Over the past 4 weeks, Massachusetts nursing facilities have seen an uptick in resident COVID-19 cases per CDC NHSN data. Nursing facilities are reminded to remain diligent in their infection control practices to limit the spread of COVID-19 to residents and staff. At the expiration of the PHE, DPH released guidance on Organizational Policies and Procedures for Mitigating Respiratory Illness. Nursing facilities must continue to identify and monitor respiratory illness metrics to indicate when there are increased levels which may necessitate implementing these infection control measures. One possible metric is the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) Wastewater COVID-19 Tracking which measures the SARS-CoV2 levels. The data as of July 18, 2024 is found in the table below.
![mwra july 2024](/sites/default/files/styles/large/public/images/mwra%20july%202024.jpg?itok=GJVXmogj)
Additionally, DPH has transitioned to a Respiratory Illness Dashboard which provides information on respiratory illness (COVID-19, influenza and RSV) cases including emergency room visits and hospitalizations.