New COVID-19 omicron variants show up in Travis County as cases rise

Austin Public Well being has discovered two new COVID-19 omicron variants in Travis County. As of Friday, the 2 variants — often called BA.4 and BA.5 — mixed to make up about 6% of the COVID-19 infections in the US.

A lot of the COVID-19 infections in Travis County and the US are nonetheless the BA.2 or stealth omicron, a subvariant of the unique omicron of final winter.

COVID-19 circumstances in Travis County have been rising. As of Friday, Austin Public Well being reported a transmission fee of 174.81 circumstances for each 100,000 folks. If that quantity will get to 200, the county will transfer from low group unfold to medium on the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention’s scale. 

“These rising numbers and new subvariants are very regarding, particularly at a time when many can be touring and gathering with family members,” Dr. Desmar Walkes, Austin-Travis County well being authority, stated Friday.

Extra: COVID-19 circumstances are again on the rise. There are 3 major explanation why.

What are the BA.4 and BA.5 variants?

The BA.4 and BA.5 omicron variants have triggered an increase in circumstances this spring in Europe and South Africa.

They appear to be extra transmissible than the unique omicron, which was extra transmissible than delta, which was extra transmissible than alpha and beta, which was extra transmissible than the unique COVID-19 of spring 2020. 

The European Centre for Illness Management and Prevention notes that these new subvariants of omicron appear to evade pure immunity in individuals who bought the unique omicron, however the subvariants don’t appear to trigger extra extreme an infection. The ECDC expects these subvariants to change into the dominant strains in Europe within the coming months.

Understanding variants: What we now find out about omicron COVID-19 variant

What does it imply to go from low  to medium group unfold?

The CDC updates group unfold ranges each week. In Central Texas, Travis, Williamson, Hays, Bastrop and Burnet counties are nonetheless within the low degree. Caldwell County is within the medium degree. 

Listed below are what the degrees imply for you:

For folks up-to-date with their COVID-19 vaccines: 

Low: Taking precautions is non-compulsory when gathering, eating and procuring. 

Medium: Precautions are non-compulsory when gathering, eating and procuring. However put on a masks when social distancing isn’t doable. 

Excessive: Use precautions when gathering, eating and procuring. 

For people who find themselves at larger danger:  

Low: Precautions are non-compulsory when gathering, eating and procuring.  

Medium: Use precautions when gathering, eating and procuring.  

Excessive: Use precautions when gathering, eating and procuring. 

Precautions imply carrying a masks, social distancing and avoiding crowded conditions. 

Travis County has seen its transmission charges steadily enhance since March 16, when it was at a low of 30.2 circumstances per 100,000 folks. On Might 12, that quantity had risen to 118 circumstances per 100,000. On Might 26, it was at 169.9 circumstances.

The advantage of stealth omicron: Our hospitalizations have remained manageable. As of Monday, new admissions of individuals with COVID-19 had been at 16, with 59 folks hospitalized, seven within the ICU and two on ventilators.

Understanding new ranges: Austin Public Well being does away with native COVID levels, aligns tips with CDC

Why is the group unfold altering?

Extra individuals are gathering once more. Take into consideration all of the graduations and end-of-school celebrations, plus Memorial Day and different summer time occasions starting to occur. Fewer individuals are carrying masks in public areas.

Additionally, every variant has been extra transmissible, in keeping with well being care specialists.

What can we do to regulate the unfold?

“We’d like everybody to get vaccinated and boosted, particularly youngsters who’re now eligible for boosters,” Walkes stated. “Masks additionally present an additional layer of safety for your self and others.” 

Everybody 5 and older is eligible to get vaccinated and eligible for a booster 5 months after the authentic sequence (two doses for mRNA vaccines for most individuals, three doses for immune compromised folks). Adults 50 and older can get a second booster 4 months after their first booster. 

Now we have to maintain up with vaccination, stated Dr. Donald Murphey, a pediatric infectious illness specialist at Dell Youngsters’s Medical Heart of Central Texas, as a result of “COVID, it is not only a single wave. There’s not long-lasting immunity, and the virus is altering. It truly is an particularly troublesome virus. There’s extra to come back.”

Vaccinations will help stop extreme illness and demise, specialists say. That is actually the aim of the vaccines: stopping hospitalizations and demise, whereas retaining our hospitals obtainable to non-COVID-19 sufferers. 

“It occurs with the flu vaccine,” Murphey stated. “It might not stop you from getting the flu, however it does stop hospitalizations and demise.” 

It’s by no means too late to start out vaccinations or to get again on the vaccination schedule. 

Most pharmacies have loads of COVID-19 vaccine obtainable. Austin Public Well being has its walk-up website on the Outdated Sims Elementary Gymnasium, 1203 Springdale Highway, 2-7 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays and 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays. COVID-19 vaccinations are free. 

The way forward for COVID-19: When will COVID-19 be over? How Austin docs, scientists predict the way forward for pandemic

Ought to I put on a masks?

The CDC tips recommend you to evaluate your individual danger components comparable to different well being issues you might need, who’s in your life and their well being issues, and the group unfold ranges. 

Proper now in low ranges, precautions comparable to masking are non-compulsory. If we transfer to medium degree, then masks can be inspired in public areas and strongly beneficial when social distancing isn’t doable.

You will get free N95 masks at most native pharmacies, or go to cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/free-masks.html to seek out out the place you will get masks.

Understanding masks: N95, KN95, KF94, surgical: Know the forms of masks and why fabric masks are out for omicron

Ought to I check?

For those who’re not feeling properly, even if you happen to suppose it is allergic reactions, go forward and take a self check.  You will get free exams, even if you happen to’ve already obtained a set of free ones, by means of the federal authorities. Austin Public Well being additionally offers them out on the Metz Elementary testing website.

For those who’ve been in shut contact with somebody who has examined optimistic, it’s good to isolate for 5 days and check once more to be sure you are destructive on the fifth day. In case you have a optimistic check, quarantine for 5 days after which wait till you check destructive. 

Know your exams: Is your at-home COVID-19 check actual? Know how you can spot the fakes and the place to seek out exams

When will youngsters 4 and youthful get their vaccine?

It is coming quickly. The Meals and Drug Administration is predicted to satisfy about each the Moderna and the Pfizer vaccines for youthful youngsters June 14-15. Then the CDC’s committee will meet. 

Getting boosted: Ought to your baby get the COVID-19 booster? Central Texas specialists weigh in

If authorized by each the FDA and the CDC, these vaccines will cowl everybody 6 months and older. Newborns can get some immunity from their moms being vaccinated whereas pregnant.