Here comes the holiday spike yet again.
Like clockwork, just as we approach Christmas and New Year’s gatherings, the local COVID wastewater data is surging and a new variant is on the rise.
Both the south-of-Boston and north-of-Boston virus wastewater levels have jumped in recent weeks. The COVID wastewater data is the first sign of virus cases in the community.
The south-of-Boston virus wastewater weekly average is now up to 1,435 copies per milliliter, which is double the amount from late November in the days after Thanksgiving. The north-of-Boston average is now 1,123 copies per milliliter — also about double from last month.
Meanwhile, the total number of reported COVID cases have been climbing in Massachusetts during recent weeks, and a new variant is quickly spreading.
“This is a worrisome situation,” said Davidson Hamer, a Boston University School of Public Health infectious diseases specialist, adding, “The rise of the new variant, JN.1, which has been declared a variant of interest by the WHO, is of great concern.”
The World Health Organization anticipates that JN.1 may spark an increase in COVID cases amid a surge of infections of other viral and bacterial infections, especially in countries entering the winter.
“Current vaccines continue to protect against severe disease and death from JN.1 and other circulating variants of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. WHO is continuously monitoring the evidence and will update the JN.1 risk evaluation as needed,” WHO posted.
Most variants of concern never turn out to be a problem, noted Matthew Fox, a Boston University School of Public Health epidemiology professor.
“As of now, we have no reason to believe that it is more transmissible or more severe than the previous omicron variants,” Fox added. “So, I would recommend people take this as an opportunity to get their booster shots and to stay away from people if they become infected. It is always better to be prepared ahead of time.”
Everyone 6 months and older should get an updated COVID vaccine, emphasized Larry Madoff, medical director in the state Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Infectious Disease and Laboratory Sciences.
“It’s not too late to get the updated COVID vaccine,” Madoff said. “There hasn’t been enough uptake of that, even in Massachusetts.”
The Boston Public Health Commission on Wednesday also urged residents to get vaxxed as virus cases and hospitalizations rise before the holidays. Only 15.7% of people in Boston have received the updated COVID vaccine, and only 33.8% of people in the city have received a flu vaccine this season.
“Vaccination is the best way to prevent severe illness and hospitalization from COVID-19, flu and RSV, and it is not too late to protect yourself this season,” said Bisola Ojikutu, BPHC’s executive director. “We encourage residents to take advantage of opportunities for free walk-in COVID-19 vaccination and testing as well as flu shots.”
BPHC is holding a vaccine event at the Bruce C. Bolling Municipal Building in Roxbury this Friday (12-7 p.m.) and Saturday (12-6 p.m.).