Updated COVID-19 booster vaccines are here. People believe their friends will protect them from Covid -- but the opposite is true. What Do Epidemiologists Think? Among 431 household contacts, 227 were classified as having a case of COVID-19 (attack rate [AR]=52.7%). The ARs among household contacts of index patients who had received a COVID-19 booster dose, of fully vaccinated index patients who completed their COVID-19 primary series within the previous 5 months, and of unvaccinated index patients were 42.7% (47 of 110), 43.6% (17 of 39), and 63.9% (69 of 108), respectively. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. When it comes to COVID, the outdoors are great for two main reasons: there's plenty of fresh air outside, and you have more space to keep a distance, Milton says. It also depends on the specifics of your workplace. You could decide to go to an outdoor lunch with your colleagues, but skip the happy hour in a packed bar. **** A negative SARS-CoV-2 test result was reported on the day of or after symptom onset by 38.8% (19 of 49) of household contacts classified as having probable COVID-19 and 68.6% (140 of 204) of those classified as not having COVID-19. Omicron BA.5 May Increase the Risk of Outdoor TransmissionHere's How to Stay Safe Although being outdoors is overall the safer option, when a virus is more contagious, it's more contagious. We have two little kids who are too young to be vaccinated, but we also recognize that its going to be very difficult to keep them from getting the coronavirus given how transmissible this new variant is. The COVID-19 subvariant of Omicron, BA.5, is spreading quickly in the U.S. . Two jurisdictions attempted to contact all households on their line lists, and two jurisdictions attempted to contact households on their line lists based on specimen collection date. Audience Relations, CBC P.O. As such, Omicron has a slightly shorter clearance phase, 5.35 days as compared to 6.23 days for Delta, as Omicron has a lower peak viral load. On Twitter: @milepostmedia. . The first is arming yourself with information about community levels in the area to which you're traveling; the CDC's community levels tracker can give you county-by-county information on hospital admissions and COVID-19 case counts. Some people washed their mail or wore gloves to the grocery store, while policymakers cordoned off playgrounds and encouraged businesses to scrub every surface. Its safer than indoorsbut there are still some risks to keep in mind as COVID cases spike again. Although it makes sense that people would worry about getting a more contagious variant outdoors, it's likely that the current surge in cases doesn't have anything to do with outdoor spread. It appears that outdoor transmission has become more likely with the newer variants over the past year (i.e., since delta) as they have become more transmissible, but outdoors remains a much lower-risk setting than indoors, Dr. Marr explains. We know that this is not in any shape, manner, or form a major transmission route for this virus. Studies conducted prior to omicron show that being outside greatly reduces your risk of infection with the coronavirus. Transmission occurred within 67.8% (124 of 183) of households, and the overall AR among household contacts with known status was 52.7% (227 of 431) (Figure 2). Experts say outdoor transmission has always been a thingwith alpha, delta, omicron, and now BA.5. Cleaning hands at . Some persons who were fully vaccinated had unknown dates for completion of their primary vaccination series. In other words, 10 people crowded at an al fresco table doesnt equal safety just because there are only a handful of people around. If the minimum distance is maintained, the probability of transmission outdoors is . After three years, most people know how to do that: vaccines, masks, physical distancing, handwashing and lets not forget ventilation. These findings further highlight young childrens potential contribution to household transmission of SARS-CoV-2, as well as their ongoing susceptibility to infection when SARS-CoV-2 is introduced in the home (5). The median index patient age was 37 years (IQR=2354 years). Second, the investigation relied primarily on self-reported data. Weissenbach and Blaivas, there are some key steps you can take to minimize your risk during outdoor events among the rise of BA.5 cases. Why Arent More People Getting It? While its less dangerous than being indoors when someone sneezes, theres still a risk of infection from a very contagious strain like BA.5. And people who are vaccinated likely carry less infectious virus particles than people who are not. Now, since everyone is spending more time outside because of summer and there is a very transmissible virus circulating, people may be getting infected with BA.5 outdoors more frequently. endorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S. Id prefer that these events require proof of vaccination and same-day negative test result. A SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant, BA.2, became the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States. But there are some people who want to avoid it at all costs and others who accept that if they engage in travel, resume parties, dine in restaurants and engage in other pre-pandemic activities, they will have some level of risk. "The risk outside is going to be substantially less. And playing outdoors, Malani notes, is great for kids building snow structures and sledding in parts of the country that are now shivering in winter temperatures. Eat This, Not That! A practicing physician Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, Dr. Marshall serves on staff at Harvard Medical School and practices at Massachusetts General Hospital at the MGH Chelsea Urgent Care and the MGH Revere Health Center, where she is currently working on the frontlines caring for patients with COVID-19. Omicron infection resulted in high ARs among household contacts in this investigation, particularly among those who lived with index patients who were not vaccinated or who did not practice prevention measures (isolating or ever wearing a mask at home). an editorial on the research on football teams. Yes, you can catch BA.5 outside, but its more likely that youll catch it indoors than outdoors. Households with high transmission or with more attention to public health measures may have been more likely to participate. Paxlovid Is Super Promising. (Of course, football games have been postponed this season because of COVID outbreaks, but the study's authors believe that players were more likely spreading it in locker rooms and other shared indoor spaces.). We used to say it would take about 15 minutes of close contact to catch the virus if around from someone who was infected. Partially vaccinated was defined as having only 1 dose of a 2-dose series or completing the primary vaccination series <2 weeks before the index date. Outdoors Lower Risk Well-ventilated indoors Moderate Risk Poorly ventilated indoors Higher Risk Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the subvariant is causing approximately 65% of the countrys COVID-19 cases at the time of publication. Still, he says, you have to be close to the infected person or downwind of them. For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. But if it's a casual interaction outside, even if it's relatively crowded, I'm comfortable not having a mask on. * These authors contributed equally to this report. Analysis of AR among household contacts excluded eight persons with unknown case status (persons for whom it was not known whether COVID-19compatible symptoms were present and whether SARS-CoV-2 testing had occurred [or if testing occurred, the results were unknown]). Comments are welcome while open. However, if you live in a cold locale as she does, you may want to leave your mask on for warmth. But others, such as the genetic changes in the delta variant, can make the coronavirus . 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. Don't they both mean someone without symptoms? Most. Building off other recent research which showed Omicron's heavily-mutated spike protein is more stable than the ancestral strain, and their own previous findings on SARS-CoV-2's level of infectiousness on various surfaces, the Hong Kong team explored what would happen if droplets containing Omicron the BA.1 lineage, specifically were applied to surfaces like stainless steel, paper, and glass. it all depends on the context, the space and the type of activity. There isnt a tried-and-true rule. The omicron sub-lineages are so new that infectious disease experts are still measuring their potential impact, even in outdoor settings. Its no surprise, then, that more and more stories have emerged of people speculating that they caught COVID-19 outside, which can be a bit unsettling to hear as cases continue to rise in many parts of the country. How Omicron spreads so fast is the question of the moment. More at sheilaeldred.pressfolios.com. * Persons self-reported their race (White, Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander), ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino or non-Hispanic/Latino), and gender (male or female) from lists of options and had the opportunity to state another option if their race, ethnicity, or gender was not listed. This is because fresh air disperses and dilutes the virus as well as helping to evaporate . According to an Epidemiological Update from the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), "the current growth advantage for the BA.4 and BA.5 variants of concerncompared to the dominant variant BA.2 is probably due to their ability to evade immune protection against infection induced by prior infection and/or vaccination, particularly if this has waned over time." But that doesn't mean that being outdoors isn't going to. Of course, omicron is the most transmissible variant yet. Data from South Africa found that two doses of the vaccine provided up to 87% of protection against hospitalization with BA.5, as Bloomberg reported. Transmission can occur within a household setting on the first day an index patient is infected or on any subsequent day during which they are still shedding viable virus. Omicron Symptoms Can Look Like AllergiesHere's How to Tell the Difference, People With Food Allergies May Have Lower Risk of COVID-19 Infection, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. COVID-19 cases have been declining across the country. Study participants who contributed their time and information; Olivia Almendares, Sarah E. Smith-Jeffcoat, Emeka Oraka, CDC; Charles Powell, Avery Gartman, Connecticut Department of Public Health; Ashley Becht, Hallie Hutchison, Eugene Olshansky, Rachel Berg, Adrianna Koczwara, Lisa Addis, Michael Deneufbourg, Sarah Love, Isaac Ghinai, Peter Ruestow, Shamika Smith, Daniel Liguori, Frances Lendacki, Janna Kerins, Stephanie Black, Chicago Department of Public Health; Stefan Green, Hannah Barbian, Sofiya Bobrovska, Regional Innovative Public Health Laboratory, Chicago Department of Public Health and Rush University; Barbara Cuene, Stephen Fendt, Jennifer Lares, Carri Marlow, Nandhu Balakrishnan, Katherine Akinyemi, Addie Skillman, Milwaukee Health Department; Leisha Nolen, Alexis Molina, Shai Miguel, Alix Elliston, April Jorgensen, Austin Newbold, Garnet Kwader, Sam Andersen, Utah Department of Health. Total coronavirus infection numbers remain low in Japan. The other/multiple race category included American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, another race specified by the person not in the provided list, or multiple races. Sect. Zeger SL, Liang KY, Albert PS. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. No. In that case, they should definitely feel free to wear a mask when in outdoor and more crowded settings. A new study out of Hong Kong suggests Omicron might be surviving longer on everyday objects than its early predecessor raising questions about which basic precautions to prevent surface-based. The new year arrived with an omicron-fueled surge in COVID cases in Alameda County, causing widespread concern and resulting in a number of event cancellations and temporary business closures that recall the pandemic's earlier days.. If you start tweaking with that where either theres some sort of open wall and theyre calling it outdoors or [youre in] a jam-packed outdoor setting where [you] cant appropriately distance from others I think that would give me more pause, he noted. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Beta, Delta, and Omicron, to name a few. But being outside is still much, much safer than being indoors. part 56; 42 U.S.C. As for indoor activities outside of homemask up, even if your trips are brief, she recommended: Its more possible than ever to catch COVID in passing. Published on December 6, 2021. All Rights Reserved. Offers may be subject to change without notice. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. When do infected people transmit the virus? Earlier this week the CDC updated its recommendations to encourage a second COVID-19 booster shot for certain immunocompromised individuals and people over the age of 50 who received an initial booster dose at least 4 months ago. New studies suggest that BA.4 and BA.5, currently sweeping the U.S. and countries around the globe, have a growth advantage over BA.2 similar to the growth advantage BA.2 had over BA.1. According to Dr. Blaivas, it's helpful to think of these changes in BA.5 (and other variants that have outcompeted their predecessors) as "upgrades" to make them better fit to survive (aka, infect humans). You can review and change the way we collect information below. mmwrq@cdc.gov. . the date of publication. You can bring back some things that are lower risk or higher value but still take some precautions. Not only does it keep your cheeks warm, but who wants to take their gloves off to fuss with a mask in sub-freezing temps? That put COVID-19 among the least transmissible human diseases. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. CNN Sans & 2016 Cable News Network. So, does this mean youre at risk every time you step outside? How should people weigh which precautions they want to follow? Of course, omicron is the most transmissible variant yet. Klicken Sie auf Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten. You will be subject to the destination website's privacy policy when you follow the link. Department of Health and Human Services. But Marr stressed the study's conditions don't reflect real-world scenarios. New research is pointing to the answer, 2 years into the pandemic, burning questions remain about COVID-19 and how we fight it, scientific consensus began to crystallize, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. ARs among household contacts were estimated overall, by household contact characteristics, and by index patient characteristics, by dividing the number of household contacts with confirmed and probable cases by the total number of household contacts within a given stratum. She cautions that outdoor tents that dont have flaps that let air in are not that different from being indoors, as far as COVID transmission risk goes. ARs were consistently high across household contact and index patient age groups, including those aged 04 years. 3501 et seq. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Accessed February 23, 2022. You would want to have a higher threshold for caution depending on your familys medical situation. Nevertheless, in its coronavirus profile, the RKI also posits that "overall, transmissions outdoors rarely occur. Being outside would be lower exposure risk than being indoors, even with good ventilation and filtration; both of those options would be lower risk than being indoors with poor ventilation or filtration. We also have more tools at our disposal than we did in 2020. But there is increased risk as we continue to deal with a more transmissible virus strain. This activity was reviewed by CDC and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.. The omicron variant of COVID-19 and its 36 spike protein mutations has upended much of what scientists know about the coronavirus. Wen: Id consider three things. That, combined with the sheer volume of cases, could mean that there could be more cases of outdoor transmission, says Dr. Jill Weatherhead, assistant professor of adult and pediatric infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. "The virus is fragile; these mutations haven't changed that. Being outside would be lower exposure risk than being indoors, even with good ventilation and filtration; both of those options would be lower risk than being indoors with poor ventilation or filtration. Experts say consider a mask outdoors if the space is crowded. Roberts stressed that COVID spread outdoors is much less common than spread indoors, but nothing is perfect. You should wear a mask if its impossible to create distance (ideally a well-fitted one, like a KN95) and take a COVID test before you go out, Patel said. It again depends on whats going on in your community, what your medical situation is, and how much you want to keep avoiding Covid-19. Masks work very well, though here I would urge that people wear an N95 or equivalent mask, such as a KN95 or KF94. Health talked to Dr. J. Wes Ulm, MD, Ph.D. a physician-researcher and part of the Heroes of the COVID Crisis series, and Robert G. Lahita MD, Ph.D. ("Dr. Bob"), Director of the . That said, even with these new subvariants, getting vaccinated and boosted will protect you against severe illness and death. Who Emergency Use Listing vaccines Einstellungen verwalten um weitere Informationen zu erhalten und Ihre Einstellungen zu verwalten make. Authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of conflicts., including those aged 04 years, they should definitely feel free to wear a mask on warmth... A mask when in outdoor settings indoors when someone sneezes, theres still a risk infection. Catch the virus if around from someone who was infected outside greatly reduces your risk of from... 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