BOSTON — Boston’s wastewater samples are starting to show a rise in covid levels, perhaps predicting another wave is beginning. A new covid variant is starting to spread, but it isn’t causing severe illness.
Experts look at the sewage data, which is the earliest sign of how cases are trending in the community. According to the latest data from the covid wastewater tracker, measurements taken in both the north and south Boston regions are back up to the levels from the first week of February. The data also shows levels have gone up about 150% since the start of March, but they are still well below levels during the omicron peak.
Doctors say so far this variant causes a milder disease. And that seems to be the case so far according to the state’s numbers. There are only 224 patients in hospitals across the state with covid. The seven-day average for covid cases is 859, which has only crept up slightly since the seven-day average in mid-March was about 600 confirmed cases.
This comes as most mask mandates have been lifted. Doctors continue to urge older people and those with weak immune systems to continue to be extra careful.
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