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Orange County Florida health officials said there had been a 600% increase in COVID-19 RNA concentration levels detected in area wastewater since sampling began. in mid-May. Speaking at a press conference on Monday, the county public services director called the figures “very high” and “very worrying”.
“Again, the results from the RNA of the virus that we are measuring in sewage indicate that we will see continued clinical cases and hospitalizations this week, even beyond what was reported this weekend.” said Ed Torres, director of Orange County Utilities. “Please, we urge you to get vaccinated and to continue to take the appropriate precautions.”
Orange County is one of dozens of people participating in national wastewater monitoring in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Sampling SARS-CoV-2 RNA in water can help predict viral spread and where an impending outbreak could occur.
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Torres said having advance notice of where to expect an increase in disease can help officials prepare resources in advance to help quell the spread.
He said concentration levels have increased in recent weeks.
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The region, home to around 1.4 million people, has seen more than 65% of people aged 12 and older receive at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings said earlier at the press conference that 14-day COVID-19 positivity “stabilizes” at 20% and deaths continue to rise.
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