Writer, reviewer, traveler, and book lover. A Bookworm's Guide to the U.S. coming Fall 2027! Represented by Amelia Appel of @TriadaUS.
- Tweets23.9K
- Following677
- Followers2K
- Likes84.3K
ALT Alt text: US COVID-19 heat map dated 12 October 2026, based on CDC wastewater data, last updated 3 October. • Colour scale: Very Low (light blue), Low (green), Moderate (orange), High (red), Very High (purple). • Estimated infection prevalence: Very Low below 0.9%; Low 1.2%; Moderate 2.0%; High 2.9%; Very High above 3.5%. • At least 39 states and territories reportedly have COVID outbreaks. • Very high levels dominate much of the West, Southwest, Texas, Florida and Alaska. • High and moderate levels appear across parts of the Southeast, Northeast and Mountain West. • Many central and northern counties show low or very low levels. • CDC retroactive data corrections suggest an apparent secondary peak. • Poor wastewater monitoring may mean additional outbreaks are being missed.
ALT Alt text: US National COVID-19 Estimates, 12 October 2026, from the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative (PMC) model, pmc19.com. Infections: • 1 in 65 Americans (1.5%) currently infectious. • 759,000 new infections daily. • 5.4 million infections in the past week. • 137 million infections estimated in 2026. • Average cumulative infections per person: 5.57. Estimated Long COVID cases: • From daily infections: 38,000–152,000. • From weekly infections: 270,000–1,080,000. Estimated excess deaths: • From daily infections: 180–330. • From weekly infections: 1,300–2,300. Figures are modelled estimates, not confirmed case counts.
ALT US COVID-19 State Prevalence Estimates, 12 October 2026, from the PMC model. Table covers 25 states and territories, showing wastewater levels, estimated active infections and exposure risks. • Highest: Florida and Hawaii, 1 in 15 infectious (6.7%). • Connecticut: 1 in 20 (5.0%). • California: 1 in 23 (4.3%). • Guam: 1 in 23 (4.3%). • Massachusetts: 1 in 26 (3.8%). • Maryland: 1 in 30 (3.4%). • Louisiana: 1 in 38 (2.6%). • Georgia: 1 in 41 (2.4%). • Lowest: Minnesota, 1 in 222 (0.5%). • Other states range from 0.7% to 2.1%. • In Florida and Hawaii, estimated chance of someone being infectious exceeds 99% in a room of 100 people. • Notes: CDC revised wastewater categories downward in August 2026. Some states have limited reporting. Data last updated 3 October. Figures are modelled estimates.
ALT US COVID-19 State Prevalence Estimates, 12 October 2026, from the PMC model. Table covers 25 states and territories, showing wastewater levels, estimated active infections and exposure risks. - Highest: Texas, 1 in 19 infectious (5.2%). - Puerto Rico: 1 in 21 (4.8%). - Washington: 1 in 21 (4.7%). - New Mexico: 1 in 23 (4.4%). - Nevada: 1 in 28 (3.6%). - Oregon: 1 in 30 (3.3%). - Montana: 1 in 32 (3.1%). - South Carolina: 1 in 36 (2.8%). - Virginia: 1 in 40 (2.5%). - Lowest: Nebraska, North Dakota and Oklahoma, 0.5%. - In Texas, Puerto Rico and Washington, estimated exposure risk exceeds 99% in rooms of 100 people. - CDC revised wastewater categories downward in August 2026. Some areas have limited reporting. Data updated 3 October. Figures are modelled estimates.
ALT COVID-19 Heat Map image by Michael Hoerger and pmc19.com, dated Oct 5, 2026 (page 3). It shows a color-coded U.S. map based on CDC wastewater data. Legend and Risk Tiers: • Very Low (Blue): <0.9% prevalence • Low (Green): 1.2% • Moderate (Orange): 2.0% • High (Red): 2.9% • Very High (Magenta): >3.5% Much of the map is colored red or magenta, showing high to very high transmission across the country. Summary Text: The US has at least 36 states and territories with COVID outbreaks. While the peak has passed, transmission remains high. Outbreak areas listed include Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, and South (text cuts off).
ALT Based on the provided image from the Pandemic Mitigation Collaborative (PMC) Model, here is the detailed alternative text description: An informational graphic titled "National COVID-19 Estimates (U.S.)" dated October 5, 2026, with the source URL pmc19.com listed. The data is broken down into three main sections: Infections • Proportion Actively Infectious: 1 in 124 (0.8%) • New Daily Infections: 396,000 • Infections the Past Week: 2,890,000 • Infections in 2026: 118,000,000 • Cumulative Infections per Person: 5.44 Long COVID • Long COVID Cases Resulting from New Daily Infections: 20,000 to 79,000 • Long COVID Cases Resulting from New Weekly Infections: 145,000 to 580,000 Excess Deaths • Excess Deaths Resulting from New Daily Infections: 100 to 170 • Excess Deaths Resulting from New Weekly Infections: 700 to 1,300 The top right corner indicates this is slide or page number 8.
ALT An image titled "COVID-19 State Prevalence Estimates" from the PMC Model, dated Oct 5, 2026 (page 5). It shows a data table from pmc19.com detailing transmission statistics for U.S. states alphabetically from Alabama to Mississippi. Table Columns: • State name • Standard CDC Level • Revised CDC Level (Downshifted) • PMC Estimate (% Actively Infectious) • Chances anyone is infectious in a room of 10, 25, 50, or 100 people Key Highlights: • Highest Infection Rates: California (3.4%), Connecticut (4.6%), Guam (4.3%), Hawaii (6.7%), Massachusetts (4.5%), and Mississippi (2.8%) are highlighted in red or pink rows indicating high risk. • In Hawaii, the PMC estimate is 1 in 15 people actively infectious, with a >99% chance of someone being infectious in a room of 100 people. Footnotes: A note states that on August 14, 2026, the CDC revised descriptors downward without notice, a practice the author calls "bluewashing".
ALT An image titled "COVID-19 State Prevalence Estimates" from the PMC Model, dated Oct 5, 2026 (page 6). This is part two of a data table from pmc19.com, listing U.S. jurisdictions alphabetically from Missouri to Wyoming. Table Columns: • State name • Standard CDC Level • Revised CDC Level (Downshifted) • PMC Estimate (% Actively Infectious) • Chances anyone is infectious in a room of 10, 25, 50, or 100 people Key Highlights: • Highest Infection Rates: Montana, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, U.S. Virgin Islands, and Washington are highlighted in red or pink rows indicating high risk. • Texas shows 1 in 19 (5.4%) actively infectious, with a >99% chance of an infectious person in a room of 100. • U.S. Virgin Islands shows 1 in 16 (6.2%) actively infectious, with a >99% chance in a room of 100. Footnote: Repeats the note about the CDC downshifting categorical risk descriptors on August 14, 2026.