According to CDC, 32 states are likely seeing an increase in COVID-19 infections in August. Levels of the virus in sewage water – a marker of COVID spreading in communities identified by using wastewater monitoring – are three times higher in August 2024 than one year prior.
Growing awareness in St. Louis
Among St. Louis adults surveyed, 39% had heard about the summer wave of COVID in the last week, and 99% believed it was true. It is the second week in a row that awareness increased.
Why awareness matters
Research shows that as COVID infections increase in a community, residents take more precautions to prevent becoming infected. Health organizations and other community partners in St. Louis can help raise awareness of the COVID surge by sharing the resources below.
Why a summer surge?
In the short history of COVID, cases have typically increased during summertime. Reasons include increased social gatherings and travel, mutation of the COVID virus, and decreasing immunity if vaccines from the prior Fall were built to protect against different variants than are circulating in the summer.
Who is most affected by the summer surge?
For severe cases of COVID, older adults (ages 65+) have the highest hospitalization rates. This helps explain why older adults are so aware of the summer surge. Among 619 survey respondents in five states (CO, MD, MO, NE, TX), adults 50+ were more likely to have heard about the summer COVID surge in the last week than those under 50 (57% vs. 36%). Make sure older adults in your life are taking extra COVID precautions during this summer surge.
Survey information
This week’s report is based on responses from a panel of 619 adult residents of St. Louis, MO (n = 145), Omaha, NE (n = 89), Texas (n = 89), Baltimore, MD (n = 169) and Colorado (n = 127) surveyed August 10 – 12, 2024. Explore these data and more at iHeardSTL.
Download the graphics below to share about this topic. To view more resources related to COVID-19, click here.
Suggested Caption:
Research shows that as COVID infections rise in a community, people take more COVID precautions. What are you doing to keep yourself and your loved ones safe?
An updated COVID-19 vaccine is expected in this Fall. Everyone 6 months and older can get it.
#iHeardSTL #STLHealth #COVID19 #COVIDSummerSurge
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