COVID-19 infections again on the rise in Stanislaus County. Is new strain less severe?
Stanislaus County has a growing coronavirus infection rate because of highly contagious subvariants of the omicron strain.
The county has a daily case rate of 13.9 per 100,000 population, up from 8.26 per 100,000 last week, a county public health spokesperson said Wednesday.
As rising COVID transmission is reported in other areas of California, the percentage of positive tests is 5.71% in Stanislaus County, higher than the 5% statewide earlier in the week.
Kamlesh Kaur, a county health services spokesperson, said Wednesday the county is watching hospital admissions and so far the higher transmission is not a strain on local medical centers.
As of Tuesday, there were 27 COVID-positive patients in local hospitals, including three in intensive care units. The state is averaging 8,400 new cases per day, and 1,527 COVID patients were hospitalized across the state.
A year ago, a daily case rate of 13.9 per 100,000 was a metric falling under the most restrictive “purple tier” of the state’s COVID-19 guidelines. The purple tier indicated widespread transmission of the coronavirus, while a 5.71% positive test rate was in the red tier — for substantial spread.
While more contagious, the omicron strain and subvariants are considered to be less severe than the deadlier forms of COVID-19 that are largely responsible for 1,757 deaths in Stanislaus County since 2020. In addition, vaccines have reduced the risks of serious illness.
What symptoms are people having?
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, infectious disease data suggest omicron and its subvariants are less severe, often causing a sore throat, intestinal symptoms or nasal congestion lasting five or more days, but some people may be hospitalized with serious disease and “could die from the infection.”
Unvaccinated people, older adults and people weakened by underlying health conditions are considered more vulnerable to complications. There is also risk of “long-haul” COVID illness with symptoms lasting for months.
Kaur said most of the COVID-infected patients in the hospital this week are not vaccinated against the coronavirus. “We strongly recommend to our community members to get vaccinated and wear a mask to reduce hospitalizations and deaths,” she said by email.
As the case numbers swell, county public health is following CDC and state health department guidelines, Kaur said.
The California Department of Public Health said in a news release Wednesday that COVID vaccines and booster shots are the safest way to prevent serious illness from the virus. More vulnerable people with symptoms might ask their doctor about testing and if they qualify for antiviral pills such as Paxlovid or molnupiravir, the news release said.
The prescription pills are most effective if taken soon after symptoms emerge, and people need to ask their doctors about potentially significant drug interactions. Those without a health care provider can search for a Test to Treat location and see if they are eligible for the treatments, the state said.
In some cities, less than 50% vaccinated
In Stanislaus County, the COVID-19 vaccine coverage varies by age group, ranging from full vaccination in 15.5% of children ages 5 to 11 to 81.8% of seniors 65 and older. More than 96% of adults 65 and older are at least partly vaccinated.
Patterson has the highest rate at 69.8% percent fully vaccinated. Modesto is second at 61.9%, and the full vaccination rate is close to 60% in Ceres, Turlock, Riverbank and Newman. Less than half the eligible residents in Oakdale, Hughson and Waterford are fully vaccinated.
People may receive a booster shot five months after completing the initial Pfizer or Moderna vaccination or two months after the single dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine. The FDA has authorized a second booster for immunocompromised individuals and adults over 50 years old, at least four months after the first booster.
The county Health Services Agency said in a Facebook post that people can order an additional eight home COVID-19 tests from the federal COVIDtests.gov site.
This story was originally published May 19, 2022 at 8:19 AM.
