Wastewater data show big coronavirus spike in San Diego
San Diego’s latest wastewater numbers show that the region is experiencing a massive increase in coronavirus transmission driven by BA.5, the subvariant now causing concern worldwide.
“We have every expectation that cases are eventually going to start rising the same way,” said Dr. Cameron Kaiser, deputy public health director for San Diego County.At the moment, he added, everyone is advised to do all they can to help slow the spread. Even though there is not currently a statewide mask mandate, wearing a mouth covering, especially in situations where many people are gathering together, is strongly advised.
Wastewater is currently thought to be a better indicator of the true amount of virus circulating in a community because many who take at-home tests don’t share their results with local health departments and because the virus is shed into a community’s sewers even by those who are infected but who have no symptoms that would cause them to get tested.
Many are starting to again liken the coronavirus to the flu, suggesting that an overall drop in mortality from COVID-19 due to vaccination and better treatment options have removed the pandemic’s most severe threat. But Kaiser disputed that conclusion, noting that while mortality rates definitely are much lower than they were in 2020 and 2021, they are still greater than would be expected with the flu.
“Even if you’ve been vaccinated, infected, boosted — all of those — [it] doesn’t mean you are immune to the current variant,” Smith said. Does that mean canceling planned events as July bleeds into August? The translational research virologist said that he prefers a “harm reduction” strategy that emphasizes outdoor events, masking indoors and in heavy crowds and plenty of social distance where possible.Precautions, he added, should be at their most pointed when interacting with people who are vulnerable.
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