COVID-19 is running rampant throughout much of California this summer, nearing a two-year summer high.
Many regular Californians, as well as doctors and health officials, have stated that just about everybody they know has gotten COVID. Because of this new surge, experts are sounding the alarm throughout the Golden State.
COVID in California Wastewater
A few weeks ago, federal data revealed that California’s wastewater was full of coronavirus, as its levels had surged to a high not seen since 2022’s summer.
This revelation caused experts to claim that California was likely dealing with a dangerous spread of COVID-19. Now, new data has confirmed this.
Wastewater Levels Remain High
Wastewater levels will likely continue to remain elevated when it comes to coronavirus levels in California, according to officials.
Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, the regional chief of infectious disease at Kaiser Permanente Southern California, said, “We are seeing … a definite, definite surge.”
Infections May Continue to Surge
Thanks to these wastewater levels, experts can better understand where COVID may be surging in parts of California. However, most officials believe this latest surge will only continue.
“The wastewater numbers are still headed up. So we’re definitely seeing more and more cases,” Hudson explained.
Wastewater in the U.S.
California isn’t alone in having high coronavirus levels in its wastewater. About 37 other states in the country have also had “high” or “very high” levels in their wastewater.
The District of Columbia has also struggled with its own levels. Experts have stated these levels show how the virus is moving through these communities and states.
COVID Runs Rampant Through California
According to Hudson, a clear increase has been seen in Californians heading to doctor’s offices or health clinics to receive outpatient treatment after becoming infected with COVID-19.
Luckily, it appears hospitalizations have not increased greatly during this surge, which is a huge benefit for local communities that may be struggling.
A New Strain Is to Blame
This sudden increase in coronavirus infections in California is all thanks to new FLiRT variants that have managed to spread quickly throughout the Golden State.
KP.3.1.1, one of these FLiRT strains, has been prevalent in many infections, as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that this strain accounts for about 17.7% of recent infections.
More Cases Will Likely Appear
This strain has jumped up from 6.8% from the previous period of collected data from the CDC.
This notable rate of growth has led many experts to believe this strain will become even more dominant in the near future — which will likely cause more cases to appear within California and the rest of the United States.
Why Are There Suddenly So Many Infections in California Again?
Health experts have explained that there are a lot of reasons why COVID-19 is surging in California once again. Even though many may be vaccinated, many people do not follow behaviors they may have followed only a few years ago during the worst periods of the pandemic.
For example, they may not be wearing masks when grocery shopping or isolating if they feel sick. This naturally leads to more infections.
Nearing a Two Year High
Thanks to this new strain, California is now nearing a new two-year high. Already, positive COVID-19 tests have surpassed what was seen during 2023’s peak in the summer.
Now, many Californians have explained that they can’t seem to get away from the virus. Many people are becoming sick after going on flights, attending weddings, or even going to work meetings.
Everybody Has It
Experts have explained that many infections are likely not reported. However, many Californians have felt that they can’t escape COVID.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious diseases expert at UC San Francisco, has explained, “There’s a lot of COVID outside the hospital. Almost everybody has it: There’s been outbreaks at, you know, music gatherings and people’s dinners.”
People in California Should Get Tested
Dr. Hudson has stated that if someone in California feels that they have a cold, they should simply get tested for COVID-19.
She said, “If you have cough-and-cold symptoms, at this point, living in Los Angeles, you should really think that they are COVID until proven otherwise.”
