News Summary
California is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, attributed to the emerging subvariant Stratus. Health officials recommend indoor masking as the positivity rate climbs, particularly in Los Angeles County and Orange County. The CDC reports high viral levels in wastewater signal increased transmission, with concerns about access to vaccinations exacerbated by new guidelines. Emergency visits for COVID-like symptoms rise, causing public health worries as schools prepare to reopen.
California is currently facing a significant surge in COVID-19 cases, marking what health officials are calling a “summer COVID wave.” The state has recorded an increase in newly confirmed cases and hospitalizations, leading public health authorities to recommend that residents wear masks in indoor public settings until transmission rates subside.
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), California is experiencing “high” levels of coronavirus in its sewage, which serves as an indicator of community transmission. The state is among several experiencing increasing COVID-19 case numbers, including major areas like Los Angeles County, the San Francisco Bay Area, and the state capital region. The CDC’s data reveals that COVID-19 infections are now growing or likely growing in 30 states across the country, with California being a notable example. Of the 21 states with very high or high viral levels found in wastewater, California is part of the West region, which is currently exhibiting the highest levels in the nation.
As of the week ending August 23, the test positivity rate in California reached 12.07%, a significant increase from 6.03% reported for the week ending July 26. The situation in individual counties illustrates the statewide trend; for instance, Los Angeles County saw its positivity rate climb to 13.44%, compared to 8.11% four weeks ago. Similarly, Orange County reported a sharp rise with a positivity rate of 18.1%, up from 9.4%, and San Francisco’s rate increased to 8.7% from 7.1%.
Medical experts have noted a rise in outpatient COVID-19 cases, while inpatient cases have remained relatively low. However, hospital admissions are on the rise, with statistics indicating there were 3.62 COVID hospital admissions per 100,000 residents as of August 23, an increase from 1.9 just four weeks earlier. Alarmingly, this latest hospitalization rate exceeds the peak observed during last winter, which was recorded at 2.61 admissions per 100,000 residents. Additionally, emergency department visits for COVID-like symptoms have surged in several counties, including Los Angeles, Orange, and Santa Clara. For example, 2.8% of emergency room visits in Los Angeles County were attributed to COVID-like illness, up from 2.2%, while Orange County noted 2.6%, an increase from 1.5%.
The current summer surge is partially attributed to a new subvariant known as Stratus, which has contributed to the uptick in cases. However, epidemiologists caution that there is still uncertainty regarding future trends as COVID-19 levels continue to rise in numerous regions, including areas like Sacramento and West Sacramento.
In addition to rising case numbers, the CDC has recently adjusted its vaccine recommendations, which experts warn could create complications regarding access to COVID-19 vaccinations. Health officials currently suggest that individuals aged two years and older consider wearing masks in indoor public spaces, particularly in areas reporting high sewage viral levels. Furthermore, the American Academy of Pediatrics has diverged from CDC guidelines by advocating for vaccinations for infants and children, raising concerns about potential access challenges for parents as pediatricians may decline administering certain vaccines based on new federal rules.
The CDC has also emphasized the need for “shared clinical decision-making” concerning vaccinations for youths under 18, which may introduce further barriers to vaccination efforts. Despite the rising numbers, overall hospitalizations remain lower than during previous summers, alleviating some concerns. Symptoms associated with the new subvariant include sore throat, cough, fever, and fatigue.
Meanwhile, expectations are high for the rollout of updated COVID-19 vaccines at major pharmacy retailers, although delays in federal authorization processes have held back widespread availability. As children prepare to return to school, public health officials continue to express concerns over the implications of the current COVID-19 wave on overall public health and safety moving forward.
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Additional Resources
- Los Angeles Times: California COVID-19 Wave
- Wikipedia: COVID-19
- Sacramento Bee: COVID-19 Updates
- Google Search: COVID-19 California surge
- San Francisco Chronicle: Stratus Variant Impact
- Google Scholar: COVID-19 California health guidelines
- Patch: COVID Rates Surge in California
- Encyclopedia Britannica: COVID-19
- Today: Summer COVID-19 Surge
- Google News: California COVID-19 hospitalizations
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LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER The LOS ANGELES STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERELosAngeles.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, and beyond, specializing in "news you can use" with coverage of product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates, while delivering top reporting on high-value events like the Academy Awards, LA Auto Show, and Los Angeles Marathon, extending coverage to key organizations such as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board, plus leading businesses in entertainment and technology like Warner Bros. and SpaceX, and as part of the broader HERE network including HEREAnaheim.com , HERECostaMesa.com , HEREHuntingtonBeach.com , and HERESantaAna.com , providing comprehensive, credible insights into Southern California's dynamic landscape. HERE Anaheim HERE Beverly Hills HERE Coronado HERE Costa Mesa HERE Hollywood HERE Huntington Beach HERE Long Beach HERE Los Angeles HERE Mission Viejo HERE San Diego HERE Santa Ana
