Which Bay Area city is best for you? What can I do to protect myself and my family from omicron BA.5? You can also reach out to our experts using UC Davis Healths convenient Telehealth Express Carefor urgent needs or extended-hours video visits. Because of those new genetic markers, the WHO in mid-June declared lambda a variant of interest. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has not yet done the same, in part because so few cases have been reported nationwide. Is omicron BA.5 able to spread more easily than other COVID-19 strains? To protect against omicron BA.5, health experts recommend the following: Most people who test positive with any variant of COVID-19 typically experience some symptoms for a couple weeks. Doing so could blunt the severity of any potential wave this month, officials said. LOS ANGELES, CA The highly contagious Mu variant of the coronavirus has been detected in Los Angeles County, health officials confirmed Friday. Yes. Tulare sheriff said a drug cartel, then backtracks, Gina Lollobrigida, film star who conquered Italy, Hollywood and the world, dies at 95, Essay: Martin Luther King Day should make you uncomfortable, Victim of a brutal crime: Family disputes Mexican authorities account of O.C. Here's what to know. What we know about XBB.1.5, Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area. Nearly all hospitalizations and deaths in California and nationwide have occurred in unvaccinated people. A sign announces free COVID-19 Testing in Boyle Heights. In the absence of a large enough population of vaccinated people, we are going to need all the Greek letters we have. Commercial and government laboratories test for variants by sequencing the genome of the coronavirus that caused a particular COVID-19 case and looking for mutations and changes in the virus characteristic spike protein. Some variants emerge and then disappear. Your previous immunity does not protect you from the latest strain. This variant spreads more easily than the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the delta variant. The omicron cases come as California continues to see a rise in cases of the still-dominant and highly contagious delta variant that has caused massive outbreaks around the world this year. A traveler arrives inside Tom Bradley International Terminal at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in Los Angeles on Monday. But much remains unknown how or if XBB.1.5 may affect disease severity or whether generally waning immunity from vaccines or a previous brush with the coronavirus will leave the population more exposed to infection. Bay Area businesses are gearing up for the new COVID variant, Omicron. People check-in at a COVID-19 community testing and vaccination clinic in the Mission District. But last week, the World Health Organization called the XBB.1.5 omicron descendant the most transmissible variant yet, and at a briefing Tuesday urged travelers to wear masks on international flights to help slow its spread. Those infected with COVID-19 sometimes experience change in or loss of taste and smell, which is less common with the flu. There is no reason to think we will run out. Last month, physicians at UCSF were told to stop prescribing Evusheld and another monoclonal antibody treatment, bebtelovimab, because they are no longer effective against aggressive virus strains. The U.S. federal government has warned that the British variant could become the dominant strain in this country by March. By contrast, a clear majority of people living in most of New England the "blue" states of Maine (74.6%), Vermont (75.1%), Rhode Island (75.0%), Massachusetts (73.5%) and Connecticut (73.3%) are fully vaccinated. So, get your shots. Are they different in any way from previous strains? read more, https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-Variants.aspx, COVID-19 Response Data, Informatics, Surveillance, Clinical and Outbreaks (DISCO) Team. And San Francisco, where the variant first was reported, has yet to confirm another case. We wont likely see a major spike in COVID cases, but a modest increase in cases in the community, Chin-Hong said. Previously, Kellie covered dining news and trends, visual arts, events and nightlife for the Arizona Republic, and freelanced for the former Contra Costa Times. Hospitalizations statewide have stabilized after an autumn rise. Karan also doesnt expect the same level of hospitalizations and deaths seen in 2022. Where were the biggest dips? Its since been detected in 29 countries, according to the WHO, including Germany, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. Protect those you love. Experts said its hard to predict, but while an increase in COVID cases is likely due to XBB.1.5, it is not likely to be a large surge. Cody Zeng prepares to take a rapid antigen COVID-19 test at the in-house testing center at the DoorDash offices in San Francisco in October. It now accounts for at least 86% of Californias sequenced COVID-19 cases and more than 94% of U.S. cases. Still, hospitalizations are increasing across the country, particularly in the Northeast, and more people are dying compared with a month ago, Swartzberg said. It's the most easily spread strain to date and is able to evade immunity from COVID infection and vaccination. We're racing against the clock. While WHO considers lambda a variant of interest, the CDC and Californias public health agency have not followed suit. Researchers at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center (CSMC) in Los Angeles analyzed COVID-19 strains before and after the surge in cases in southern California in October 2020. Lambda has been around for months, yet it hasnt gained a foothold in California and other states so that should be reassuring, he said. Coronavirus: Orange County reported 2,246 more cases and 36 more deaths in the past week Sequencing can only be done at specialized labs. Tool ranks 25 cities based on An iconic moment: In Warriors return to White House, Biden takes a knee, S.F. Five of those 14 boosted cases however had received the additional dose less than two weeks before they developed symptoms. Most people who test positive with any variant of COVID-19 typically experience some symptoms for a couple weeks. A new COVID-19 variant named lambda has arrived in California. Several specialized laboratories statewide sequence the genomes of a fraction of all positive COVID-19 tests to determine which variants are circulating. 2023 Southern California Public Radio - All Rights Reserved, LA Opens Dodger Stadium To Help Vaccinate Half A Million Health Workers, Sign up for our daily coronavirus newsletter. The state Department of Public Health estimates it accounts for about 7.8% of cases the fourth-most-common subvariant circulating in the Golden State. It's late 2025. 2023UC Regents. Throughout December, people ages 50 and older had the highest rate of coronavirus cases, hospitalizations and deaths in L.A. County. Lets suppose that as a resolutely unvaccinated person, you manage to avoid the virus and its symptoms. Fears growing around new COVID variant The World Health Organisation has designated the new Covid -19 variant Omicron. Weekly reported COVID-19 deaths which lag case rate trends also are increasing again after a brief dip between Christmas and New Years Day. All but two of the reported omicron cases were in people who had been vaccinated, and the vaccination status of two others was unknown. He previously was a reporter and assistant city editor for the Daily Pilot, a Times Community News publication in Orange County, and before that wrote for the Santa Clarita Valley Signal. WHO worried about COVID-19 surge in China amid lack of info, Why the CDC is inviting travelers from China to swab their noses at LAX, Workers in L.A. County should wear masks indoors to prevent COVID surge, officials say, California has plenty of anti-COVID drugs, but doctors arent prescribing them, China tries to minimize COVID-19 risk during Lunar New Year travel crush, Want to solve climate change? The omicron subvariant of COVID-19, BA.5, has become one of the dominant strains of the virus in the U.S. Well, you might find yourself out of luck because across the country, critical care beds are being filled by COVID patients. Here are the biggest impacts. Sequencing and reporting of variant results takes several days after a test is identified as a positive for COVID-19. Even if masking is not required, consider wearing a mask in public indoor spaces if you or people you live with are at high risk for severe disease. As of Monday, 4,159 coronavirus-positive patients were hospitalized in California a 6% decrease from two weeks ago. More for you This chart of the delta surge in California vs. the U.K. may . Some early clues are emerging. This chart does not show all variants identified. Authorities in L.A. County attribute the trend to a variety of tools that werent available previously: an updated COVID-19 booster shot thats a pretty good match to this winters circulating strains; anti-COVID-19 pills such as Paxlovid and molnupiravir that reduce the risk of death; and increased use of masks, particularly in crowded or indoor settings. How effective are N95 masks vs. surgical masks vs. cloth masks? A pharmacist prepares to administer COVID-19 vaccine booster shots during an event hosted by the Chicago Department of Public Health at the Southwest Senior Center on Sept. 09, 2022 in Chicago. Officials expect more than 2 billion trips to be made in China during the weeklong holiday, the most important time for visiting family and friends. Not all viruses from positive COVID-19 tests are sequenced. Since early October, about 36,000 COVID-19 deaths have been reported nationally, compared with an estimated 14,000 from the flu. Several studies, including one from UC Davis, indicate how effective masks can be in protecting yourself and others. Access, update your COVID-19 vaccine record, three key differences, according to the CDC, Vaccines are especially good in preventing severe disease, studies show that bivalent vaccines result in a stronger immune response, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It is up to us to use them., Kellie Hwang is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Deltas aggressive all over the world and lambda hasnt really taken off, Chin-Hong said. The L.A. County Department of Public Health is urging people returning to work or school from winter break to mask up in indoor public settings for at least 10 days. All Rights Reserved | Terms & Conditions | Privacy Policy, UC Davis Health is scheduling COVID-19 vaccines. Since September 2020, the lambda variant has accounted for 152 genetically sequenced COVID-19 cases in California, according to the state Department of Public Health. One site topped 7 inches, Seal Beach police shoot, kill armed man in neighborhood, authorities say, Baja officials urged cremation to family of OC public defender who died in Rosarito Beach, Disneyland resumes sales of Magic Key annual passes but you better act fast, Capistrano Seaside Inn goes from red-tagged to anticipated treasure, OC man arrested in LA street takeover that killed nursing student on Christmas Day. Pregnant people and their infants are among those considered vulnerable, and a new study suggests the risks of COVID-19 infection in these populations can, in fact, be severe. Another COVID variant? Lambda sparked headlines this summer after the WHO noted its rapid spread in South American countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil. If the pandemic has taught us anything, it is the interconnection of all the worlds people and nations. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us, and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. In its COVID epidemiological update last week, the WHO said the mu variant has been detected in at least 39 countries, including the U.S. According to the World Health Organization,. Wearing a mask in these situations helps protect vulnerable people you could unknowingly infect. If you've been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or are having symptoms, at-home tests can give you a good sense of whether or not you have an infection. Being careful translates to doing the things that we know work, which includes staying up to date on vaccines, wearing a good, well-fitted mask in indoor public spaces, and steering clear of others if you get sick. At the same time, the director of the U.S. CDC, Dr. Rochelle Walensky, reported: The rate of disease is markedly lower for those who received their booster shot. She and her colleague, the unfairly maligned Dr. Fauci, noted that most of the hospitalizations and deaths now occurring in the country are among unvaccinated people. Hear our news on-air at our partner site: All viruses mutate over time, and Sars-CoV-2, which has become known worldwide as the novel coronavirus, is no exception. Office chairs and a blue bird statue: Heres everything you can bid on She failed to save her daughter from fentanyls grip. Note: There is a natural reporting lag in these data due to the time commitment to complete whole genome sequencing; therefore, a 14 day lag is applied to these datasets to allow for data completeness. Activated: Up to 75 more Maine National Guard members to support hospitals amid COVID surge. is back on but the price keeps rising, Your Privacy Choices (Opt Out of Sale/Targeted Ads). America is fractured, with a county-by-county scoring system in practice, which . Omicron BA.5 is more likely to cause less severe illness compared to other variants. The states transmission rates have gone back up to the CDCs red high level from the orange substantial level before Thanksgiving, and Bay Area counties that were in the yellow moderate level are back to orange. Anyone desiring to use or reproduce the data without modification for a noncommercial purpose may do so without obtaining approval. 87,315,550 total. Stay vigilant and get vaccinated if you havent already. Following the COVID health measures recommended throughout the pandemic continues to be the best course against XBB.1.5, experts said. Get the booster. Users of this data file provided by the Office of the Patient Advocate (OPA) shall not have the right to alter, enhance, or otherwise modify the data. It is, however, a fraction of the highest from last winter, when 513 deaths were recorded the week that ended Feb. 9. ", "New COVID-19 boosters could contain bits of the omicron variant", "SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant of Concern: Everything You Wanted to Know about Omicron but Were Afraid to Ask", "Structural and Functional Analysis of the D614G SARS-CoV-2 Spike Protein Variant", "Circulating SARS-CoV-2 spike N439K variants maintain fitness while evading antibody-mediated immunity", "Britain to help other countries track down coronavirus variants", "UK to help sequence mutations of Covid around world to find dangerous new variants", "SARS-CoV-2 wastewater surveillance data can predict hospitalizations and ICU admissions", "Variant abundance estimation for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater using RNA-Seq quantification", "Droplet Digital RT-PCR to detect SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern in wastewater", "U.K. variant puts spotlight on immunocompromised patients' role in the COVID-19 pandemic", "COVID Variants May Arise in People with Compromised Immune Systems", "Recurrent deletions in the SARS-CoV-2 spike glycoprotein drive antibody escape", "Covid-19 and evolutionary pressure can we predict which genetic dangers lurk beyond the horizon? 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