Wastewater suggests Omicron is receding in US cities

Samples from wastewater taken from 83 US cities suggests the latest surge of COVID-19 cases caused by the Omicron variant may have already peaked in major urban areas but is on the rise in rural communities.New York, Boston, Denver, the Twin Cities of Minneapolis and St.

Paul, and San Diego have all likely peaked, according to virus detected in sewage samples. In the Twin Cities, Minnesota Public Radio reports that Omicron cases likely peaked on Jan 10 and have been declining since that date based on sewage samples.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC's) National Wastewater Surveillance System (NWSS), "SARS-CoV-2 can be shed in the feces of individuals with symptomatic or asymptomatic infection; therefore, wastewater surveillance can capture data on both types of infection."In Illinois, Chicago health officials say Omicron cases have likely peaked in their city.

According to the Associated Press, test positivity peaked at nearly 20% on Jan 1, and is about 13% this week. Daily cases have dropped to 3,000 per day, down from 8.500 on Jan 4.The United States reported 979,920 new COVID-19 cases yesterday and 3,810 deaths, according to the Johns Hopkins COVID-19 tracker.

The totals for the nation stand at 69,062,304 cases, including 859,503 deaths.Americans perceive pandemic worseningMore Americans are worried about the pandemic now than in the fall of 2021, according to a new Gallup poll conducted from Jan 4 to 11.Seventy-two percent of Americans reported wearing a mask outside the home that week, and 56% said they were avoiding large crowds.