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As the seasons change, more people are gathering indoors and respiratory diseases are making a comeback, particularly COVID-19.
Video Above: COVID cases spike across California amid students going back to school
In a Wednesday evening conversation with FOX40, Sacramento County Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said local COVID-19 numbers are in the moderate range, based on wastewater sampling.
“Most people actually are getting mild symptoms, but some people are getting severe symptoms,” Dr. Kasirye said.
FOX40 also spoke with Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief of pediatric infectious diseases at UC Davis Health.
“We’re seeing both outpatients and patients being admitted to the hospital with Covid,” Dr. Blumberg said. “So that’s certainly at the top of our list for community-associated respiratory viruses right now.”
Data from the Centers for Disease Control, based on wastewater sampling, show COVID-19 viral activity in the Western United States was mostly low through spring and early summer this year. But there was a notable uptick starting in late July, peaking in September.
“If you’re sick, if you’re symptomatic, stay home no matter what it is, whether it’s Covid or RSV or some other respiratory virus,” Dr. Blumberg said.
“You don’t want to spread that around school or the workplace. If you see people who are symptomatic in public places or at work or somewhere else, try to avoid them if you can.”
“Things like wearing a mask if you are traveling or going to a crowded place, things like making sure you’re up to date with your vaccination,” Dr. Kasirye advised. “And then just washing your hands and then making sure that you practice good cough etiquette.”
As for when it is safe to return to school or work after getting Covid, there is no longer a specific recommended number of days.
“So usually it’s based on symptoms now,” Dr. Kasirye said. “So if a person is 24 hours free of fever without the help of medication, then they can return to school or work.”
The predominant Covid-19 variant throughout the United States is XFG, also known as Stratus. It is a descendent of Omicron.
Doctors recommend Paxlovid as a treatment to shorten the duration and severity of Covid-19. To be most effective, the medication needs to be prescribed and taken soon after the onset of symptoms.
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Dennis Shanahan
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