Chandler Weiner

This is the CDC COVlD map. Two key points. 1) Even w/their downshifted levels (#bluewashing), transmission looks pretty bad. 2) Levels start to tick up historically between mid Nov and early Dec. If that holds, nationally, we are running out of time to get into much of a lull.

PMC estimates that US SARS-CoV-2 transmission is higher than 62% of all days since pandemic onset. We are very much #DuringCOVID. The current wave is atypical in two respects. 1) We have a pronounced double peak. The secondary rise in early October violates historical trends. 2) Real-time data quality are terrible. About 1-in-6 CDC contractor sites are offline while a contractor issue is resolved. Additionally, each of the past 6 weeks, the CDC has retroactively corrected levels upward. The magnitude and scope of the corrections are highly atypical. In each case, the corrections go back until early July. In each case, levels increase about 25-40% between the time they are reported and two weeks later, with additional upward corrections as time goes by. These are not one-off corrections, and hence, not related to the twice-annual calibration process or specific sites coming online. It's basically like a balloon is sitting under the wave, and each week, the balloon gets inflated a little more, pushing each phase of the wave higher and higher, week after week. We've added a new feature to our diagnostic systems and hope to have more insight into that soon. Expect that the wave shape may look vastly different in a couple months when the full delayed data come in. THREAD (2/4)

PMC COVlD Update, Oct 26, 2026 🔥44 states with COVlD outbreaks (see Alt) 🔥Double wave peaks, both at an estimated 950,000 new daily infections 🔥6th week in a row of massive CDC upward retroactive corrections going back to early July THREAD (1/4)

I'm so impressed with CC people in their 20s and 30s. Developmentally, it's just a very difficult time in general, focused on "launching," so there is a lot of pressure surrounding relationships, education, and work. Since pandemic onset, you have lived through immense threats, which much of society stopped acknowledging in 2022. That can create immense stigma, isolation, and alienation. You may be dealing with health issues or caregiving for family earlier than anticipated, or both. These challenges are often much harder if money is especially tight, or you're a part of an underrepresented or minoritized group or groups. It's just difficult in so many way. Anyway, you're the best. I see you. You're way ahead of your time. Keep fighting. 💪😷

CDC Today: COVlD levels remain elevated and stable nationally, amid regional fluctuations. Recent values have been corrected upward, again, meaning late-breaking data are higher than real-time estimates. The PMC interactive map is up to date: pmc19.com/map The PMC home page and report are not updated yet.

When I talk to people about the ongoing impact of COVID, I find it helpful to lead with a concrete, undeniable indicator, which is that there are about 3,000,000 more disabled workers in the US than at pandemic onset.