California’s winter COVID surge may be easing
The winter respiratory virus season may have hit its peak in California, with coronavirus levels in sewage and COVID-19 hospitalizations starting to decline following weeks of steady increases.
Should the trend continue, 2023–24 would be the mildest winter of the COVID era in terms of severe illness — free of anything even approximating the devastating and disruptive surges seen in prior years.
While there’s been real progress in curbing coronavirus-positive hospitalizations, there are still significant numbers of people getting sick. And despite improvement in patient outcomes — thanks to the rollout of vaccines and therapeutics — COVID-19 still causes more deaths and new respiratory hospitalizations than the flu.
Despite recent declines, COVID disease levels remain elevated compared to pre-winter, and health officials say it’s important that residents — especially those who are older — continue to take steps to protect themselves.
“Your next COVID-19 infection could be your worst, so don’t gamble with your health,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention wrote in a social media post. “Vaccination reduces risks and severity and keeps you protected.”
For the week ending Jan. 27, the most recent for which data are available, there were 2,496 new coronavirus-positive hospitalizations in California, down 16% from the prior week, according to the CDC. The apparent seasonal high was 3,746 new hospitalizations for the week that ended Dec. 30.
Last winter’s peak for hospitalizations came the last week of 2022, when 5,260 coronavirus-positive patients were admitted.
Decreasing COVID-19 hospitalizations prompted Los Angeles County health officials on Friday to lift an order issued just after Christmas that required healthcare employees and visitors to wear masks at hospitals and other facilities that provide in-patient care.
However, personnel in licensed healthcare facilities who haven’t been vaccinated against COVID-19 and flu since the autumn must still mask up while working in patient-care areas. This health order lasts until April 30, the end of the respiratory virus season.
In the largest sewershed of Santa Clara County, Northern California’s most populous, coronavirus levels are also declining. Viral levels there appeared to peak in mid-January at close to the alltime high seen during the first Omicron wave two winters ago.
For the most recent reading, dated Saturday, coronavirus levels in the San José sewershed fell to 49% of the peak from two winters ago. That concentration is still considered high.
In L.A. County, flu and respiratory syncytial virus, or RSV — the other two prongs of the “tripledemic” that stressed California hospitals last winter — are still circulating at elevated levels but have declined from their seasonal peak, public health officials said.
Health officials are continuing to urge people to get an updated COVID19 vaccination if they haven’t since a new version became available in September. Only 33% of California seniors 65 and older have received the latest shots.
The best vaccination rates for seniors in California are in the San Francisco Bay Area, where 52% of older Sonoma County residents and 56% of those in Marin County have received the most recent COVID-19 vaccine.
“Get the updated dose that was formulated to offer better protection against new strains of the virus,” the L.A. County Department of Public Health said in a statement. “The new vaccine can also restore immunity that may have diminished over time and lessen the risk of getting long COVID.”
A study published Thursday by the CDC found that for adults who got an updated vaccine since September, there was 54% increased protection against symptomatic COVID-19 compared with those who did not.
Another study, published in January by the CDC, found that seniors 65 and older who received last winter’s COVID-19 vaccination were about 50% less likely to have a COVID-related stroke, heart attack or blood clot. A similar finding was made for adults receiving dialysis who also got that vaccination.
Getting COVID-19 has been associated with increased risk of stroke, heart attack and blood clots.
Even with recent improvements in key COVID metrics, officials and experts say it’s vital that residents take steps to protect themselves — and if infected, to lessen the chance they spread the virus.
People who get COVID19 and have symptoms should stay home until their symptoms are mild and improving and they haven’t had a fever for 24 hours without medication, California health officials say.
Anyone with a coronavirus infection, whether they have symptoms or not, needs to mask up around others for 10 days after they become sick or first test positive. Failing to do so risks spreading infection. People can remove their masks earlier if they have two consecutive negative rapid test results, taken at least one day apart, according to state guidance.
Santa Clara County health officials cautioned residents about the risks should residents end isolation early.
“The best scientific information still indicates that individuals with COVID-19 may be infectious for around 10 days after they become sick or test positive,” the county Public Health Department said. “Given this ongoing risk of COVID-19 transmission, in instances where the benefits outweigh the harms, individuals may consider using additional layers of protection when feasible, such as maximizing indoor ventilation and filtration, working remotely and avoiding large indoor gatherings.”
Californians who don’t have insurance or have a hard time getting anti-COVID-19 medication can schedule a free telehealth appointment by calling 833-686-5051 or visiting www.sesamecare. com/covidca. Medication costs may be subject to a copay, depending on your insurance.
A program funded by the National Institutes of Health, featured at www.test2treat.org, gives adults who test positive for COVID-19 or flu free access to telehealth care and treatment.