Some variants emerge and then disappear. Anyone desiring to use or reproduce the data without modification for a noncommercial purpose may do so without obtaining approval. 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. ), the sequence, Ability to evade detection by diagnostic tests, Decreased susceptibility to neutralising antibodies, either therapeutic (e.g., convalescent plasma or monoclonal antibodies) or in laboratory experiments, Ability to evade natural immunity (e.g., causing reinfections), Increased risk of particular conditions such as multisystem inflammatory syndrome or. 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. We do expect further waves of infection around the world, but that doesnt have to translate into further waves of death because our countermeasures continue to work, Van Kerkhove said. Thats why it is so important to vaccinate people as quickly as possible, Michels said. Statewide, the seven-day case rate was 78.4 per 100,000 on Nov. 26, and 117 on December 9. Currently, there are 420 cases of COVID-19 in Sacramento's hospital; 106 of those are in the intensive care unit. Vaccines are especially good in preventing severe disease that may cause hospitalization. People have tested positive for COVID-19 with this new variant in 12 counties so far, including Los Angeles, Riverside, San Francisco, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego, Humboldt, Lake, Mono, Monterey, San Luis Obisbo, and also San Clara County, where its been linked to outbreaks. These percentages are based on a 7-day average with a 14-day lag. Final atmospheric river storm to hit Bay Area. But only one patient who was vaccinated was hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported to date. Its more contagious and more resistant to existing immunity than any of it coronavirus predecessors. He earned his bachelors degree in journalism from the University of Arizona. This is a public-private partnership that provides California with genomic sequencing to help understand and control the spread of COVID-19. November 26, 2021 / 9:41 PM / CBS Los Angeles. Again, these are studies in test tubes that have not been peer reviewed, scientists caution. Karan urges more people to get the updated bivalent booster, particularly those over 60 and people with severe comorbidities. At least 1,311 sequenced lambda cases have been reported in at least 40 states since the start of the pandemic, with 18 cases identified in the past four weeks, according to the public virus genetic sequence database GISAID. Knowing what variants are circulating in California informs public health and clinical action. Yes. LOS ANGELES, CA The highly contagious Mu variant of the coronavirus has been detected in Los Angeles County, health officials confirmed Friday. (In MyUCDavisHealth, click on Visits > Schedule Appointment > COVID Vaccination. It now accounts for at least 86% of Californias sequenced COVID-19 cases and more than 94% of U.S. cases. This chart does not show all variants identified. The highly contagious XBB.1.5 strain, the latest in a succession of omicron subvariants that was first detected in the U.S. in October, is quickly spreading. The bivalent booster vaccine is approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. That figure includes those hospitalized with COVID-19 and a larger segment of patients who test positive after seeking care for some other reason. We might permanently block any user who abuses these conditions. LAist is part of Southern California Public Radio (SCPR), a member-supported public media network. The seven-day average of daily deaths linked to COVID-19 in the United States is now more than 1,150, according to data for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Get a prescription for antiviral therapies such as Paxlovid if you become infected and you qualify, because it can help prevent hospitalization and lower the risk of long COVID, he said. The Omicron variant continues to spread throughout communities and can infect people who have been vaccinated or have previously had COVID-19. Amy Osborne, Freelance / Special to The Chronicle, 17 cars broken into on a single night in this San Francisco neighborhood. CDC data so far suggests that the new bivalent boosters are more effective than previous vaccines in preventing symptomatic disease and hospitalizations, Karan said. It is far higher than previously believed. Heres what is known so far about the XBB.1.5 variant, including its prospects for spreading further in California. These viruses are pretty clever, and they are known to mutate, said Karin Michels, chair of epidemiology at the UCLA Fielding School of Public Health. Where were the biggest dips? Every time COVID-19 infects someone, theres a chance for more mutations, which can allow the virus to keep spreading. Experts all agree that the subvariant will likely become dominant across the U.S., perhaps by the end of the month, Swartzberg estimated. The chart has data on specimens collected through {CHART_LAST_DATE} and was updated on {CHART_PUBLISH_DATE}. Tool ranks 25 cities based on An iconic moment: In Warriors return to White House, Biden takes a knee, S.F. Topol said in a commentary published Sunday in the Washington Post that the emergence of XBB.1.5 shows the coronavirus still isnt done with us. Moderna and Pfizer both have a single-dose bivalent vaccine. All but two of the reported omicron cases were in people who had been vaccinated, and the vaccination status of two others was unknown. Heres what you need to know about lambda. Another COVID variant? Tracking COVID-19 in CA. 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. It was notorious for being one of the most immune resistant and evasive variants around, but wasnt quite as good at holding on to and infecting cells, he said, which is probably the reason that it never really took off around the world., What makes XBB.1.5 stand out is that it retains the immune slipperiness of XBB, but also adds a mutation that makes it easier to infect cells, Chin-Hong said. This creates a confident projection of variant distribution in California. Thats nearly quadruple the 43 deaths recorded during the first week of November. The. ), Read more about bivalent boosters from the FDA, View the California Department of Public Health's statement on bivalent vaccines. Knowing what variants are circulating in California informs public health and clinical action. See the data file for data source and disclaimer information. According to the agency, These projections can be uncertain or fluctuate within a wide predictive interval when a variant is just beginning to spread.. This chart is made using California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Genomic Surveillance Data. Well, you might find yourself out of luck because across the country, critical care beds are being filled by COVID patients. California genetically sequences a sample of positive COVID-19 tests to determine their variant. The FDA recently said that it does not anticipate that the drug Evusheld will neutralize XBB.1.5. Some variants emerge and then disappear. Get the latest on how to schedule your COVID-19 vaccine, boosters and third doses, and more. A group of college students in masks talk to each other in a hallway. If you test positive, contact your doctor for an appointment. Learn more about the COVID-19 bivalent booster and how you can schedule your bivalent booster at UC Davis Health. It is among the unvaccinated that the virus is free to evolve. 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. You will then be prompted to answer which vaccines you have received already.). However, if you were in a situation where people were outside, masked and distanced, the risk of infection is much lower. Several specialized laboratories statewide sequence the genomes of a fraction of all positive COVID-19 tests to determine which variants are circulating. Thats not idle speculation. That may have happened with a new variant of the coronavirus popping up in California. But officials have warned about the possibility of a second peak stemming from winter holiday gatherings and travel. Kellie also serves as co-director of the Asian American Journalists Association Features Forum. Before returning to the Bay Area, she held roles as transportation reporter and trending news reporter at the IndyStar in Indianapolis. You are safer if you are vaccinated, but you are also safer if your neighbor is vaccinated. That's not idle speculation. If we had more robust surveillance, we would have a better understanding of its prevalence and trajectory., This will become clearer with time, Karan said, but for now, this variant is outcompeting other variants and has mutations that give it an advantage to enter cells while also evading parts of our immune system.. Learn more about which masks are best to protect against omicron BA.5. Some early clues are emerging. It furthermore noted that rapid growth in the U.S. would not necessarily mean the same would occur in Europe, since major differences in variant circulation between North America and Europe have been observed several times during the pandemic.. This chart shows the sample of sequenced positive tests where the variant was identified. The California Department of Public Health noted that more than two thirds of the states residents are fully vaccinated. Protect those you love. (Jill Connelly / Bloomberg via Getty Images), Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. The Delta variant of the coronavirus is beginning to spread in California, offering a preview of how the battle of the pandemic is going to change as officials move to protect a shrinking. 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. can experience health problems for four or more weeks after first being infected. Luckily, it seems that it's mutated in a way that the current vaccine still protects from this new variant, Michels said. Are COVID-19 vaccines effective in protecting against omicron BA.5? gallery owner who sprayed homeless woman in viral video apologizes. How effective are N95 masks vs. surgical masks vs. cloth masks? It is definitely here in the Bay Area already because of travel from the Northeast to the Bay Area that is common, but was amplified by holiday travel and get-togethers, Chin-Hong said. Just because vaccines appear less effective when pitted against lambda in a test tube doesnt mean they wont protect against severe illness, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, a University of California, San Francisco infectious disease specialist. The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) works to protect the public's health in the Golden State and helps shape positive health outcomes for individuals, families and We are facing the first significant mutation of this virus right now. Learn more about the flu and how to get your flu shot from UC Davis Health. The message from health experts remains that everyone should be vaccinated against COVID-19. I wonder what the WHO will do after scientists have exhausted the Greek alphabet with the discovery of an Omega variant. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has reported cases in 25 states including California. Its important to remember that you may be asymptomatic and not know you are infected but still able to spread COVID-19. Here in Maine, about 65% of those currently hospitalized with COVID and, in some Maine hospitals, more than 90% of those with COVID who are on ventilators haven't been fully vaccinated. Learn how to schedule your COVID-19 vaccine at UC Davis Health. There is a also a lag before sequencing data is fully available, so it is likely already more common than the CDC data suggests in the Bay Area., Because of an inadequate amount of PCR testing and insufficient genomic sequencing of positive tests, Swartzberg said, we have a very myopic vision as to how this virus is evolving.. Learn more from our experts about omicron BA.5 and how you can protect yourself. Learn more about when you should get tested. COVID-19 vaccines, especially the bivalent booster, are a big part of the defenses people should employ against the coronavirus. So do Californians need to worry about this new variant? This subvariant will be hard to avoid unless one is being careful, Swartzberg said. At-home COVID tests, also known as rapid antigen tests, are useful because they provide quick results. Vaccines administered updated January 12, 2023 at 9:37 AM with data from January 11, 2023. 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. A slew of alphanumerically designated coronavirus subvariants, each more easily spread than the last, surfaced last year. Related Articles What are the differences between flu symptoms and omicron symptoms? The XBB.1.5 variant is taking over on the East Coast. 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. According to the CDC COVID tracker, BA.5 is the predominant strain of COVID-19. Every once in a while a virus mutates in a way that helps it survive and reproduce. We need to go deeper and look at the reasons for the increases in hospitalization and determine what is happening.. The world is still getting used to COVID-19 upturning peoples' lives. This variant spreads more easily than the original virus that causes COVID-19 and the delta variant. As the third year of the COVID-19 pandemic nears an end, the coronavirus continues to evolve and prove that it has more tricks up its sleeve. XBB.1.5 is a descendant of XBB, which is a recombinant of descendants of the Omicron subvariant BA.2. Now, Omicron! Not all viruses from positive COVID-19 tests are sequenced. In Los Angeles County, coronavirus cases remain high but have been declining since early December after a Thanksgiving-fueled wave. We believe when reliable local reporting is widely available, the entire community benefits. Several factors, including increased transmission stemming from travel and gatherings over the winter holidays, are likely at play. New research finds that with each repeat COVID infection even asymptomatic infection your risk for complications increases. Delta plus, also referred to as AY.1 or B.617.2.1, is a version of the highly contagious delta variant, which was first detected in India and is causing COVID-19 cases to rise around the world . Kellie Hwang is the engagement reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle. 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. Consider upgrading your face masks to N95s or KN95s if you want more protection. A new COVID-19 variant named lambda has arrived in California. We wont likely see a major spike in COVID cases, but a modest increase in cases in the community, Chin-Hong said. Lambda sparked headlines this summer after the WHO noted its rapid spread in South American countries, including Peru, Ecuador, Argentina and Brazil. The CDC reported in August that unvaccinated people are almost 30 times more likely to be hospitalized with COVID-19 than those who are fully vaccinated. He likened it to a bulldog that wont let go.. A majority of residents of Wyoming, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana all "red" states have not been fully vaccinated for the virus, according to Johns Hopkins Universitys Coronavirus Resource Center. Bay Area businesses are gearing up for the new COVID variant, Omicron. Who is going to win, us or the virus?, New COVID-19 Strain Confirmed In LA County; Cases Top 1 Million. As of last Thursday, the CDC is requiring travelers to the US from China, Hong Kong and Macao to take a Covid-19 test no more than two days before travel and provide a negative result before boarding a flight. In the region that includes California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and the Pacific island territories, an estimated 7.6% of coronavirus cases over the last week were thought to be XBB.1.5, up from 2. . Researchers are trying to determine if the new variant is more infectious than the current dominant strain. New York where the XBB.1.5 variant was first detected, and the U.S. bellwether for its growth still shows signs of increasing hospitalizations, particularly for those age 70+, Dr. Eric Topol, director of the Scripps Research Translational Institute in La Jolla, wrote on Twitter Friday. A CDC report Friday indicated that of 43 reported from Dec. 1-8, 34 involved people who were fully vaccinated at least 14 days before they felt sick or tested positive, including 14 who also had received a booster dose. You can also sign up to get four free COVID test kits that are mailed to you from the federal government. The virus that causes COVID-19 is constantly changing, and new variants of the virus are expected to occur. Sometimes new variants emerge and disappear. Thats why it is among the unvaccinated that the current dominant strain confirmed in LA ;! 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