Flashback: Watch local health care workers receive COVID-19 vaccine
Health care workers at Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs were some of the earliest recipients of the vaccine in Riverside County on Thursday, December 17, 2020.
If it seems like everyone is getting sick these days, there’s some truth to that: COVID-19 cases in California are on the rise again.
When looking at the state’s wastewater data, this summer’s levels are approaching those seen in the summer of 2022.
Here is what the data shows in California.
Wastewater levels similar to previous peaks
Based on data for the week ending July 26, coronavirus levels in California wastewater are considered “very high,” and have been since early July, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In total, 37 states and the District of Columbia have COVID-19 wastewater rates that are “high” or “very high.”
Nationally, the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is currently “high.”
Current wastewater levels are nearing those seen during June-July 2022, which were also classified as “very high.” Those levels returned in December 2022, December 2023, and this January.
Test positivity increases
The test positivity rate in California has been increasing as well.
As of data reported on July 26, the state’s current seven-day test positivity rate is 13.8%. That is an increase of 2.3% from the past week, according to the California Department of Public Health.
Compared to previous summers, the test positivity rate is approaching the highs seen during the summer of 2022, which had a peak of 16.1%.
KP.3, KP.3.1.1 dominant variants in the country
The CDC is monitoring the COVID-19 variant KP.3.1.1 as it edges close to KP.3.
The government agency’s Nowcast data tracker, which shows projections of the COVID-19 variants for a two-week period starting on July 7 and ending on July 20, showed that the KP.3 variant accounted for 32.9% of positive cases, followed by KP.3.1.1 at 17.7%. Combined, the two variants make up 50.6% of cases.
“The KP.3.1.1 variant is very similar to other circulating variants in the United States. All current lineages are descendants of JN.1, which emerged in late 2023,” CDC Spokesperson Rosa Norman told USA TODAY.
COVID-19 Symptoms
COVID-19 symptoms can appear between two and 14 days after exposure to the virus and can range from mild to severe.
Symptoms include:
Fever or chillsCoughShortness of breath or difficulty breathingFatigueMuscle or body achesHeadacheLoss of taste or smellSore throatCongestion or runny noseNausea or vomitingDiarrhea
The CDC said you should seek medical attention if you have the following symptoms:
Trouble breathingPersistent pain or pressure in the chestNew confusionInability to wake or stay awakePale, gray, or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail bedsVaccines, treatments still offer protection
Norman said in an interview with USA Today that the CDC anticipates that currently available COVID-19 treatments and vaccines will continue to work against all circulating variants.
The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months old and older get the updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine.
How many people in California have died of COVID-19?
Since the start of the pandemic, 101,159 Californians have died of COVID-19, according to John Hopkins University.
USA Today contributed to this report.
Ema Sasic covers entertainment and health in the Coachella Valley. Reach her at [email protected] or on Twitter @ema_sasic.
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Publish date : 2024-07-29 08:22:00
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