“They had to increase the Y axis”

The Boston-area COVID-19 sewage tracker is skyrocketing to “insane” and “frightening” levels as the extraordinarily contagious omicron variant spreads at an astronomical rate, infectious disease experts have told the Herald.

As Massachusetts continues to shatter virus case records almost daily, wastewater tracking is showing signs that even higher numbers of cases are on the way.

The tracker, which indicates future viral infections in the community, skyrocketed this week to all-time highs just a week after shattering previous high marks in the days leading up to Christmas. The seven-day averages for South and North Boston are now double the viral averages on Christmas Eve.

“Wow, that is insane,” said Todd Ellerin, director of infectious diseases at South Shore Health. “We’re getting rid of the omicron like it’s our job right now.

“There has never been a time since the start of the pandemic that you are more likely to catch COVID,” he added.

The latest data from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority study to track wastewater for COVID indicators shows that the southern region’s daily average is now 6,784 copies of viral RNA per milliliter. That tally is approaching five times the maximum level during last winter’s outbreak – 1,476 copies of viral RNA per milliliter on January 11.

The daily average for the northern region is now 5,399 copies of viral RNA per milliliter. That number is also about five times higher than the region’s highest level during last winter’s outbreak – 1,130 copies of viral RNA per milliliter, also on January 11.

“It’s just scary, so much higher than before,” said Davidson Hamer, an infectious disease specialist at Boston University. “There are a lot more viruses circulating now.

“They had to increase the Y axis because it no longer fit,” he added of the wastewater monitoring. “It’s really unbelievable.”

With many people likely to attend New Years Eve parties and gatherings on Friday, Hamer predicts the push will only continue to increase.

“It’s probably going to get worse before it gets better,” he said. “A lot of people will be careful, but there will definitely be parties.”

Infectious disease experts are worried about hospital capacity over the next month – between the mix of rising COVID hospitalizations, flu season, accidents, a backlog of medical issues and more.

“It’s a perfect storm for real challenges,” Ellerin said. “That’s why we have the National Guard here at the hospital right now.”

As cases rise and hospitalizations increase, he noted that death rates have fallen by more than 50% in the past year.

“As a result of our vaccines and our treatments have improved,” Ellerin said. “The proof is in the pudding.

“Cases are increasing, but the overall results are better, and this is more than a silver lining as we move into this new year,” he added. “To me, it’s the light at the end of the pandemic tunnel.”