COVID

Ashish Jha says Mass. needs to ‘pull back’ on indoor dining as the state heads in the ‘wrong direction’ with COVID-19

“Every day, I stare at this wastewater data from Massachusetts and get more and more concerned.”

FILE - In this Sept. 3, 2020, file photo, people dine indoors at The Lot restaurant in San Diego. California Gov. Gavin Newsom has relaxed coronavirus restrictions in five more counties. The announcement on Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020, means the state has now eased restrictions for more than 8 million people living in three of the state's most populous counties — San Diego, Orange and Santa Clara. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File) Gregory Bull / AP, File

By Dialynn Dwyer

October 26, 2020

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Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, has been monitoring the wastewater data from Massachusetts, and he does not like what he’s seeing.

Recent sewer samples from the Greater Boston area are showing evidence of a coronavirus spike in the region.

“Every day, I stare at this wastewater data from Massachusetts and get more and more concerned,” Jha wrote on Twitter Saturday. “This is not about testing or cases. This is about how much infection there is in the community.”

Every day, I stare at this wastewater data from Massachusetts and get more and more concerned

This is not about testing or cases

This is about how much infection there is in the community

In March, we could be excused for being blindsided

What’s our excuse for inaction now? https://t.co/GoUpgvNKbT

— Ashish K. Jha (@ashishkjha) October 24, 2020

Researchers and public health officials have been using wastewater to monitor for the spread of COVID-19 during the pandemic. Since people infected can shed virus particles through their waste — whether or not they are experiencing symptoms — the wastewater provides an opportunity for officials to catch an outbreak early, according to NPR.

Wastewater samples taken last week from the weekly study by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority revealed the highest amounts of the virus since the pandemic’s surge in the spring.

In recent weeks, Massachusetts has seen the daily number of coronavirus cases increase, with the state reporting 1,097 new cases on Sunday. Hospitalizations, too, are up.

As far as what is driving the rise in cases in the state, Jha pointed to gatherings in homes, parties, the expansion of indoor dining, and complacency.

The doctor praised Gov. Charlie Baker for his leadership during the pandemic, but stressed the Bay State is heading in the “wrong direction.”

“It’s time to redouble efforts to curtail spread,” Jha wrote. “Pull back on indoor gatherings including dining. More testing. And let’s do better communicating what is high risk and how to avoid it.”

All data from @COVID19Tracking. 7-day moving avgs

6 weeks ago, Massachusetts had:

323 daily new infections
331 people in hospital
12 people dying every day

Today?

937 daily new infections (up nearly 3 fold)
532 folks in hospital (up 58%)
17 people dying daily (up 37%)

2/3

— Ashish K. Jha (@ashishkjha) October 25, 2020

Things in MA heading in wrong direction@CharlieBakerMA has been excellent on the pandemic

Its time to redouble efforts to curtail spread

Pull back on indoor gatherings including dining

More testing

And lets do better communicating what is high risk and how to avoid it

Fin

— Ashish K. Jha (@ashishkjha) October 25, 2020

Last week, 77 communities in the state were designated as being at high risk for the virus, with 14 new municipalities gaining the designation from the previous week. Those communities designated as high risk, or “red” on the state’s map of coronavirus risk, have seen more than eight COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents on average per day in the previous two weeks.