Category: Corona Virus Vaccine

Dr. Eric Topol:

The U.S. has invested, but not enough, in a couple of nasal vaccine programs.

But this is what we need, William, to get us out of the woods, because our biggest problem right now is we're not able, really, in any significant way, to stop the infection and the risk of long COVID and the small, but persistent risk of severe COVID hospitalizations and fatalities.

So we have got to double down, triple down on the nasal vaccines because there's been so much recent work to show that this is feasible. It's just a matter of getting the clinical trials done and scaling up manufacturing.

But I'm quite confident that we will have a nasal vaccine. We should have had it by now, in fact, even more than one. But we're moving in slow-mo. We're not putting in the resources like we did for the initial shots back in 2020. So we got to take that more seriously. This is our big vulnerability right now, is infections.

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What to know about this summer's major surge in COVID infections - PBS NewsHour

COVID-19 activity remains elevated across most of the United States, but some regions of the country are seeing some declines, as the proportion of KP.3.1.1 variant continues to rise, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said today in its latest updates.

Nationally, wastewater detections of SARS-CoV-2 are at the very high level for the second straight week. The highest levels are still in the West and South, followed by the Midwest and the Northeast. The CDC's latest update, however, shows downward trends from high levels in the South and Midwest.

For respiratory virus activity in general, the nation's levels are low, with most illnesses caused by COVID, with flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) levels still low, the CDC said in its latest snapshot. It noted an upward trend for RSV, though.

COVID indicators show that the burden is highest in people ages 65 and older and in children younger than 2 years old.

The proportion of KP.3.1.1 variant continues to rise, the CDC said in its latest variant proportion estimates. KP.3.1.1, one of many JN.1 offshoots, is thought to more easily evade immunity from earlier infection and vaccination. The variant now makes up 36.8% of sequences, up from 22.8% in the previous 2 weeks.

Among the CDC's other metrics, test positivity rose slightly last week and is at 18.1% nationally, but was highest in Texas and surrounding states. Emergency department visits for COVID declined a bit from the previous week, but are still at the moderate level in parts of the South.

Hospitalization levels are declining from an early-August peak. Deaths from COVID continue to rise, however, up 18.7% from the previous week.

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COVID activity shows signs of slowing in parts of US - University of Minnesota Twin Cities

The spread of COVID-19 has been on the rise again in Virginia recent months following a steady decline through early May, state data shows, and diagnosis is 128% higher than this time last year.

Experts advise that the public get the new vaccine, which should be available within a few weeks.

For the week ending Aug. 10, 3% of emergency department visits were for patients diagnosed with COVID-19, according to a Virginia Department of Health spokesperson. State health officials also monitor wastewater to gauge the spread of the coronavirus, and activity is considered very high in Virginia and nationally.

Wastewater data is useful to experts because its independent of the publics decision to get tested or seek medical care, said Logan Anderson, a VDH spokesperson.

The very high levels of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater likely means that many people are sick with COVID-19 but have more mild illness and are able to recover at home, Anderson said in an email.

Anderson added that, in keeping with the seasonal pattern of COVID-19, experts expect the virus to have a peak in late summer then worsen again mid-winter with another peak around the new year.

The Centers for Disease Control recommends that everyone six months and older should get a 2024-25 coronavirus vaccine expected to be available in mid- to late-September. This latest inoculation is designed to target the KP.2 variant, which was causing about 4% of COVID-19 infections as of March but became the most common variant by May is expected to remain so this fall and winter, according to Anderson.

When you are sick, stay home and only go back to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, both your symptoms have improved and you have no fever without the use of anti-fever medication, Anderson said. If you have flu or COVID talk to a health-care provider to see if antiviral treatment is right for you.

The COVID-19 deaths for the week ending Aug. 10 are 1.7% what they were in January 2021, according to the CDC.

The rate of coronavirus hospitalizations for all age groups was about 4 per 100,000 people in mid-March before dropping to about 0.4 per 100,000 people by mid-May. Since then, the rate has slowly climbed back up to just over 2 per 100,000 as of the week ending Aug. 10, according to the VDH.

Hospitalizations for the week ending Aug. 10 were up 10.4% from the previous week. Over the past six months in Virginia, the peak of COVID-19-related deaths came the week ending March 16 when 24 people died. The lowest point came the week ending June 29 when one person died. From there, deaths spiked again the week of July 20 when 14 people died, with five deaths from the disease through Aug. 3.

Over the past six months, the percent of total inpatient hospital beds in use by COVID-19 patients has reached a new peak, though still considered low by VDH. Since the low point of 0.42% for the week ending June 1, the percent of beds occupied by COVID-19 patients has risen to 2.23% for the week ending Aug. 10 the pre-June 1 peak was 1.6% which is 18.6% higher than the previous week.

Gavin Stone,757-712-4806,gavin.stone@virginiamedia.com

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COVID-19 trending up in Virginia; new vaccine to be available in September - The Virginian-Pilot

Four years out from the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, life is largely back to normal in Philadelphia, with residents treating COVID illness as a reality thats here to stay.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have indicated they agree, with an official telling NPR recently that the agency considers the virus endemic in other words, a disease with a constant and predictable presence.

But some epidemiologists in Philadelphia and around the country are not convinced. They note the virus is still relatively unpredictable. The unexpectedly high surge in cases this summer is a prime example, they say.

Everyone has accepted COVID as a common respiratory viral infection maybe too much, said Neil Fishman, chief medical officer of the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.

READ MORE: In new recommendations, the CDC says COVID patients can end isolation 24 hours after symptoms improve

The Inquirer asked local public health experts about endemic disease, how COVID might not fit the definition, and what Philadelphians can do to avoid getting sick as cases rise. Heres what we learned:

In a pandemic, a newer virus or infection sweeps through a very large population. By contrast, a virus that is endemic sees a predictable ebb and flow of cases every year. The best examples are influenza, which occurs in late fall and early winter, and RSV, which has the same seasonality, Fishman said.

But just because a disease is endemic does not mean that its not dangerous, he cautioned.

People forget that 40,000 people a year die of influenza in the United States, he said.

COVID killed about 50,000 people in the United States in 2023, making it the 10th-leading cause of death. In 2022, it was the fourth-leading cause of death, and the third-leading cause of death from March 2020 to October 2021, ABC News reported this week.

Endemic doesnt mean benign. Its still a serious disease, Fishman said.

No. Even if most people are behaving like COVID is endemic, that doesnt mean that the disease is affecting the public in predictable cycles like the flu does, some scientists say.

Fishman thinks it may take another five years or longer for COVID to settle into a truly predictable pattern of seasonal illness.

It might take a little longer for COVID to become truly endemic because of its ability to mutate, he said.

Many epidemiologists had noted a decrease in COVID cases the last two summers and were expecting to see similar drops this year. Instead, cases have surged, with the CDC reporting that infections are growing or likely growing in 32 states as of Aug. 6.

It still fluctuates a lot, said Thersa Sweet, an associate teaching professor of epidemiology at Drexel University. We wouldnt have expected it to have an increase like were seeing now, but we are.

Id say its sort of endemic. Its here, its not going away, but we are still seeing unpredictable surges.

NPR reported that the endemic distinction will not change the CDCs recommended health response to the virus, including advising people to stay home when theyre sick and get vaccinated to prevent the spread of the disease.

Its still important for public health agencies to continue to monitor how the virus spreads and which variants are circulating, said Shara Epstein, the medical director of the Philadelphia health departments Division of Disease Control.

Scientists will continue to work to develop new and better vaccines and treatments, she said in a statement. And individuals can help keep themselves and their communities safe by receiving updated vaccines and staying home when they are sick.

The amount of COVID detected in wastewater now the most accurate way to track the virus since most cases are no longer reported to health agencies has been rising nationally since May. Current nationwide viral activity levels are close to where they were in January.

We are seeing high levels of virus around the country, and Philadelphia is no exception, Epstein said.

Wastewater tested from three sites in Philadelphia show COVIDs presence in the city has been slowly increasing since the spring, though deaths and hospitalizations have remained low.

Viral activity levels in the rest of the state have also been rising; the CDC says activity levels are currently high in Pennsylvania and in Delaware. (Viral activity is currently moderate in New Jersey, according to the agency.)

A number of factors might be contributing to the spike. These are guesses on my part, but we keep seeing these new variants that pop up that are more infectious, Sweet said. Thats probably the biggest reason why its so unpredictable.

Vaccination rates are still low for the latest COVID vaccines, released last fall and designed to provide immunity against newer variants of the virus. According to the CDC, about 25% of Philadelphians above the age of 18 had received their new vaccinations as of May, in line with state and national vaccine uptake.

The CDC calling COVID endemic means little in daily life.

Ive had COVID recently I have no idea where I got it, Fishman said. People are sick and not staying home, theyre riding public transportation, theyre going to work and transmitting disease to others.

People should wash their hands, stay home when theyre sick, and consider masking on public transportation and in other enclosed spaces, Fishman said. He regularly masks on public transportation; the latest public health guidance lists masks as a preventative measure people can take in addition to the CDCs core recommendations for preventing COVID. Those include vaccination, good hygiene, and seeking medical treatments like Paxlovid if youre at high risk for serious complications.

New COVID vaccines are expected in the fall, which will add protection against the newer COVID variants circulating.

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COVID is now endemic, the CDC says. What does that mean for Philly? - The Philadelphia Inquirer

The declaration by the World Health Organisation (WHO) making mpox a global health emergency has brought it to the spotlight, triggering a high alert in many countries.

With mpox spreading to over 116 countries, it may appear similar to the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, a WHO official recently said that "mpox is not the new Covid", which means that a pandemic like the Covid-19 is highly unlikely.

MPOX VS COVID-19

Mpox and Covid-19 are caused by different viruses, each belonging to distinct viral families with unique genetic compositions and characteristics.

The mpox virus is a member of the Orthopoxvirus genus, which also includes the variola virus responsible for smallpox. Mpox is a DNA virus with a double-stranded genome, which is relatively stable compared to RNA viruses.

This stability means that the mpox virus mutates at a slower rate, leading to fewer and more gradual changes in its strains over time.

Historically, two main strains of the mpox virus have been identified: the Central African (Congo Basin) strain (Clade 1b), which is more virulent and has a higher mortality rate, and the West African strain (Clade 2), which is less severe.

In contrast, Covid-19 is caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, a member of the coronavirus family. This is an RNA virus, which means it is a single-stranded RNA genome that is more prone to mutations.

The high mutation rate in RNA viruses has led to the emergence of multiple variants of SARS-CoV-2 over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic. These variants, such as Alpha, Delta, and Omicron, have shown significant differences in their transmissibility, severity, and ability to evade immunity.

The frequent mutations in SARS-CoV-2 have led to continuous monitoring and adjustments in vaccination strategies.

The key difference between the strains of mpox and Covid-19 lies in the nature and pace of their evolution.

The relatively stable DNA genome of mpox leads to slower changes and fewer variants, while the RNA genome of SARS-CoV-2 allows for rapid evolution and the emergence of numerous variants with distinct properties.

Symptoms

The symptoms of mpox include fever, headache, muscle aches, backache, swollen lymph nodes, chills, and exhaustion. A key symptom is a rash that progresses to fluid-filled blisters, often starting on the face and spreading to other parts of the body.

Symptoms of Covid-19 vary widely but typically include fever, cough, difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion, nausea, and diarrhea. Some cases of Covid-19 can also be asymptomatic.

Transmission

Mpox primarily spreads through direct contact with the rash, scabs, or bodily fluids of an infected person or animal. It can also spread through respiratory droplets during prolonged face-to-face contact and from contaminated objects like bedding.

Covid-19 mainly spreads through respiratory droplets and aerosols when an infected person coughs, sneezes, talks, or breathes. It can also spread by touching surfaces contaminated with the virus and then touching the face.

Incubation Period

Mpox is typically lasts 5 to 21 days, while Covid-19 usually lasts 2 to 14 days.

Severity and Mortality

Mpox is generally less severe than smallpox, with a mortality rate ranging from 1% to 10%, depending on the strain and the region. Most cases are mild and self-limiting.

The severity of Covid-19 varies widely, from mild or asymptomatic cases to severe pneumonia and death. The mortality rate varies based on factors like age, underlying health conditions, and access to healthcare.

Vaccination

The smallpox vaccine provides some protection against mpox. Specific mpox vaccines have been developed and are used in outbreak situations. There are currently two vaccines (JYNNEOS and ACAM2000) being used for mpox, recommended by WHO experts and approved by health authorities in several countries.

Several vaccines specifically targeting SARS-CoV-2 have been developed and widely administered globally. Current vaccines that have been administered worldwide are Covishield, Covaxin, Novavax, Pfizer and Moderna.

Prevention

Mpox can be prevented through vaccination, practising personal hygiene by washing your hands frequently. If you're at risk of mpox and haven't been vaccinated, don't be in close contact with anyone, this includes skin-to-skin touch and sex. Avoid contact with objects that a person with mpox has used.

Covid-19 can be prevented by isolation or quarantines, social distancing, widespread vaccination, and maintaining personal hygiene.

Published By:

Daphne Clarance

Published On:

Aug 22, 2024

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Mpox vs Covid-19: Is there a difference? - India Today

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My bags were packed, then I got COVID. What should I do? Travel options to weigh. - USA TODAY

MONDAY, July 29, 2024 (HealthDay News) -- The virus responsible for COVID-19 is widespread among wildlife, a new study finds.

SARS-CoV-2 was detected in six common backyard species, including deer mice, opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, cottontail rabbits and red bats, researchers reported July 29 in the journal Nature Communications.

Further, antibodies indicating prior exposure to the coronavirus were found in five animal species, with rates of exposure ranging from 40% to 60% between species.

The highest exposure to the COVID virus was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas, suggesting that the virus passed from humans to wildlife, researchers said.

There was no evidence of COVID passing from animals to humans, so people dont need to worry about getting the illness from any critters they come across while on a hike, researchers added.

The virus can jump from humans to wildlife when we are in contact with them, like a hitchhiker switching rides to a new, more suitable host, said researcher Carla Finkielstein, a professor of biological sciences with Virginia Techs Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC.

The goal of the virus is to spread in order to survive. The virus aims to infect more humans, but vaccinations protect many humans, Finkielstein added in a Virginia Tech news release. So, the virus turns to animals, adapting and mutating to thrive in the new hosts.

SARS-CoV-2 infections have previously been found in wildlife, primarily in white-tailed deer and feral mink, researchers noted.

The new study significantly expands the number of species in which the COVID virus has been found, and suggests that areas with high human activity can serve as points of contact for transmission between humans and animals.

For the study, researchers collected nearly 800 nasal and oral swabs in Virginia from animals either live-trapped in the field and released or receiving treatment in a wildlife rehabilitation center.

The team also obtained 126 blood samples from six different species.

On one day, researchers identified two mice at the same site with the exact same COVID variant, indicating that they either both got it from the same human or one infected the other.

In addition, COVID isolated from one opossum showed viral mutations that had not been seen before, which could potentially make the virus more dangerous to humans.

I think the big take-home message is the virus is pretty ubiquitous, said lead researcher Amanda Goldberg, a former postdoctoral associate with the Virginia Tech College of Science. We found positives in a large suite of common backyard animals.

Many of the species that tested positive in Virginia are common throughout North America, and its likely theyre being exposed in other areas as well, Finkielstein said.

The virus is indifferent to whether its host walks on two legs or four. Its primary objective is survival, Finkielstein said. Mutations that do not confer a survival or replication advantage to the virus will not persist and will eventually disappear.

Surveillance for COVID transmission in animals needs to continue, and new mutations taken seriously as a potential threat to human health, researchers said.

This study highlights the potentially large host range SARS-CoV-2 can have in nature and really how widespread it might be, said researcher Joseph Hoyt, an assistant professor of biological sciences at Virginia Tech. There is a lot of work to be done to understand which species of wildlife, if any, will be important in the long-term maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in humans.

More information

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has more about COVID-19.

SOURCE: Virginia Tech, news release, July 29, 2024

Link:

COVID-19 Virus Is Widespread in U.S. Wildlife - HealthDay

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COVID-19 levels rising in California, approaching levels seen in summer of 2022 - Desert Sun

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A Virginia Tech study of wildlife common in Virginia found that SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread in animals, particularly around areas of high human activity. The researchers identified variants consistent with those circulating in humans at the time, and one opossum with previously unreported viral mutations, underscoring the potential for changes that can potentially impact humans and their immune response.

Credit: Joseph Hoyt/Virginia Tech

SARS-CoV-2, the virus responsible for COVID-19, is widespread among wildlife species, according to Virginia Tech research published Monday (July 29, 2024) in Nature Communications. The virus was detected in six common backyard species, and antibodies indicating prior exposure to the virus were found in five species, with rates of exposure ranging from 40 to 60 percent depending on the species.

Genetic tracking in wild animals confirmed both the presence of SARS-CoV-2 and the existence of unique viral mutations with lineages closely matching variants circulating in humans at the time, further supporting human-to-animal transmission, the study found.

The highest exposure to SARS CoV-2 was found in animals near hiking trails and high-traffic public areas, suggesting the virus passed from humans to wildlife, according to scientists at theFralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC, theDepartment of Biological Sciencesin Virginia TechsCollege of Science, and theFralin Life Sciences Institute.

The findings highlight the identification of novel mutations in SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife and the need for broad surveillance, researchers say. These mutations could be more harmful and transmissible, creating challenges for vaccine development.

The scientists stressed, however, that they found no evidence of the virus being transmitted from animals to humans, and people should not fear typical interactions with wildlife.

Investigators tested animals from 23 common Virginia species for both active infections and antibodies indicating previous infections. They found signs of the virus in deer mice, Virginia opossums, raccoons, groundhogs, Eastern cottontail rabbits, and Eastern red bats. The virus isolated from one opossum showed viral mutations that were previously unreported and can potentially impact how the virus affects humans and their immune response.

The virus can jump from humans to wildlife when we are in contact with them, like a hitchhiker switching rides to a new, more suitable host, saidCarla Finkielstein, professor of biological sciences at the Fralin Biomedical Research Institute at VTC and one of the papers corresponding authors. The goal of the virus is to spread in order to survive. The virus aims to infect more humans, but vaccinations protect many humans. So, the virus turns to animals, adapting and mutating to thrive in the new hosts.

SARS CoV-2 infections were previously identified in wildlife, primarily in white-tailed deer and feral mink. The Virginia Tech study significantly expands the number of species examined and the understanding of virus transmission to and among wildlife.The data suggests exposure to the virus has been widespread in wildlife and that areas with high human activity may serve as points of contact for cross-species transmission.

This study was really motivated by seeing a large, important gap in our knowledge about SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a broader wildlife community, saidJoseph Hoyt, assistant professor of Biological Sciences in Virginia Techs College of Science and corresponding author on the paper. A lot of studies to date have focused on white-tailed deer, while what is happening in much of our common backyard wildlife remains unknown.

The research team collected 798 nasal and oral swabs across in Virginia from animals either live-trapped in the field and released, or being treated by wildlife rehabilitation centers. The team also obtained 126 blood samples from six species.The locations were chosen to compare the presence of the virus in animals in sites with varying levels of human activity, from urban areas to remote wilderness.

The study also identified two mice at the same site on the same day with the exact same variant, indicating they either both got it from the same human, or one infected the other.

Researchers are not certain about the means of transmission from humans to animals. One possibility is wastewater, but the Virginia Tech scientists believe trash receptacles and discarded food are more likely sources.

I think the big take home message is the virus is pretty ubiquitous, said Amanda Goldberg, a former postdoctoral associate in Hoyts lab, who is the studys first author. We found positives in a large suite of common backyard animals.

While this study focused on the state of Virginia, many of the species that tested positive are common wildlife found throughout North America. It is likely they are being exposed in other areas as well, and surveillance across a broader region is urgently needed, Hoyt said.

The virus is indifferent to whether its host walks on two legs or four. Its primary objective is survival. Mutations that do not confer a survival or replication advantage to the virus will not persist and will eventually disappear, said Finkielstein, who is also director of the Virginia Tech Molecular Diagnostics Lab. The Roanoke lab was established in April 2020 to expand COVID-19 testing.

We understood the critical importance of sequencing the genome of the virus infecting those species, Finkielstein said. It was a monumental task that could only be accomplished by a talented group of molecular biologists, bioinformaticians, and modelers in a state-of-the-art facility. I am proud of my team and my collaborators, their professionalism, and everything they contributed to ensure our success.

Surveillance for these mutations should continue and not be dismissed, the scientists said. More research is needed about how the virus is transmitted from humans to wildlife, how it might spread within a species, and perhaps from one species to another.

This study highlights the potentially large hostrange SARS-CoV-2 can have in nature and really how widespread it might be, Hoyt said. There is a lot of work to be done to understand which species of wildlife, if any, will be important in the long-term maintenance of SARS-CoV-2 in humans.

But what weve already learned, Finkielstein said, is that SARS CoV-2 is not only a human problem, and that it takes a multidisciplinary team to address its impact on various species and ecosystems effectively.

Written by Matt Chittum/Virginia Tech

Nature Communications

Experimental study

Animals

Widespread exposure to SARS-CoV-2 in wildlife communities

29-Jul-2024

The authors declare no competing interests.

Read more:

Virus that causes COVID-19 is widespread in wildlife, Virginia Tech scientists find - EurekAlert

If it seems like many people around you are getting COVID-19, youre not alone.

Federal data show coronavirus levels in Californias wastewater are surging to levels not seen in summertime since 2022, indicating a wide and worsening spread of COVID.

We are seeing ... a definite, definite surge, said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.

The surge is clearly apparent in doctors offices and clinics where people are seeking outpatient treatment, Hudson said. But, thankfully, not many people are having to be hospitalized because of COVID-19 at this point.

The wastewater numbers are still headed up. So were definitely seeing more and more cases, Hudson said.

She urged people to test for COVID-19 if they have respiratory symptoms.

If you have cough-and-cold symptoms, at this point, living in Los Angeles, you should really think that they are COVID until proven otherwise, she said.

This latest surge is being fueled in large part by the FLiRT variants a collection of highly transmissible sibling strains that have out-muscled last winters dominant strain, JN.1.

In particular, one of the FLiRT strains, known as KP.3.1.1, has really taken off, Hudson said. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that that strain accounted for 17.7% of coronavirus samples nationwide for the two-week period that ended July 20, up from 6.8% for the prior comparable period.

At that rate of growth, that strain is likely to become increasingly dominant in the next few weeks, Hudson said. So, unfortunately, I think we are going to see a lot more cases.

Coronavirus levels in California sewage are considered very high for a third consecutive week, the CDC said Friday. Thirty-seven states and the District of Columbia home to nearly 3 in 4 Americans have either high or very high coronavirus levels in wastewater.

For the seven-day period that ended July 20, the most recent data available, coronavirus levels in California wastewater were at 93% of the peak from the summer of 2022. Theyve already exceeded last summers height.

And there are indications that this summers COVID-19 wave might have some staying power. Coronavirus levels in California wastewater have been high or very high for seven straight weeks, with no sign of cresting. The wave from the summer of 2022 played out over 16 weeks during which viral levels were high or very high, and last summers wave lasted eight weeks.

The proliferation of the FLiRT variants may lengthen this summers surge, experts say, since they show a particular knack for immune evasion.

It does seem like we are spitting out more and more variants a lot more quickly, and thats probably to be expected, Hudson said. This virus is still very, very new to humans, and the virus wants to live, and the way that it lives is by evading immunity circumventing peoples defenses by evolving in a way to keep the chain of infection going.

Also, things are pretty much back to normal, Hudson said, with many people abandoning their once-cautious pandemic behaviors.

Even at the Olympics in Paris, COVID-19 is now treated like any other respiratory illness. The protocol among infected athletes is if theyre feeling well enough to train to have them wear masks, isolate when theyre not training and avoid certain communal areas such as the gym.

Regions across California are reporting high coronavirus levels in sewage. In the San Francisco Bay Area, San Jos and Palo Alto have generally had high coronavirus levels since the end of May. Fresno County health officials said last week that coronavirus levels were high across the San Joaquin Valley.

The rate at which Californias COVID-19 tests are turning up positive has now exceeded last summers peak. For the seven-day period that ended July 22, 13.8% of coronavirus tests came back positive. That exceeds last summers maximum of 13.1%.

Anecdotally, there are many reports of people getting COVID-19 from events including weddings, work meetings and flights, causing symptoms strong enough to make them miserable for days. Some have been surprised by nastier symptoms this time around compared with earlier bouts of COVID-19, although there are no indications that the latest subvariants result in more severe illness overall.

Those who are older or immunocompromised remain at highest risk.

Hundreds of COVID-19 deaths are still reported nationally every week. Among those who have recently died of complications from COVID-19 and pneumonia was the journalist Dan Collins, 80, who co-wrote Grand Illusion: The Untold Story of Rudy Giuliani and 9/11.

His wife, New York Times columnist Gail Collins, wrote that she and her husband both got COVID-19. It felt like a bad cold on my end, but Dan woke up one night unable to breathe at all. We went to the closest hospitals intensive care unit, and he never recovered, she wrote.

Overall, deaths and hospitalizations from COVID appear to be lower than those last summer.

In Los Angeles County, the nations most populous, there were an average of 286 COVID-19-positive people in hospitals for the week that ended July 20. Thats flat from the prior weeks figure of 291, and about half as many as last summers peak and one-quarter as many as the peak of summer 2022.

At UC San Francisco, COVID-19 hospitalizations seem to have stabilized, but theres a lot of COVID outside the hospital. Almost everybody has it: Theres been outbreaks at, you know, music gatherings and peoples dinners, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases expert there.

There may be several reasons behind the initial signs of hospitalizations stabilizing, Chin-Hong said. In general, population immunity against COVID-19 is higher. Also, its possible that the introduction of COVID-19 antiviral pills such as Paxlovid and its widespread availability may be keeping at-risk people from the hospital.

But with COVID-19 infections growing or likely growing in 35 states, as well as the nations capital, Chin-Hong suggested that higher-risk people who arent up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccine should get it now, and not wait until the updated autumn version becomes available.

Everyone age 6 months and above should have received an updated COVID-19 vaccination starting in September, according to CDC guidelines. Those 65 and older should have received a second vaccination dose four months after their first updated dose. Many seniors, however, havent had even a single updated dose.

Immunocompromised people should have received one or two doses of the updated vaccine since September, and may get additional vaccine doses two months after their last recommended dose.

Its not showing any signs that its going down, Chin-Hong said of the COVID-19 wave. Its a good idea for those who are older or immune-compromised to still get it right now. Because by now, I would have thought that COVID would be plateauing and going down, but it doesnt seem that way probably, because the rest of the country has caught up with states such as California.

In only one state, Hawaii, did the CDC estimate that COVID-19 is likely to be declining.

By a number of metrics, COVID-19 indicators are continuing to rise in L.A. County. For the week that ended July 21, L.A. County reported an average of 413 cases a day, up from 359 the prior week. Officially reported cases are considered an undercount, as they dont account for at-home tests or the fact that fewer people are testing in general, but the figures are still helpful in understanding transmission trends.

Coronavirus levels in L.A. County wastewater were at 40% of last winters peak over the 10-day period that ended July 13. Thats up from 36% for the 10-day period that ended July 6.

For the weekly period that ended July 21, 3.4% of emergency-room visits in L.A. County were related to the coronavirus. Thats up from 2.8% for the prior week.

Hudson encouraged people to test repeatedly if they have symptoms of COVID-19, even as far as the fifth day after the onset of illness. People who feel sick might test negative over the first or second days of symptoms, but may end up testing positive later on.

Knowing whether you have COVID is important, because if you dont think you have COVID, you may go back to your regular activities you may go to work and not wear a mask. And unfortunately, that is going to be a very easy way to continue to spread COVID, Hudson said.

The CDC urges people to stay home and away from others if theyre sick. People can resume normal activities 24 hours after their symptoms have improved and theyve been fever-free without using medicine such as Tylenol or Advil. But the CDC also advises added precautions for five additional days to avoid infecting others, such as wearing a mask and keeping distance from others.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health suggests that infected people who have symptoms get a negative test result before leaving isolation. The agency also suggests that people who are infected whether or not they have symptoms wear a mask around others for 10 days after they start feeling sick or, if asymptomatic, get their first positive test result. However, they can remove their mask sooner if they have two sequential negative tests at least one day apart.

L.A. County also suggests that those who are infected avoid contact with high-risk people for 10 days after the onset of symptoms or their first positive test result.

If patients recover and then get sick again, they may have COVID rebound and need to isolate.

For people who want to avoid getting COVID-19, wearing a mask in indoor public settings reduces the risk of infection. The strategy can be particularly effective when traveling, such as on a plane. Travel is a very common, common way that we are seeing people get exposed, Hudson said.

Its still wise to take prudent measures to avoid getting COVID-19, including avoiding sick people, doctors say. Each new infection carries the risk of long COVID-19 when someone develops enduring, sometimes punishing symptoms that can persist months or years after an infection.

The risk of getting long COVID-19 has decreased since the start of the pandemic, in part thanks to vaccines. But the risk of getting long COVID-19 still remains significant.

There are still people that do get long COVID, Hudson said. And long COVID is something that we all want to avoid.

Originally posted here:

COVID surging in California, nears two-year summer high. Almost everybody has it - Los Angeles Times