QuickTake:

Lane County Public Health is monitoring a variety of data sources that together suggest an increase in COVID-19 infections.

An end-of-summer COVID-19 uptick is making people in Lane County sick, according to Lane County Public Health.

A combination of data — from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Oregon State University wastewater sampling and regional emergency departments — shows public health managers a trend that may peak at the end of September.

“When you take [that information together], we see a more rich picture,” said Lane County Public Health spokesperson Jason Davis. “We have a significant number of cases, and they are growing. The good news is the symptoms are increasingly mild, and that is the case with this latest strain.”

Rates of the strain, officially called XFG, have been fluctuating across the United States since June. Many experience a scratchy throat, dry cough and fatigue. 

Here’s the breakdown of what officials are seeing in Lane County as of Sept. 2, according to Davis. 

  • CDC data: Nearly 11% of COVID tests taken in Oregon hospitals came back positive during the last week in August, data from CDC showed. Officials said those tests are primarily from patients in hospitals and outpatient settings who are considered at higher risk for severe illness. The true rate of infection is probably higher because many cases are not being tested or reported.
  • Wastewater sampling: Another way to identify upticks in COVID is through wastewater testing. Lane County Public Health has worked with Oregon State University’s Wastewater Surveillance Laboratory since 2021 to collect samples from sanitation facilities. Those tests show increasing levels of COVID genetic materials recently, indicating a broader rise in community transmission.
  • Emergency department visits: Regional emergency department visits for respiratory illness in Lane County also rose from 0.5% to 2.5% over four days.

COVID often spikes in late summer and again in December, following the return of students to classrooms and increased indoor gatherings, Davis said. He encouraged residents to practice good hygiene, wear masks when appropriate and stay current on vaccines, including flu and RSV shots.

Ashli Blow brings 12 years of experience in journalism and science writing, focusing on the intersection of issues that impact everyone connected to the land — whether private or public, developed or forested.