ESCANABA — The amount of detectable DNA from the virus responsible for COVID-19 in Escanaba’s wastewater rose significantly between the first week of December and the first week of January — a trend that appears to be waning despite the number of cases still being high.

According to the Sentinel Wastewater Epidemiology Evaluation Project (SWEEP), the sample collected at the Escanaba Wastewater Treatment Plant on Dec. 2, 2024 contained less viral DNA than all other samples taken at the plant since the city began participating in SWEEP in August of 2021. On Jan. 2 of this year, the sample from the wastewater plant contained more viral DNA than 73% of all samples from the site.

According to the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, which tracks new COVID-19 infections identified in healthcare settings across the state, there were 48 new cases in Delta County the week of Jan. 4, which overlaps with the latest SWEEP sample. That number started to drop the following week, reaching 45 new cases the week of Jan. 11 and 42 cases last week, the week of Jan. 18.

For the week of Jan. 18, Delta County saw an average of six confirmed cases a day.

The total number of cases for each of the three weeks of January were higher than anything seen in December. The highest number of cases in December was reported the week of Dec. 28, when 28 new cases were identified.

The information from MDHHS does not show the whole picture for COVID-19 cases. During the early part of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, all testing for the disease was done in healthcare settings or at special testing sites and confirmed cases were reported to the state for tracking. After the advent of home testing, there was no requirement — or mechanism — to report positive cases, leaving many cases unreported.

Still, MDHHS’ numbers serve as a barometer of COVID-19 infections. Cases identified in asymptomatic individuals who are tested as part of routine care are included in the data, but an increase in confirmed cases may also indicate an increase in the severity of cases, as sick individuals seek treatment for their illness.

For the entirety of the Upper Peninsula, the number of confirmed cases by MDHHS for the week of Jan. 18 is as follows:

Gogebic – 14

Ontonagon – 0

Houghton – 11

Keweenaw – 0

Iron – 3

Baraga – 2

Dickinson – 7

Marquette – 18

Menominee – 12

Delta – 42

Alger – 1

Schoolcraft – 1

Luce – 4

Mackinac – 2

Chippewa – 17