California’s COVID surge continues with risk rising in one Sacramento-area county
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has identified Yolo County as having a “medium” community level of COVID-19 risk, the first Sacramento-area county to be labeled as such since the winter surge of cases.
Residents at high risk for severe illness who live in a county with a “medium” community level of COVID-19 “should talk to your health care provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions,” according to CDC guidance. Residents should also get tested if they have symptoms, and stay up to date on booster shots if eligible.
The CDC classifies the five other counties in the Sacramento area as being in the “low” community level for COVID-19. Sacramento and Yolo counties were already identified as having a high “transmission” level for COVID-19, under a separate classification system maintained by the CDC.
COVID-19 case rates rising
Overall, California continues to see an increase in COVID-19 cases, but deaths remain relatively low despite the recent wave of infections, new state data released Friday show.
California’s official death toll stands at 90,382 as of Friday morning, according to California Department of Public Health data, with 265 new deaths reported since last Friday. The update comes just days after the United States surpassed 1 million virus fatalities.
The current case rate is 23.2 cases for every 100,000 people in California, an increase from last week’s case rate of 18.5 per 100,000.
Hospitalizations remain relatively low compared to previous surges, a sign that the prevalence of vaccinations and boosters is helping slow severe cases of COVID-19. Still, the number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals is climbing from low levels in mid-April.
Just over 1,700 people in a hospital bed tested positive for COVID-19 as of Friday’s state update, an increase of about 28% compared to last Friday.
The number of virus-positive patients in California hospitals has also started to climb, with 208 Californians with COVID-19 in the ICU as of Friday.
While cases and hospitalizations are climbing, Friday’s figures are still significantly lower than the massive surge of omicron cases California experienced during the winter surge.
Public health officials continue to urge residents to get vaccinated and receive booster shots if eligible. Reviewing last week’s COVID-19 numbers, the state health department said unvaccinated Californians were about five times more likely to be infected, seven times more likely to be hospitalized and eight times more likely to die of COVID-19 than those who are vaccinated and boosted.
About 84% of Californians ages 5 and older are at least partially vaccinated. But in Sacramento County, only about 59% have had a booster shot, according to the latest state health data.
Sacramento-area COVID numbers
Sacramento County’s latest case rate is about 23 per 100,000 residents, state health officials said in Friday’s update, a 56% increase from one week earlier. As of Thursday, Sacramento County hospitals were treating 112 virus-positive patients, with 9 in the ICU unit.
Placer County’s latest case rate is about 19 per 100,000 residents, a 37% increase from one week earlier. Hospitals in Placer County were treating 44 virus patients Thursday, up from 35 one week earlier. The ICU total increased from one to three.
Yolo County’s latest case rate is about 26 per 100,000 residents, a 55% increase from one week earlier. Hospitals in Yolo County were treating one virus patients Thursday, down from three the previous Thursday. The ICU total was at zero both days.
El Dorado County’s latest case rate is about 14 per 100,000 residents, a 40% increase from one week earlier. Hospitals in El Dorado County were treating four virus patients Thursday, down from six a week earlier. The ICU total increased to one from two.
Sutter County’s latest case rate is about 11 per 100,000 residents and Yuba County’s is 17 per 100,000, state health officials reported Friday. The county shares a public health office. Sutter’s case rate increased 77% in the past week, while Yuba’s case rate increased by 79%.
The only hospital in Yuba County, which serves the Yuba-Sutter bi-county area, was treating four virus patients Thursday, the same as one week earlier. The ICU total remained at zero.
FDA clears COVID booster shot for healthy kids
Children ages 5 to 11 are now eligible for receive a COVID-19 booster shot, after U.S. regulators cleared the way for an extra dose Tuesday.
U.S. regulators hope the extra vaccine dose will enhance kids’ protection as infections once again creep upward.
Everyone 12 and older are already eligible for at least one booster dose, and people 50 and older are eligible for two booster shots.
Vaccines and booster shots are readily available at most pharmacies. To find a local clinic, visit the Sacramento County public health website.
Long COVID concerns for mild infections
Long COVID isn’t just a risk for people with severe cases of COVID-19, according to a new study published this week.
A white paper published Wednesday from the nonprofit FAIR Health found that roughly three in four people diagnosed with long COVID — a condition that describes a collection of virus symptoms persisting after infection — were never hospitalized after they got sick with COVID-19.
Researchers reviewed data from more than 78,000 patients officially diagnosed with long COVID from October 2021 to January 2022. The paper has not yet been peer-reviewed.
The top three symptoms patients experienced after testing positive for COVID-19 across all age groups were breathing abnormalities, cough, and malaise and fatigue, the research found.
People ages 36 to 50 are the most likely to be diagnosed with long COVID, according to the study. Additionally, female patients are more likely than males to experience the condition.
This story was originally published May 20, 2022 at 12:09 PM.