The growing dominance of two super-contagious sub-variants of Omicron threatens to worsen California’s coronavirus wave, but experts and officials say there are sensible steps residents can take to protect themselves. Taking precautions is especially important now, as the two strains in question — BA.4 and especially BA.5 — have shown the ability to re-infect even those recently infected by a previous subvariant of Omicron. “This is one of the biggest consequences of BA.5: A previous infection, including an Omicron infection just last month, no longer provides strong protection against re-infection,” said Dr. Robert Wachter, chair of the UC San Francisco Department of Medicine. he tweeted over the weekend. BA.5 made up about 53.6% of new cases nationwide for the week ending Saturday, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A month ago, the subvariant was thought to account for just under 10% of new cases. “BA.5 is a different beast with a new superpower: enough of a change in the spike protein that immunity from either previous vax infection or previous Omicron infection (including recent infection) doesn’t offer much protection,” according to Wachter. Here are some steps experts and officials say you can take to prevent these latest versions of the coronavirus:
Vaccination Basics
Experts urge people to stay up to date on their vaccinations, and that includes getting a first booster shot or the second booster if appropriate. Vaccinations and booster shots are key factors in keeping hospitalizations relatively modest at present. According to the latest available data from the California Department of Public Health, unvaccinated people were more than five times more likely to contract COVID-19 than their vaccinated and boosted counterparts. They were also 7.5 times more likely to be hospitalized and 14.5 times more likely to die from the disease. The story continues The CDC currently recommends a second booster for anyone age 50 and older, as well as immunocompromised individuals age 12 and older, at least four months after the first booster. Children under the age of 5 are now eligible for vaccination. While the value of vaccinations and boosters “in preventing a case of COVID, or preventing transmission, is now much less than it once was,” the shots remain “extremely valuable in preventing a severe case that can lead to hospital/death,” Wachter tweeted. Reshaped boosters modified to add protection against Omicron’s newer mutations are also expected to be released this fall. But questions remain about how soon that drug will be available, considering Congress has yet to approve billions of dollars needed for efforts to control the pandemic, including money to pre-order vaccines. That release will also likely be delayed until November to incorporate a vaccine formula designed against the latest sub-variants of Omicron, rather than the older version, which scientists fear will be relatively outdated by then. Some eligible residents may be wondering if they should delay getting their second reminder until the updated downloads are available. For those over 50, “I’d say no—there’s too much COVID and the evidence of benefit from boost #2 is compelling,” according to Wachter. “If the new booster is very effective (not guaranteed), I doubt that getting a second booster now will prevent you from getting [a] double push in the fall,” he wrote. Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UC San Francisco, also said “his advice is to go ahead and get” a reminder now, rather than waiting.
Masks
While masks are no longer required in most indoor public spaces across the state, many experts say they continue to offer a valuable level of protection. California officials continue to urge residents to use face coverings in public indoor spaces, including stores, restaurants, theaters and family entertainment centers. Los Angeles County has gone a step further and still requires face coverings on public transportation, including ride-sharing vehicles, and at indoor transit hubs. “As families gather for summer barbecues, vacations and camping, the best way to avoid disruptions to summer plans is to be sure everyone is up to date on vaccines, wearing a mask when indoors, washing hands frequently them and to stay home and away from others when they are sick,” LA County Public Health Director Barbara Ferrer said this week.
Gatherings
Outdoor gatherings are preferable to indoor gatherings. If you must huddle inside, make the setting as ventilated as possible by opening doors and windows. Wearing a mask also offers an extra layer of protection, officials say. Health experts also recommend using rapid tests to check infection status as close to the start of a gathering as possible — especially if there are elderly people or people with underlying conditions, or if attendees have frequent contact with vulnerable people. “To do indoor gatherings safely, it’s really about good coverage (not indoor food) and ventilation. Adding rapid testing before the event offers additional protection,” Wachter wrote. This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
