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Augie Ray profile picture
Augie Ray
@Augie Ray

Semi-retired consultant and advisor on #CustomerExperience (#CX) and Voice of the Customer (#VoC). Former Gartner and Forrester analyst. Politically active to foster a world that has more #equity, respects #diversity, and embraces #progressive causes. Promoting #COVID19 awareness and caution because people, businesses, and the economy will suffer consequences for our failures to limit infections. Milwaukee, WI, US (He/Him)

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Recent Notes

Augie Ray profile picture
I continue to track #COVID19 in US wastewater. Per WastewaterSCAN, COVID has been lower than current levels for just 5 weeks since 2020.

It is one-third lower than it's ever been since 2021.

And it is 75% lower than it's ever been since 2022.

We're approaching the longest lull of the pandemic.

And the past month has seen the steadiest levels of COVID of the pandemic.

No sign of a summer surge—yet.

https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker?charts=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%3D&selectedChartId=f0889c

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Marcus · 5w
nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqs69n4td37hpm4q2hf6ar4dj2e52lnyp0n3y50htyd9vqkw406v8qcfjv0l Continue to be very encouraged by this news
Augie Ray profile picture
Nothing says “art of the deal” like telling the nation with whom you started a needless war that you find negotiations "very boring” and “couldn't care less” if the talks break down.

We had Iran contained and monitored with an open Strait of Hormuz, and thanks to Trump's war, we're going to leave Iran empowered and controlling a portion of the world's oil supply. Brilliant!

https://www.nytimes.com/2026/06/01/us/politics/trump-iran-negotiations-boring.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share
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Frank Frank · 6w
nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqs69n4td37hpm4q2hf6ar4dj2e52lnyp0n3y50htyd9vqkw406v8qcfjv0l It's a Reputinikkklan thing. With the alleged 537 vote win for G.W. Bush in Florida 2000, (With his Guv brother Jeb!, & Secretary of State, Katherine Harris, & fk'd up 'Butterfly Ballo...
Augie Ray profile picture
STUDY finds those with LC have more prodromal symptoms (possible warning signs) of Parkinson's Disease:

"Long COVID was associated with a 73% higher burden of potential prodromal PD-like features. Among those with long COVID, emergence or exacerbation of post-infection DEBs (dream-enactment behaviours) further increased this burden by 38%. Our study suggested that long COVID is associated with an increased burden of prodromal PD-like features."

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/jsr.70371
Rev. Robodummy · 6w
nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqs69n4td37hpm4q2hf6ar4dj2e52lnyp0n3y50htyd9vqkw406v8qcfjv0l woah. wtf is that costing us?!
Augie Ray · 7w
According to WastewaterSCAN, #COVID19 is still declining slowly. This is not quite the longest lull we've ever had, but it is the lowest since 2021. Date of our lowest spring reading each year before...
 Augie Ray profile picture
Augie Ray @Augie Ray
On a related note, the Biofire Syndromic Trends dashboard shows a positive rate of testing of just 0.7%. The dashboard only shows a year of prior data, but I am 95% sure that's the lowest positive rate we've seen in five years. (Yes, testing rates are down, and this is a weak signal, but it's worth noting for its correlation with #COVID19 in wastewater.)

I'm sure we'll see a summer surge, but hopefully it'll be the lowest surge yet.

https://www.syndromictrends.com/

Augie Ray profile picture
According to WastewaterSCAN, #COVID19 is still declining slowly. This is not quite the longest lull we've ever had, but it is the lowest since 2021.

Date of our lowest spring reading each year before the summer surge began:
2026: Still ongoing
2025: May 20
2024: April 18
2023: June 16
2022L March 21
2021: June 3

The latest reading is preliminary and subject to change, but it's 75% below the lowest levels seen in the prior 4 years.

https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker?charts=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&selectedChartId=73c782

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Augie Ray · 7w
On a related note, the Biofire Syndromic Trends dashboard shows a positive rate of testing of just 0.7%. The dashboard only shows a year of prior data, but I am 95% sure that's the lowest positive rate we've seen in five years. (Yes, testing rates are down, and this is a weak signal, but it's worth ...
Augie Ray · 7w
I'm struggling with the criticism I'm getting for sharing upbeat #COVID19 news. For years, I probed data and shared accurate analysis showing COVID risks were higher than most thought. Many people li...
 Augie Ray profile picture
Augie Ray @Augie Ray
I'm not saying COVID is gone or you shouldn't be cautious. I think it's vital people have the freedom to do what they think is right for their and their families' health. But doing the right thing requires valid information, and I'd hope by providing that, I help people.

COVID is going to surge again. The question is if we'll continue the trend to lower surges and a safer world, or will that reverse? I'll still be watching. I just hope people will accept good news as eagerly as they do bad. 2/2
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David Njoku · 7w
nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqs69n4td37hpm4q2hf6ar4dj2e52lnyp0n3y50htyd9vqkw406v8qcfjv0l Ever since Covid was politicised, the reaction to it from both sides has made no sense. When, recently, the WHO announced that it was unlikely that hantavirus would lead to a pandemic...
Augie Ray profile picture
I'm struggling with the criticism I'm getting for sharing upbeat #COVID19 news.

For years, I probed data and shared accurate analysis showing COVID risks were higher than most thought. Many people liked and reposted me.

Today, I share that COVID is far lower than it's been in six years after two years of consecutively declining surges, and people act like I'm a COVID minimizer.

Same guy, same data, same analysis. If you welcomed my concern, I hope you'd equally embrace my optimism. 1/2
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Augie Ray · 7w
I'm not saying COVID is gone or you shouldn't be cautious. I think it's vital people have the freedom to do what they think is right for their and their families' health. But doing the right thing requires valid information, and I'd hope by providing that, I help people. COVID is going to surge aga...
fedithom · 7w
nostr:nprofile1qy2hwumn8ghj7un9d3shjtnyd968gmewwp6kyqpqs69n4td37hpm4q2hf6ar4dj2e52lnyp0n3y50htyd9vqkw406v8qcfjv0l I for one appreciate both what you've done and what you do. Sorry you're going through this.
Augie Ray profile picture
“Iran will emerge from the conflict many times stronger and more influential than it was before the war. It will exercise leverage with dozens of the richest nations in the world, all of which will have an acute interest in keeping Iran happy… Most likely, the new normal in the Persian Gulf will be chronic instability and frequent disruptions in shipping. That’s what happens when the hegemon cedes hegemony.”

- Robert Kagan, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution

https://www.theatlantic.com/international/2026/05/trump-surrender-iran-endgame/687252/?gift=hVZeG3M9DnxL4CekrWGK3z7P5ziNahM4p4Y6XS3ozvg&utm_source=copy-link&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=share
Augie Ray profile picture
I track #COVID19 in wastewater in my city, Milwaukee.

I am amazed at not just how low COVID has dropped, but how consistent it is staying. In the past, we might see a single reading below 10 M Gene:PMMoV followed by higher readings as data varies from one test to another. But we've now posted three weeks of the lowest and most consistent readings on record in our city.

I'm anxious to see what happens in June and July (typically summer surge season.)

https://city.milwaukee.gov/coronavirus/Wastewater-Dashboard
Augie Ray profile picture
I made my first post in over a month about #COVID19 risks in the US. It's not that risks are high—they remain near historic lows, and that's partially why I posted. Moreover, after seeing someone claim there were no studies on those who were vaccinated or not against COVID, I felt obligated to share a LENGTHY list of studies that demonstrate the health benefits of being vaccinated.

I hope this is interesting and helpful.

https://medium.com/@augieray_66704/update-on-covid-19s-near-record-lows-in-the-us-along-with-research-on-covid-19-vaccinations-7e900a365611