COVID-19 levels in Bloomington wastewater data jumped significantly over last week, amid a national wave in infections and the return of IU students to campus.
The spike appears to be the largest in two years. While infections are rising, deaths and hospitalizations from the disease have remained low in Indiana., according to the Indiana Department of Health’s dashboard,
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, wastewater data can show traces of diseases circulating, even when symptoms aren’t largely present. National wastewater data shows a similar jump in infections.
Updated vaccines that better target the most recent strains of COVID-19 are beginning to reach Bloomington. Right now, the dominant variant is KP.3.1.1, which scientists say could be more infectious than recent strains.
The IU Student Health Center will receive a shipment of updated vaccines within a week, Executive Director Pete Grogg said in an email.
He also encouraged students to stay up-to-date with their vaccines, and take advantage of the Student Health Center’s services, “where you can be examined, tested, and treated in typically one visit.”
The average cost of COVID-19 tests, as of last year, was $11. The federal government is also reviving a program to send out testing kits. U.S. households will be able to order four free kits starting late next month.
CVS locations in Bloomington, a company spokesperson said, should be receiving updated vaccines “within the next day or two.”
However, the CVS locations, on the west side and South Walnut Street, according to the company’s automated voice system over the phone, have the updated vaccines already. Walk-ins are available, but the company encourages people to schedule online or through the CVS app.
The Kroger Pharmacy on the south side of town said it will receive updated Pfizer vaccines on Tuesday and updated Moderna vaccines later this week. The Kroger Pharmacy in downtown Bloomington expects deliveries of both updated vaccines next week.
Pharmacy technicians said that information on updated vaccines will be available through the company’s online scheduler. They encouraged walk-ins.
The Kroger by College Mall doesn’t know when it will receive the vaccines, and the Kroger locations on the west and north sides of town did not respond to questions by the time of publication. The Indiana Daily Student will update this article when information becomes available.
