bigger version of Wave 6, I would consider a reasonable estimate at this point.
Although only at the start of the 8th wave, transmission is already high on Nov 13.
Large groups amplify transmission. For example, in a group of 20, there's about a 25% chance someone would have infectious C19. In a large lecture hall, it's assumed.
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Here's an update on the danger of a #Thanksgiving gathering in the U.S. (Nov 23).
In a large gathering of 15-20 people, there's about a 25% chance someone would be infectious. I remain quite confident in these numbers, virtually identical to last week's forecast.
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Here's an updated estimate on the possible danger of a #Christmas gathering in the U.S. (Dec 25).
I am exceedingly cautious on posting long-range forecasts.
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More...
They are speculative and do not account for the highly-valuable near-term fluctuations that can occur, particularly if there's an immune-evasive variant.
Take these as my best point estimates nearly two months out, for illustrative purposes just so people get an idea of how bad things may be. Many people are booking trips now, so these rough estimates may be useful. These estimates are virtually identical to those in the forecast from last week.
In a small gathering of 9-10 people, there's about a 25% chance someone is infectious. Once you start looking at large family or multi-family gatherings that span 20-25 people, you basically begin to assume someone has infectious C19.
Here's the full PMC Dashboard for Nov 13.
You can read the full report at
Please share across other social media platforms. Much appreciated. 🙏
The relative "lull" in SARS-CoV-2 transmission is unlikely to go much lower.
✨1 in 209 people are estimated actively infectious, likely the lowest levels of 2025 nationwide.
Get boosted. Stock up on masks, tests, & filters.
PMC COVlD Update, Nov 3, 2025 (U.S.)
2 of 9 🧵
No data presently suggest the rise of a winter wave any earlier than "usual."
If following historical trends, transmission will pick up Nov 15-29. Last year's rise was atypically late.
PMC COVlD Update, Nov 3, 2025 (U.S.)
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Expect rising misinformation/disinformation as transmission heats up:
🔹Abuse of community notes, particularly surrounding wastewater methodology
🔹Paid bot army attacks, especially about boosters & masks
Transmission typically accelerates in mid-November.
We are currently in a relative 'lull.' We estimate about a quarter-million new daily infections with 1 in 185 people actively infectious. Still bad, likely to get worse.
1/9 🧵
PMC COVlD Update, Oct 27, 2025 (US)
Our forecast through November 8 calls for flat transmission.
Nothing yet indicates the onset of a winter wave, but it would also be atypical for the lull to last much longer than another 2-3 weeks.
2/9 🧵
PMC COVlD Update, Oct 27, 2025 (US)
We estimate 264,000 new daily infections during this 'lull' period.
Biobot data have returned. Our substitute data from WWS last week correlated r=.97 (near perfect) with that, but Biobot did retroactively increase recent estimates.
SARS-CoV-2 transmission has fallen.
🔹1 in 191 (0.5%) actively infectious
🔹"Lull" levels at 20% of the summer peak
🔹255,000 new daily infections (still concerning)
Many will knock out higher-risk activities the next 2-4 weeks.
🧵1/11
PMC COVlD Update, Oct 20, 2025 (U.S.)
"Lull" transmission remains dangerous:
🔹1.8 million estimated new weekly infections
🔹>90,000 estimated new #LongCOVID conditions from this week's infections
🔹>500 excess deaths to result from this week's infections
🧵2/11
PMC COVlD Update, Oct 20, 2025 (U.S.)
Exposure risk during "lull" transmission remains high when engaging in many social interactions.
Interacting with 25 people yields a 12% chance of exposure. 100 people? 41% chance of exposure, assuming no testing/isolation.
The PMC website includes an international directory of websites with COVlD wastewater monitoring. It is more up to date than the directories of the EU and WHO.
Let's review what's happening in Europe...
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Data in #Austria show a rising COVlD wave. The x axis (bottom) has infrequent labels, but the data shown go through October 8th.
An estimated 1 in 81 people are actively infectious during the ongoing 11th wave.
The "shutdown" has created a blackout at the state level.
Transmission is half that of the peak one month ago, and we anticipate a relative national "lull" in early-to-mid November, albeit still at dangerous levels.
Our model uses a combination of CDC and Biobot data, so we are able to estimate national statistics despite the CDC data going offline. On the map, note that Puerto Rico continues to update; they use a CDC-style system but were dropped by the CDC long ago. For full methodology, review the technical appendix on the website.
PMC COVlD Update, Week of Oct 6, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵2/9
#DuringCOVID is today. We estimate >600,000 new daily infections. This is about half the peak on September 6.
Notice current levels are similar to the estimated peaks of the first 3 waves.
PMC COVlD Update, Week of Oct 6, 2025 (U.S.)
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Weekly estimates:
🔹4.5 million infections
🔹>200,000 resulting long-term health conditions
🔹>1,300 resulting excess deaths
Key points in my letter to the pharmacy boards. 🧵1/7
Georgia law indicates that the pharmacy board is to follow ACIP. They do not dictate further nuance. Georgia continues to require prescriptions, going against the spirit of the law, ACIP, and 47 other states.
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Louisiana law tells the pharmacy board to follow ACIP. ACIP says do not require a prescription, and 47 other states agree.
The Louisiana pharmacy board continues to require a prescription.