New COVID-19 subvariants, collectively referred to as FLiRT, continue to increase their dominance across the country, fueling an epidemic in Los Angeles County and a surge in coronavirus levels seen in California wastewater.
Taken together, the data points to a resurgence of the coronavirus in the Golden State, a resurgence that, while not entirely unforeseen given the trends seen in previous pandemic summers, passed and is driven by strains even more transmissible than those seen in the past.
However, it is still unclear how much worse the COVID scenario will get this summer. Doctors said that until July 4, we may have a clearer idea of what the rest of the season will look like.
The U. S. Centers for Disease Control and PreventionThe U. S. Department of Homeland Security estimates that the FLiRT subvariants, officially known as KP. 3, KP. 2 and KP. 1. 1, account for a total of 62. 9% of national samples during the two-week period ending Saturday. an increase from 45. 3% a month ago.
Experts say the new subvariants are more contagious than the dominant subvariant, JN. 1.
California is now one of 15 states with high or very high levels of coronavirus in wastewater, according to the CDC. These states are located in the west and south, as well as New England. In addition to California, there are Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Tennessee, Texas, Utah and Wyoming.
Coronavirus levels in California’s tea water have risen sharply overall since early May, in contrast to national trends, which point to a slower rise. The most recent weekly viral activity of California’s tea water is approaching the peak seen last summer.
In Santa Clara County, Northern California’s most populous, wastewater levels are the highest in much of Silicon Valley, from San Jose to Palo Alto.
Coronavirus levels in Los Angeles County’s wastewater have at times remained robust after emerging in the past month. For the week ending June 8, the recent maximum available, wastewater levels were 15% of the 2022-2023 winter peak, up from 13%. last week, but down from 16% last week. Last summer peaked near the end of the season, when wastewater levels reached 38% of the 2022-2023 winter level.
However, reported cases of COVID-19 continue to rise. During the seven consecutive days ending June 16, an average of 154 cases per day were reported in Los Angeles County, compared to 121 last week. The reported cases are underestimated, as they only involve tests consistent with those performed in medical centers and do not come with home tests. They also don’t reflect the fact that fewer people are getting tested for COVID when they’re sick.
The average number of other people with COVID in Los Angeles County hospitals is also increasing. There was an average of 138 per day during the week ending June 15, compared to 126 last week.
COVID deaths remained stable, at less than one per day on average during the week ending May 28.
The percentage of COVID tests at California medical centers that show positive effects continues to rise. During the week ending June 17, 7. 5% of COVID tests statewide came back positive, well above the 3. 1% rate a month ago. Last summer’s peak was 13. 1%, recorded at the end of August.
The California Department of Public Health updated its recommendations for older adults in June, “especially those with weakened immune systems. “Officials have suggested seniors stay up to date on their vaccinations and seek medication if they are in poor health. with COVID, and additional precautions, such as wearing a mask in crowded indoor areas, opening windows and doors to increase ventilation, staying away from others with health conditions, washing hands frequently, and hiding coughs and sneezes.
The accumulation of knowledge about coronavirus tracking comes as the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has announced that the U. S. Food and Drug Administration has been monitoring the U. S. Food and Drug Administration for the first time in the U. S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The U. S. Department of Agriculture published new guidelines for vaccine brands in mid-June. In a June 13 statement, the company suggested brands, if possible, to design this fall’s vaccine formula as opposed to KP. . 2 (one of the FLiRT subvariants) of his father, JN. 1.
The new council annuls the guidance of a week earlier, when the company that designed the vaccines opposed JN. 1.
“This replacement aims to make COVID-19 vaccines (2024-2025 formula) better adapted to circulating strains of SARS-CoV-2,” the FDA said in a statement, referring to the official call for the COVID-19 virus.
By this fall, the dominant COVID subvariant “will likely be closer to KP. 2 than it possibly would have been to JN. 1,” Dr. Peter Marks, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, said in a report. Media availability on Friday.
mRNA-based vaccines, made by Pfizer and Moderna, will be produced in shots this fall for KP. 2. But the protein-based vaccine, made by Novavax, will still be designed unlike JN. 1, because the mRNA vaccine can be made faster, Marks said.
“What you can do when you make a protein-based vaccine instead of an mRNA vaccine is different in terms of agility in reacting to what’s coming,” Marks said. Still, the difference between receiving a designed vaccine rather than the new KP. 2 subvariant and the old JN. 1 subvariant is unlikely to result in “such a big difference. “
“We will not have preference,” said Marcos, in relation to the advice of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine over the Novavax vaccine. “The vaccine to face this autumn is the one you put in your arms”.
Marks said a vaccine designed for KP. 2 “may provide a small advantage” over a vaccine for JN. 1. “With the recent maximum update, we hope to provide protective immunity that lasts longer,” Marks said at the last minute. autumn and winter.
“It’s like trying to give others the biggest advantage, isn’t it?The extra hundredth of a second you win [a race],” Marks said. “But I think the most important thing other people know is that, either way, either one is perfectly smart. “
Federal officials have expressed hope that the COVID vaccine will be available sooner than this year than in 2023. Last year’s rollout was confusing because the updated COVID vaccine came out later than seasonal flu shots, making it harder for other people to get it. receive any of the vaccines on the vez. la same scale if they would have preferred.
COVID-19 remains a disease that will need to be protected against, doctors say. About 45,000 COVID deaths have been reported since Oct. 1 nationwide, and doctors say those most at risk are the elderly and the immunocompromised who haven’t gained their to-date vaccination.
“It doesn’t just happen at night. He’s dragging his feet,” Marks said.
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