“That would actually be hugely problematic because we generally count on people having at least a couple of months of immunity, but we also count on there being less reinfections within one type, one strain of the virus,” Ferrer said. More troubling still are indications that the two subvariants are able to reinfect people who previously survived an infection with Omicron. And the new BA.2.12.1 subvariant - or “grandchild” of the original Omicron - is 25% more contagious than BA.2.Īnd officials say yet another pair of Omicron subvariants, BA.4 and BA.5, is responsible for a surge in cases and hospitalizations in South Africa. Its “child,” as Cody referred to a subsequent subvariant called BA.2, is about 30% more transmissible than the parent. The latest maps and charts on the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles County, including cases, deaths, closures and restrictions. I just think that’s common sense right now.” “And this is not going to be forever, but when you have this much transmission, let’s be sensible and try to do our very best to avoid getting infected and avoid infecting others. It protects you, and it protects other people, and it’s not all that disruptive,” she said during a briefing Wednesday. But whatever term you want to use, she said, the growth in cases is cause for caution. Los Angeles County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said she wouldn’t necessarily characterize the recent increases as a new wave or surge. We didn’t get much of a lull before cases started rising again.” “It’s notable because it’s come relatively quickly after resolution of the last surge. Sara Cody, the public health director and health officer for Northern California’s most populous county, Santa Clara County, said Tuesday. “Although there’s a lot of uncertainty about whether the county is going to reach the CDC-designated high community level, I do want to encourage everyone to use their masks now whenever you’re indoors in public spaces around others,” Ferrer said.“We’re now into our sixth wave,” Dr. County already requires masks in certain settings - including while aboard public transit - and that indoor masking remains strongly recommended in other public settings. But should current case and hospital trends continue, it’s possible the county could reach the high level by the end of the month.įerrer noted that L.A. County remains at the “medium” COVID-19 community level. The CDC recommends universal indoor public masking for counties in the high COVID-19 community level. That category, the worst on the agency’s three-tier scale, indicates not only that there’s significant community transmission but that hospital systems may grow strained due to the demands posed by coronavirus-positive patients. County would do likewise should it fall within the CDC’s “high” COVID-19 community level for two consecutive weeks. The California Department of Public Health, for instance, strongly recommends, but does not require, everyone mask up in indoor public settings, including businesses, on public transit and in transportation hubs.įerrer has said L.A. Masks have also been a particular point of emphasis during the latest uptick, even though officials have, for the most part, stopped short of reinstituting requirements that they be worn in many places. Such steps include getting vaccinated and boosted, when eligible, which both helps ward off infection and provides strong protection against severe illness, experts say. “Taking appropriate precautions for yourself and for others during times of high transmission remains sensible, particularly given the uncertainty around both long COVID and the impact of new variants and sublineages,” Ferrer said. Though conditions now are nowhere near as distressing as earlier in the pandemic, officials and experts say some protective measures are warranted during periods of elevated coronavirus spread. schools more breathable for students living with allergies, asthma, and chronic wildfire smoke. Pandemic funds could combat COVID-19 and make U.S. World & Nation COVID-19 funding pries open a door to improving air quality in schools
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