Report on US COVID-19 Surveillance Data and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3

Executive Summary: Monitoring Communicable Disease for SDG 3

This report analyzes recent data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concerning COVID-19 activity. The findings are framed within the context of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), primarily SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being. While national COVID-19 activity remains low, emerging upward trends in key indicators underscore the critical importance of sustained public health surveillance to meet SDG Target 3.3, which aims to end epidemics of communicable diseases, and SDG Target 3.d, which focuses on strengthening capacity for early warning and management of global health risks.

Analysis of Early Warning Indicators per SDG Target 3.d

The CDC’s use of multiple early indicators reflects a robust public health infrastructure essential for strengthening the capacity for early warning and risk reduction, as mandated by SDG Target 3.d. Recent data points include:

• Emergency Department (ED) Visits: Nationally, ED visits for COVID-19 are at a low level of 0.5%. However, a 10.9% increase from the previous week, with a notable rise among children aged four and under, signals a potential shift that requires close monitoring to protect vulnerable populations and ensure equitable health outcomes.
• Test Positivity: The national test positivity rate has risen to 4.8%, an increase of 1.1 percentage points from the prior week. This metric is a fundamental component of disease surveillance necessary for achieving SDG 3.

Wastewater Surveillance and Regional Health Disparities

Wastewater surveillance serves as a vital, non-invasive early warning system, contributing directly to the goals of both SDG 3 and SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities) by monitoring community health at a population level.

1. National Trend: SARS-CoV-2 detections in wastewater have transitioned from a “very low” to a “low” level nationally, indicating a subtle but widespread increase in viral circulation.
2. Regional Hotspots: The data reveals significant regional disparities, a key challenge in achieving the universal health coverage embedded in SDG 3. The highest detection levels are currently observed in the West and South regions.
3. State-Level Concerns: Several states report wastewater detection levels categorized as “high,” highlighting areas where public health resources may need to be focused to prevent larger outbreaks. These states include:
   • California
   • Florida
   • Hawaii
   • Louisiana
   • Nevada
   • South Carolina
   • Texas

Data Gaps and Implications for SDG Progress

A notable challenge to comprehensive risk assessment is the lack of updated viral variant data from the CDC since mid-June. Timely genomic sequencing is crucial for understanding transmission dynamics and vaccine effectiveness, directly impacting the ability to manage health risks as outlined in SDG Target 3.d. Continued investment in data infrastructure is essential for maintaining progress toward global health security and the broader 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

  The article is fundamentally about public health and disease surveillance. It discusses the rise in COVID-19 infections, a communicable disease, and the systems in place to monitor its spread. This directly aligns with SDG 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages, including the prevention and treatment of epidemics.

What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.

   The article’s entire focus is on monitoring the activity of COVID-19, a communicable disease. The efforts by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to track infections through various data points are a direct action toward combating and managing the spread of such a disease, which is the core objective of this target.

2. Target 3.d: Strengthen the capacity of all countries, in particular developing countries, for early warning, risk reduction and management of national and global health risks.

   The article explicitly details the use of “early indicators” to monitor COVID-19 trends. The mention of tracking emergency department visits, test positivity, and especially “wastewater SARS-CoV-2 detections” as an “early marker” showcases a sophisticated public health system for early warning and risk management. The CDC’s regular “respiratory virus updates” is a clear example of a national capacity to manage health risks, as specified in this target.

Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. Emergency department visits for COVID

   The article explicitly mentions this as an “early indicator.” It provides specific data points that can be used for measurement: a national rate of 0.5% and a weekly increase of 10.9%. This serves as a direct metric for tracking the disease’s impact on the healthcare system.

2. Test positivity rate

   This is another direct indicator mentioned in the article. The text states the national test positivity is “now at 4.8%, up 1.1 percentage points from the previous week.” This quantifiable data point is used to measure the prevalence of the virus among those being tested.

3. Wastewater SARS-CoV-2 detections

   The article highlights this as a key “early marker.” While it uses qualitative levels (“very low,” “low,” “high”), these levels are based on quantitative data and are used to track community transmission trends before they appear in clinical settings. The identification of specific states at a “high level” (California, Florida, Hawaii, etc.) demonstrates its use as a geographical indicator.

4. National Public Health Surveillance and Reporting Capacity

   This is an implied indicator for Target 3.d. The existence of the CDC’s “respiratory virus updates” and the systematic collection and reporting of the data mentioned (emergency visits, wastewater, test positivity) demonstrate the country’s capacity for early warning and risk management. The article’s note that variant proportion projections have not been updated “owing to few sequences reported” also serves as an indicator, highlighting a potential gap or challenge within this capacity.

Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: cidrap.umn.edu