In the last month, the number of hospital admissions has increased by almost 81%, from a daily average of 186 admissions to 336. Health Department Data Published on Friday. The state’s test positive rate is 13.2%, up from 6.3% in July. Waste water samples Bay Area sewage dumps have shown concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 virus to more than double over the same interval, underscoring a steady upward trajectory.
Share of new varieties
Some new Covid-19 strains that have emerged recently may be partially responsible for the current development.
Sub-variant EG.5 now builds Large share of genetic samples Nationwide, 20.6% of infections occurred in the past two weeks, followed by FL.1.5.1 at 13.3%. In California, EG.5 was sequenced in 22.8% of cases, while XBB.1.9.2 was detected in 19%. Most recent data In Variations.
“As with all strains that arise, there’s some extra level of immune evasion because there’s a slight difference in genotype,” said Scott Roberts, an infectious disease specialist at Yale Medicine. Recent presentation.
While only a handful of cases have been reported worldwide, health officials are keeping a close eye on highly mutated individuals. PA.2.86 The coronavirus variant in particular is believed to have 35 mutations in its spike protein.
“It’s really shown a pretty crazy shift in one time,” said Katelyn Zedelina, an epidemiologist who consults with the CDC. told NPR. “It’s as big of an evolution as the Wuhan strain for Omicron.”
A Risk Assessment Report BA.2.86 published by the CDC acknowledges that vaccination can lead to infections in vaccinated individuals. The severity of the disease it causes and the efficacy of the new booster in combating it remain uncertain.
Caution on boosters
Despite these rising numbers, officials at the Centers for Disease Control recommend waiting to get a boost. An updated shot to combat new strains of the virus currently circulating is expected next month.
“If you get the current Covid-19 vaccine now or in early September, you may delay your ability to get the updated vaccine that’s coming out in mid-September,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said. Friday said.
The agency’s guidance recommends at least a two-month interval between COVID-19 boosters to manage the risk of rare side effects and improve immunity.
CDC advisers are scheduled to meet on September 12 to discuss the release of redesigned Covid-19 sequences aimed at protecting against the XBB.1.5 variant that dominated earlier this year.
So far, vaccine manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna and Novavax have said their updated vaccines against new strains of the common virus will be effective in reducing the chances of infection and severe disease by 2023.
“This fall’s new stimulus won’t be the last,” Roberts said. “Covid-19 may be like the flu, where the strain changes slightly every year, and we’re developing a vaccine before we know which variants will be circulating for months. It’s always an educated guess based on what’s available at the time.
Hospitalizations and deaths are rising across the country
Local measurements are consistent with broader nationwide inflation. Covid Hospitals In the month ended August 18, there was an 87% increase, with more than 2,152 daily admissions, according to the latest data. CDC. Deaths due to COVID-19 70% higher Compared to the previous month.
The impact on children is particularly significant, a spike Emergency room visits Across the US, rates of Covid among children 11 and younger rose to 3.24% as of August 25, and adolescents aged 12 to 15 reached 2.94%, higher than all other age groups.
“These summertime COVID-19 spikes have occurred over the past three years, mostly because more people are traveling,” Roberts said.
The CDC predicts that the increase in Covid-19 hospitalizations will continue into the fall. Currently, more than 10 million Americans live in communities classified as “moderate” Covid-19 risk levels, requiring masks and other precautions for the most vulnerable individuals.
Mitigation measures are not possible
Although these figures are significantly lower than previous peaks, their rapid acceleration has caused some familiar disruptions.
Many hospitals, including Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Medical Center in the Bay Area, and schools across the country — particularly in the South — have reinstated mask requirements and other measures to prevent the spread of new infections.
However, this rebound is unlikely to lead to widespread mask mandates or other government-imposed restrictions. As COVID-19 becomes an endemic virus, public health officials are now recommending that individuals assess their own risks.
“It’s impossible to eliminate,” Lena Wen, a professor of public health at George Washington University, told The Associated Press. “So having targeted measures at a societal level, containment is not practical, and we may not be able to reach the goal that we originally thought was possible by early 2020.”
Reach Aidin Waziri at: [email protected]
