A crucial tool for monitoring the rate of COVID circulation shows that levels of the virus have risen to “very high” or “high” levels in more than half of the country’s states, including three in New England, the CDC said.
Wastewater surveillance data compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows COVID prevalence has reached “very high” levels in seven states, including California, Texas and Florida.
Another 19 states are recording “high” levels, including New Hampshire, Maine and Connecticut.
The national wastewater monitoring program is considered an early warning system because an increase in the virus that causes COVID-19 often precedes an increase in hospitalizations and confirmed cases.
National data shows a steady increase in COVID cases over the past 45 days. The most recent data for Massachusetts indicate “moderate” levels of COVID, the CDC said. Citing state data, the Globe reported last week that the state’s COVID-19 numbers are below last winter’s peak but increasing.
As of July 10, COVID levels in wastewater in Boston and areas north and west of the city were more than triple what they were in late April. Cases were also rising, according to the Department of Public Health’s latest update on July 3.
The department said it has stopped reporting respiratory diseases, including COVID, until August 1, but that monitoring activities will continue.
The new CDC report names Oregon, Nevada and Florida as the states with the highest levels of COVID in wastewater, followed by California, Texas, Arkansas and Maryland.
Vermont has “moderate” levels of the virus circulating, while Rhode Island is seeing “low” levels, the CDC said.
This report uses information from previous Globe reports.
John R. Ellement can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @JREbosglobe.