The California Department of Public Health reported that the state saw a surge in COVID-19 infections over the summer.
Weekly results in late June emergency room California visitor numbers increased about 23% from the previous week. Test positivity rate That rose to 8%, the highest figure for this time of year since summer 2022. Mortality That’s a 14% increase from the previous week.
107,973 Californians have died since the pandemic began Died from COVID-193,654 people from October to June 2023 He died of COVID.
But Dr. John Swartzberg, clinical professor emeritus at the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health, He told the Mercury News This summer’s surge in cases is far lower than the expected rise in COVID-19 cases in California in 2023.
“It’s not even approaching winter and it’s not as high as it was a year ago,” he said.
Another good data point is that California recorded its lowest death toll on record this spring. The state saw its first COVID-19 death in more than four years.According to a KFF Health News report.
Are COVID-19 infection rates rising across the country this summer?
As an example COVID-19 With new variants emerging and cases rising across the country this summer, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending people get up to date on the vaccine in preparation for the fall and winter virus season.
“Ahead of the respiratory virus season, make plans for you and your family to get both an up-to-date flu vaccine and a COVID-19 vaccine this fall,” CDC Director Mandy Cohen said in a statement Thursday.
The CDC has been tracking the rise of several COVID-19 variants, including the dominant KP.3 variant and LB.1, the latest variant circulating in the U.S. According to data collected by the agency, test positivity rates had increased by 1.4% as of June 22.
Here’s what you need to know about COVID-19 in California and the U.S., plus the latest vaccine guidance from the CDC.
Increase in COVID-19 cases this summer:Rising Trend Insights
Should I get the latest COVID-19 vaccine?
The CDC: everyone With some exceptions, babies and children aged 6 months and older will need to get the updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine to protect against the disease, regardless of whether they have previously been vaccinated against the virus.
Should I get an up-to-date flu vaccine?
The agency also recommends getting the updated flu vaccine for 2024-2025.
Most people only need one dose of the flu vaccine per season, and September and October are the best times for most people to get vaccinated.
Can I get the COVID and flu vaccines at the same time?
The CDC says it is safe to receive both the COVID-19 vaccine and the flu vaccine during the same visit.
What are the current COVID variants?
For two weeks from June 9 to June 22, CDC Nowcast Data Tracker It shows a forecast of COVID-19 variants, with the KP.3 variant accounting for 33.1% of positive cases, the KP.2 variant for 20.8% and the new variant LB.1 for 17.5% of cases.
The JN.1 variant accounted for just 1.6% of positive infections, the data showed.
What is the LB.1 variant?
The LB.1 variant is the latest COVID-19 variant circulating in the United States.
Based on information currently available to the CDC, there is no indication that the LB.1 variant poses a serious risk.
“There is currently no evidence that LB.1 causes more severe disease,” CDC spokesman Dave Daigle previously told USA Today.
What are the current symptoms of COVID-19?
there is A wide range of symptoms This is indicative of COVID-19 infection and can appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Symptoms can include:
- Fever or chills
- cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Malaise
- Muscle and body pain
- headache
- New loss of taste or smell
- sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- Nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
The CDC says people should see a doctor if they have any of the following symptoms:
- Difficulty breathing
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- New confusion
- Inability to wake up or stay awake
- Pale, gray, or blue coloration of the skin, lips, or nail beds
How do COVID and flu symptoms compare?
Influenza and COVID-19 share some symptoms in common: Flu symptoms According to the CDC, the flu comes on suddenly. People with the flu often experience some or all of the following symptoms:
- Fever or feeling feverish/chills
- cough
- sore throat
- Runny or stuffy nose
- Muscle and body pain
- headache
- Malaise
Some people may experience vomiting and diarrhea, which the CDC says is more common in children than adults.
What is the CDC recommended COVID-19 quarantine period?
The CDC’s latest respiratory virus guidelines recommend that people stay home and avoid contact with others. At least 24 hours Isolation will resume once fever is gone and symptoms have generally improved – a change from previous guidelines that recommended a minimum isolation period of five days for COVID-19 cases.
Instead, the CDC recommends taking additional precautions over the next five days and implementing prevention strategies, including:
- For clean air
- Reinforcement of hygiene practices
- Wear a mask that fits snugly
- Keeping distance from others
- Get tested for respiratory viruses
Contributor: James Ward, Palm Springs Desert Sun
