Mike Hoerger, PhD MSCR MBA Profile picture
Sep 10, 2024 7 tweets 4 min read Read on X
PMC COVID-19 Forecasting Model, Sept 9, 2024
🧵1/7

Nationally, we appear to have passed the peak of our late-summer wave, and it's not pretty.

At peak:
🔹>1.3 million daily infections
🔹2.8% (1 in 36) actively infectious
🔹Transmission higher than 90.5% of the pandemic

We are showing a peak around Aug 10, but as you look closely at the graph and in later Tweets, you'll see it was bimodal, with near-identical transmission on Aug 10 and Aug 24.

The CDC consistently corrects historical data, so in hindsight, we might expect the official peak date to flip to the 24th, or for the stats on the 10th to jump higher.

We had expected that Friday's data release might show this was the largest summer peak all-time (by the slimmest of margins), but the prior week's data were retroactively corrected downward by about 5%.

This is a common occurrence, which is why it's important to focus on the big-picture forecast (very bad transmission the remainder of 2024) as opposed to minute details.

Let's walk through the details in this Thread....Figure shows the 9 waves of the U.S. COVID-19 pandemic. We are in the 5th-largest wave, and the 2nd largest summer wave. The statistics in the Tweet summarize the peak of the current wave.
PMC COVID-19 Forecasting Model, Sept 9, 2024
🧵2/7

The current year-over-year graph on Covid transmission is troubling. We just had the worst August of Covid transmission in the U.S.

We are likely to have our worst September, worst October, and potentially worst November of transmission.

We expect to bottom out around 850,000 daily infections in early November, before the winter surge picks up.

These new monthly records for Covid transmission are the consequence of #LaissezFairePublicHealth, especially the 1-day isolation policy, but more generally that public health officials are not describing transmission frankly and the need for multi-layered mitigation.Graph of year-over-year transmission. The current surge appears to have peaked, just under the daily peak of the 2022 summer wave, and is setting the stage for four months of monthly records in transmission, based on year-over-year monthly comparisons.
PMC COVID-19 Forecasting Model, Sept 9, 2024
🧵3/7

Zooming in, see the forest for the trees: About 74 days in a row with 1 million daily infections.

The peak date is somewhat arbitrary, and either Aug 10 or 24 may be estimated the peak in hindsight.Graph shows the prior year of transmission and 1-month forecast. Daily infections will remain >1 million for nearly another month, and are projected to reach 74 days in total.   Once below 1 million, only expect daily infections to get down to about 850,000/day in early November, then get much worse.
PMC COVID-19 Forecasting Model, Sept 9, 2024
🧵4/7

Statistics to reinforce the significance of the ongoing pandemic:
🔹1.1 million daily infections on average the next month
🔹2.2% (1 in 45) actively infectious any given day of the next month
🔹High-risk in classroom-sized settings
🔹>1.5 million resulting Long COVID cases from infections derived during the next monthCurrent Levels for Sep 9, 2024 % of the Population Infectious 2.4% (1 in 41) New Daily Infections 1,157,000  New Weekly Infections 8,099,000  Resulting Weekly Long COVID Cases 405,000 to 1,620,000  Monthly Forecast Average % of the Population Infectious 2.2% (1 in 45) Average New Daily Infections 1,061,933 New Infections During the Next Month 31,858,000 Resulting Monthly Long COVID Cases 1,593,000 to 6,372,000  Running Totals Infections Nationwide in 2024 199,788,000 Average Number of Infections Per Person All-Time, U.S. 3.38  How Does Risk Increase with More Social Contacts? Number of peop...
PMC COVID-19 Forecasting Model, Sept 9, 2024
🧵5/7

This is the current heat map for Covid transmission. We released this Friday, given the ongoing debate about the CDC coloring their map in cool blue using the same data.

PMC COVID-19 Forecasting Model, Sept 9, 2024
🧵6/7

Here are regional estimates of transmission. Note that you can estimate the percent of your state actively infectious by looking up the CDC Level on their website and multiplying it by 0.330.

These are approximate estimates and higher quality in states with more and longer-standing wastewater sites.

Go here, select a state from the drop-down:


For example, in Louisiana the most recently-reported CDC Level is 8.31.

8.31 * 0.330 = 2.74, signifying that 2.74% of the state is estimated to be actively infectious with Covid.

Take 100 divided by that number to get the "1 in ____" statistic. For example, 100/2.74 = 36.45, signifying that 1 in 36 people in Louisiana are estimated to be actively infectious.

Watch your decimals, and remember these formulas can't just be thrown at any random wastewater tracker.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID1…Estimated Percentage Actively Infectious  PMC Model (carries forward to Sept 9) | Raw CDC Data (uses most recent data from the CDC website on Aug 31)  National	2.4% (1 in 41)		2.6% (1 in 39) Northeast	1.7% (1 in 57)		1.8% (1 in 54) Midwest	2.7% (1 in 38)		2.8% (1 in 35) South	2.6% (1 in 38)		2.8% (1 in 36) West	2.9% (1 in 35)		3.0% (1 in 33)
PMC COVID-19 Forecasting Model, Sept 9, 2024
🧵7/7

Here's the complete dashboard. Use, crop, improve, and share as desired across other platforms and the web. Tag me if helpful.

Read the full report and technical appendix online:
pmc19.com/dataDashboard had six areas, summarized in each of the preceding Tweets

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More from @michael_hoerger

Nov 23
PMC COVlD Update, Week of Nov 24, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵1/10

With CDC data operational again, the transmission map is back. The data are always a week old, so transmission is likely worse than depicted.

We estimate 1 in 116 people actively infectious and 422,000 new daily infections. Heat map: Indiana and Arkansas with "moderate" transmission. All others, "low" or "very low" (CDC categories).
PMC COVlD Update, Week of Nov 24, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵2/10

State level estimates are back. Note, the CDC changed their data processing approach in August, which tends to downplay transmission.

Does 1 in 45 in Indiana seem "moderate"?

Levels in MI may be mod/high (poor reporting). Alabama	Very Low	1 in 153 (0.7%) Alaska	Very Low	1 in 272 (0.4%) Arizona	Low	1 in 63 (1.6%) Arkansas	Moderate*	1 in 47 (2.1%) California	Very Low	1 in 365 (0.3%) Colorado	Very Low	1 in 137 (0.7%) Connecticut	Low	1 in 103 (1.0%) Delaware	Very Low	1 in 262 (0.4%) District of Columbia	Very Low	1 in 418 (0.2%) Florida	Very Low	1 in 408 (0.2%) Georgia	Very Low	1 in 292 (0.3%) Guam	Very Low	1 in 887 (0.1%) Hawaii	Very Low	1 in 426 (0.2%) Idaho	Very Low	1 in 116 (0.9%) Illinois	Very Low	1 in 116 (0.9%) Indiana	Moderate	1 in 45 (2.2%) Iowa	Very Low	1 in 108 (0.9%) Kansas	Very Low	1 in 109 (0.9%) Ke...
PMC COVlD Update, Week of Nov 24, 2025 (U.S.)
🧵3/10

State-level estimates (continued).

Current levels may be much higher than noted here. Note that CDC data are always at least a week old. The 2nd half of November is a time period historically of accelerating transmission. Missouri	Very Low	1 in 202 (0.5%) Montana	Very Low*	1 in 114 (0.9%) Nebraska	Low	1 in 95 (1.1%) Nevada	Very Low	1 in 228 (0.4%) New Hampshire	Low	1 in 78 (1.3%) New Jersey	Very Low	1 in 192 (0.5%) New Mexico	Very Low	1 in 151 (0.7%) New York	Very Low	1 in 212 (0.5%) North Carolina	Very Low	1 in 212 (0.5%) North Dakota	Very Low*	1 in 116 (0.9%) Ohio	Very Low	1 in 109 (0.9%) Oklahoma	Low*	1 in 70 (1.4%) Oregon	Very Low	1 in 194 (0.5%) Pennsylvania	Very Low	1 in 111 (0.9%) Rhode Island	Very Low	1 in 167 (0.6%) South Carolina	Very Low	1 in 112 (0.9%) South Dakota	Very Low	1 in 127 (0.8%) Tennes...
Read 10 tweets
Nov 8
PMC COVID Update, Week of Nov 10, 2025 (U.S.)
1/6🧵

🔹301,000 new daily infections based on wastewater-derived models
🔹1 in 162 people (0.6%) actively infectious
🔹Levels the past 2 months corrected upward by Biobot
🔹"Lull point" estimated between Nov 5-21. Rising soon. Year over year graph, emphasizing that levels commonly rise in mid November
PMC COVID Update, Week of Nov 10, 2025 (U.S.)
2/6🧵

The central estimate of the forecast suggests we will surpass 500,000 new daily infections on Nov 22.

There's a 25% chance of a prolonged lull like last year. More likely, we are in wave territory by the end of the month. Close up of the most recent 3 months of data, including the forecast.
PMC COVID Update, Week of Nov 10, 2025 (U.S.)
3/6🧵

We are presently in a lull between the 11th and 12th wave. Now is the time to get boosted and stock up on N95 masks, tests, and air purifier filters.

Do a DIY fit test if you've been putting it off. Graph of the 11 waves
Read 6 tweets
Nov 3
PMC COVlD Update, Nov 3, 2025 (U.S.)
1 of 9 🧵

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. Year-over-year graph
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. Forecasted transmission
PMC COVlD Update, Nov 3, 2025 (U.S.)
3 of 9 🧵

Expect rising misinformation/disinformation as transmission heats up:
🔹Abuse of community notes, particularly surrounding wastewater methodology
🔹Paid bot army attacks, especially about boosters & masks
Read 9 tweets
Oct 28
PMC COVlD Update, Oct 27, 2025 (US)

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 🧵 year over year graph
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 🧵 Graph of recent transmission and current forecast
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.

3/9 🧵 Graph of the 11 waves of the pandemic
Read 9 tweets
Oct 21
PMC COVlD Update, Oct 20, 2025 (U.S.)

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 Graph of the 11 waves, shows current lull.
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 Infections						 Proportion Actively Infectious										1 in 191 (0.5%) New Daily Infections										 255,000  Infections the Past Week										 1,800,000  Infections in 2025										 191,000,000  Cumulative Infections per Person										 4.69  										 Long COVID										 Long COVID Cases Resulting								13,000 to 51,000		   from New Daily Infections										 Long COVID Cases Resulting								90,000 to 360,000		   from New Weekly Infections										 										 Excess Deaths										 Excess Deaths Resulting 									70 to 120	   from New Daily Infections										 Excess Deaths ...
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.

🧵3/11 Number of People		Chances Anyone is Infectious		 1				0.5% 2				1.0% 3				1.6% 4				2.1% 5				2.6% 10				5.1% 15				7.6% 20				10.0% 25				12.3% 30				14.5% 50				23.1% 75				32.5% 100				40.8% 200				64.9% 300				79.2%
Read 11 tweets
Oct 11
PMC COVlD Wave Update (Europe)
11 October 2025 🧵

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...

1/ world map, nations with surveillance shown in blue. URL says pmc19.com/global
Data in #Austria show a rising COVlD wave. The x axis (bottom) has infrequent labels, but the data shown go through October 8th.

Find more here:

2/ pmc19.com/austrialongitudinal graph
COVlD levels have been percolating in #Belgium, with "moderate" levels overall.

The transmission pattern is similar across regions. Plants at Namur-Brumagne and Oostende report "high" levels.



3/ pmc19.com/belgiumheat map and longitudinal graph
Read 20 tweets

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