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Earlier today, I posted that #COVID19 in wastewater has been low steady for six weeks or so--steadier then it's even been.
The same is true of positive rate. According to Biofire, the positive rate of testing for COVID has remained low and rock-solid steady.
I'd expect to see both COVID in wastewater and the positive rate to rise at the start of our summer surge. No sign thus far.
The positive rate was 3x higher a year ago and 6x higher two years ago on this date.
I'm not saying there is NO risk. I'd still advise masking in crowds. But "countless" deaths and disables? No.
Someone dying from a FIFA COVID infection is possible. A handful may suffer disability from an infection they got at an event. But more will die or be disabled from accidents going to and from games than from COVID.
People accept risks like this all the time to enjoy life. It's their choice, as it is yours to take care. If you want more people to care, be objective and exaggerate less.
I hope to keep posting about COVID, but at some point, if it's evident COVID will remain low and I tire of ridiculous criticism, I might stop.
You can urge people to be COVID-cautious without attacking anyone or exagerrating the risks. If you think any sane person will listen and react positively to you saying “countless people will die or be disabled" because of events in 2026, you're wrong. Talk like this only makes people think the COVID-cautious are obsessed and worth ignoring. 2/2
A scientist I follow who posts a lot about genomic sequencing spoke about his enthusiasm to test wastewater in cities hosting FIFA. A COVID-cautious account lashed out at him, claiming he was excited to “advance his career” and that “countless people will end up dead and disabled” as a result of COVID's spread at FIFA.
The attacks by COVID-cautious on people sharing data and facts is problematic. I'm tired of getting criticism for factual and objective posts about COVID risks in 2026.
1/2
It's idiotic--Meloni was one of Trump's strongest supporters in Europe, and let's face it, the man hardly needs to be "begged" to take a photo. She felt insulted and pushed back. Italy canceled a visit from Italy’s foreign minister. And now Trump's fragile little ego is causing him to double-down on the insults and lies, once again weaking US ties with allies in Europe.
3/4
https://apnews.com/article/trump-meloni-nato-italy-g7-photo-ab350c75202462f5da33a1eb0a761dd1
President Donald Trump is lashing out at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni once more. Trump is insisting she asked “over and over” for a photo with him at the recent Group of Seven summit in France and he's criticizing what he says was Italy’s lack of cooperation during the Iran war. Trump's remarks on social media Saturday are deepening the spat between the allies. Meloni has called Trump's claim “completely fabricated," and is now saying that Trump's “constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless.” The dustup led Italy’s foreign minister to cancel a planned trip to the United States.
Trump's ego is so huge and confidence so miniscule, he makes up stories about people praising him. Often, his stories are vague, such as people randomly telling him he's the best president, the smartest person, or the most powerul leader ever. But his tendency to make up stories to inflate his ego can bite him and the US.
He recently claimed Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni “begged” him for a photo, sparking what is turning into an international confrontation. 2/4
Having a president who cares about his ego and not the nation should concern even those in red hats. Trump acquiesces to anyone who sucks up to him, be it a corporate CEO or a foreign dictator. His cabinet meetings are cringeworthy, as every cabinet secretary takes their turn giving Trump the most ridiculous and effusive praise (“You have changed America and created the golden age,” said Scott Bessent, and Kristi Noem once gushed, “You kept the hurricanes away.”)
1/4
https://apnews.com/article/trump-meloni-nato-italy-g7-photo-ab350c75202462f5da33a1eb0a761dd1
President Donald Trump is lashing out at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni once more. Trump is insisting she asked “over and over” for a photo with him at the recent Group of Seven summit in France and he's criticizing what he says was Italy’s lack of cooperation during the Iran war. Trump's remarks on social media Saturday are deepening the spat between the allies. Meloni has called Trump's claim “completely fabricated," and is now saying that Trump's “constant, unprovoked attacks are senseless.” The dustup led Italy’s foreign minister to cancel a planned trip to the United States.
This spring's #COVID19 lull is very notable.
Between Spring 2022 and Spring 2025 (last year), the lowest level of COVID in wastewater was 91 PMMoV. We've been below that for 4 months.
Between Spring 2022 and Spring 2026 (this year), the lowest was 47 PMMoV. We've been below that for 10 weeks.
We've never had a steady period. COVID levels were always in flux--until now. For the past month, we've remain flat between 13 and 15 PMMov.
Still no sign of a summer surge.
