Upon taking a closer look at the new subvariant, scientists discovered that BA.5 has mutations in the spike protein that may allow it to evade the immune systems first line of defenseantibodiesraising the likelihood that itll cause a new wave of infections and reinfections, especially in people with low or waning immunity. The ARs among household contacts by index patient vaccination status were lowest among those who received a booster dose (42.7%, 47 of 110) and those who were fully vaccinated <5 months before the index date (43.6%, 17 of 39). How Omicron spreads so fast is the question of the moment. Third, COVID-19 prevention measures (vaccination, isolation, and mask use) are likely highly correlated within households, and the identified risk factors might not be independent predictors of transmission. * The interval was estimated by calculating the number of days between the symptom onset or positive test result date for the index patient and that of the household contact. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the, The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. It's also important to say that outdoor gatherings were never completely risk-freethey were just less risky. Yes, you can get BA.5 outdoors, but you could also contract other COVID variants outside, says Thomas Russo, M.D., professor and chief of infectious disease at the University at Buffalo in New. Experts said people might consider wearing masks in crowded outdoors spaces to prevent infection. But that shouldn't cause you to lose sight of the advantages of socializing outdoors, she adds. The same tried-and-true measures that have been encouraged since 2020washing your hands often, wearing a high-quality mask, testing regularly, and staying up to date with boostersstill work to curb the spread of COVID-19. This German snowman wears a protective mask over its banana nose and mouth, but experts say the risk of catching COVID outdoors is slim. Fifth, this investigation did not definitively distinguish between secondary and potential tertiary cases within a household. Research before the emergence of the delta variant indicated that the risk of getting infected with the coronavirus was up to 20 times lower outside compared to inside and the chance of. . Your Next COVID Vaccination Could Be a Nasal Spray: Here's Why, What You Should Know About BA.2, a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant. Researchers have said that while Covid infections can happen outdoors, the chances are massively reduced. 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. (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.). Persons with probable cases included symptomatic persons who did not have SARS-CoV-2 testing and symptomatic persons who received negative SARS-CoV-2 test results. 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.. Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. But as the months passed, scientific consensus began to crystallize, suggesting some of those precautions might be missing the bigger picture of how the SARS-CoV-2 virus transmits. "Being outdoors in the outside air absolutely protects us from less transmissible viruses," Sharon Nachman, MD, Chief of the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, told Health. That leaves it mostly to individuals to protect themselves. Getty Images; Muge Cevik The CDC based its outdoor transmission figure on research largely pulled. Experts warn omicron variants can spread more easily outdoors; prior infections provide less immunit. Persons with sequence-confirmed Omicron infection and their household contacts were interviewed. Are there certain settings where COVID-19 can spread more easily? But others, such as the genetic changes in the delta variant, can make the coronavirus . Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. A used mask is seen on beach at marine protected area located in St. Martin's Island, Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh on March 13. 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). BA.5's mutations have also allowed it to sneak past the body's immune system more easily. "Certainly I don't want to see people going back to wiping their groceries down with disinfectants and leaving things sitting for days on end in the hope that what virus might be there isn't going to infect them. The AR was lower among household contacts of index patients who isolated (41.2%, 99 of 240) compared with those of index patients who did not isolate (67.5%, 112 of 166) (p-value <0.01). How can I reduce my risk of getting COVID-19? All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Are we back to square one with the pandemic? "The extra virus stability on surfaces may be one possible factor and should be taken into consideration when recommending control measures against the infection.". The questions below are written in past tense to help you assess the likelihood that you were infected when you were around a person with COVID-19. Despite Omicron's rapid spread, the good news is that COVID-19 strategies like vaccination, masking, and social distancing could slow its transmission. This, to me, is no different from a decision to go back to the gym, resume travel or dine indoors in restaurants. Don't they both mean someone without symptoms? "Being outdoors continues to provide another layer of protection because of the ventilation," Weatherhead explains. To investigate the effectiveness of prevention strategies in household settings, CDC partnered with four U.S. jurisdictions to describe Omicron household transmission during November 2021February 2022. Having COVID more than once can increase your risk of hospitalization and long COVID. Though the BA.5 wave hasnt caused a significant spike in hospitalizations or deaths in South Africa, certain locations hit by BA.5, like Portugal, have seen an uptick in hospitalizations. 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. If you are sick and need to be around others, or are caring for someone who has COVID-19, wear a mask. Early contact tracing studies detected far more indoor transmission of the coronavirus than outdoor. She also suggested making sure guests are vaccinated, have recently tested negative, and are symptom-free. "It is more transmissible than other previous variants because it can evade previous immunity from COVID infection and vaccination.". Second, the investigation relied primarily on self-reported data. When Should You Test (and Possibly Retest) After Being Exposed to COVID-19? At that time, the World . In addition, surfaces may play a greater role in Omicron transmission. All this to say your protection outdoors isnt what it was in 2020and it may be time to begin thinking more critically about outdoor gatherings. On Twitter: @milepostmedia. 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 XBB.1.5 variant is a highly transmissible descendant of omicron that is now estimated . 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]). Emerg Infect Dis 2022;28:7569. "From a virus standpoint, there's no indication that omicron is behaving differently [in outdoor settings]," says Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease professor at the University of Michigan who co-authored an editorial on the research on football teams. 2. So some people may want to mask up in certain outdoor situations. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. If your community is in an orange, or high risk, area by the CDCs metrics, you should mask indoors. The SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant contributed to a surge of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the United States during December 2021January 2022. And while it is known that BA.4 and BA.5 are more transmissible than other variants, it is not yet clear if they are spreading outdoors any more than other variants. SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant Transmission Within Households Four U.S. Jurisdictions, November 2021February 2022. Experts explain the barriers around getting itand when access might be expanded. / CBS Boston. See what it's like. Did you encounter any technical issues? However, early evidence suggests that the vast majority of people with some immunity, either from prior COVID infection or vaccination, will continue to be protected from severe illness, according to preliminary research. That means the exact timings might not pan out for people living their daily lives, though Marr did feel the comparison between the ancestral virus and Omicron was notable. Outdoors Lower Risk Well-ventilated indoors Moderate Risk Poorly ventilated indoors Higher Risk Trends in disease severity and health care utilization during the early Omicron variant period compared with previous SARS-CoV-2 high transmission periodsUnited States, December 2020January 2022. Yet Omicron, the highly contagious variant known for slipping around some of our best defences, might be surviving longer on everyday objects than its early predecessor raising questions about which basic precautions to prevent surface-based transmission might still be warranted. September 7, 2022. 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. The AR among household contacts with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was 40.9% (9 of 22) compared with 59.8% (183 of 306) among those without previous infection (p-value=0.08). In this investigation, a confirmed case in a household contact was defined as having received a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test result or antigen test result 14 days after the index date (date of the index patients symptom onset or positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test result or antigen test result), and a probable case in a household contact was defined as the presence of COVID-19compatible symptoms during the same 14-day period but without a positive SARS-CoV-2 test confirmation. For the most cautious, a park or a hiking trail is the only truly outdoor space. In just over five months, there were 22,334 confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections, 31 hospitalizations and no COVID-19 deaths. SELF may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. Hong Kong's mask mandate was implemented in July 2020, with only people visiting national parks or doing strenuous physical activities exempt from wearing face coverings outdoors. Thats a personal decision that will differ from person to person. The COVID-19 subvariant of Omicron, BA.5, is spreading quickly in the U.S. . And, if you dont feel well, stay home. It's still going to die very quickly in the environment.". Terms & Conditions. This conversion might result in character translation or format errors in the HTML version. 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." Total coronavirus infection numbers remain low in Japan. CNN: Should people avoid indoor gatherings, knowing that outbreaks can happen? Overall, engaging in outdoor activities is less risky than going to indoor venues. CDC twenty four seven. Although outdoor settings are overall the safer option, when a virus is more contagious, it's more contagious in any setting. The risk of outdoor transmission is exponentially lower than indoor transmission, and a well-ventilated, less crowded space also has much lower risk than people packed together in an unventilated space. Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of 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. Fully vaccinated was defined as completion of the primary vaccination series 2 weeks before the index date and stratified into completion <5 months or 5 months before the index date. Most index patients (88.4%, 152 of 172) and household contacts (78.7%, 140 of 178) with confirmed cases reported COVID-19compatible symptoms. And the omicron variant acquires a more effective coating than the delta variant, meaning it could stay infectious outside the body for longer. Sect. It's unlikely that Omicron is selectively targeting children, but because the variant is so. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. For some people, a tented wedding is outdoors. Persons were provided with the following list of signs and symptoms compatible with COVID-19: fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat, congestion or runny nose, nausea or vomiting, and diarrhea or abdominal pain during the course of their recent illness. "This might affect the balance of transmission routes favouring more fomite transmission than we saw before," she said. When possible, vaccination data were supplemented with or verified using state or jurisdiction registry data. Jurisdictions identified persons who were considered potentially eligible for participation through obtaining laboratory line lists of persons who had sequence-confirmed Omicron (B.1.1.529 lineage and its sublineages) or whose sequencing results were pending. Fewer Americans 'thriving' today than past year, poll finds, but these hacks can help. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. Ad Choices. First, this investigation used a convenience sample of persons with sequence-confirmed Omicron infections, and participation in this investigation was voluntary. Masks, vaccination, social distancing, testing and hand washing all play a role, too. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. 2023 Cond Nast. 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. Experts are still learning about COVID-19. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:14652. 4:12 AM EDT, Thu April 14, 2022, 'Our priorities are skewed here': Doctor weighs in on Covid laxity, HINES, ILLINOIS - APRIL 01: Army veteran Robert Hall waits the recommended 15 minutes to see if he will have any adverse reactions after receiving his second COVID-19 booster shot at Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital on April 01, 2022 in Hines, Illinois. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, it felt like thevirus was everywhere and on everything. And while things are admittedly looking up, infection rates are low and (in many locations . However, if you live in a cold locale as she does, you may want to leave your mask on for warmth. "The risk outside is going to be substantially less. 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. Subanalyses focusing on secondary household transmission demonstrated a similar interval (median=3 days, IQR=25) (Supplementary Figure 1, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/114723) and similar patterns in ARs (Supplementary Figure 2, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/114722). Dr. Rohde says nothing has fundamentally changed after omicron, except for peoples general attitudes about the pandemic. "Our findings imply that (Omicron) has an increased likelihood to be transmitted by the fomite route," the researchers concluded. When an . 95% CIs for attack rates are represented by error bars. Greater COVID transmissibility due to Omicron variants means greater . Outside gatherings are a prime example of this. Pseudonyms will no longer be permitted. In addition, surfaces may play a greater role in Omicron transmission. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. That's a key finding from a new pre-print paper from researchers at the University of Hong Kong's school of public health, which is published online but has not yet been peer-reviewed. US Travel Association. But as we head into offices, schools and public spaces, there are some things we can control like masking and others that are not in our control, such as whether our offices have improved ventilation. Models for longitudinal data: a generalized estimating equation approach. While its less dangerous than being indoors when someone sneezes, theres still a risk of infection from a very contagious strain like BA.5. 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. If you are generally healthy and fully vaccinated and boosted, your chance of severe illness from Covid-19 is very low. Monthly travel data report. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Surfaces play less of a role than aerosol transmission, but its still good practice to wash your hands well or to use hand sanitizer if you shake peoples hands and touch frequently used surfaces. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. The volume of droplets used in the lab research five microlitres might sound small, but it's "actually huge compared to droplets we usually spew out," she said. These are all reasonable decisions depending on how you think about your own risk. 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). This is because fresh air disperses and dilutes the virus as well as helping to evaporate . Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations. Lynn E. Sosa reports being a past Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists STD Subcommittee chair. There are several ways this can happen: Droplets or aerosols. Contact her at: lauren.pelley@cbc.ca. 45 C.F.R. This activity was reviewed by CDC and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.. 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. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Heres What You Should Know About BA.5 Symptoms and Severity, A Devastating Number of Americans Will Experience Long COVID. Persons reported their race (White, Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, or Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander) and ethnicity (Hispanic/Latino or non-Hispanic/Latino) from lists of options and had the opportunity to state another option if their race or ethnicity was not listed. 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. Published on December 6, 2021. they should expect rapid transmission of COVID-19 that will prevent students . . Thus, whether someone was tested and how many times they were tested depended on individual and social factors. How to Have a Sick Day When You Cant Actually Call Off Work. At this point, the definition of outdoors isnt exactly agreed upon, Roberts noted. Patel said that it all depends on the context, the space and the type of activity. There isnt a tried-and-true rule. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Higher outdoor wind speeds on warmer days were associated with up to a 45% lower risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in social gatherings. 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. "If you wash your hands not obsessively, but just thoughtfully and carefully that's going to reduce any transmission you see out there," Evans said. 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. To help us with these questions, I spoke with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. On September 1, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommended the newly updated COVID-19 booster vaccines. Users are referred to the electronic PDF version (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr) But the likelihood of transmission grew by 6% for every five weeks . For both index patients and household contacts, the onset date was either the date of SARS-CoV-2 positive test result or date of symptom onset, whichever occurred first. But the same factors that make indoor settings riskycrowded spaces, poor air circulation, the sharing of food and drinkcan also increase your chances of contracting COVID outside. More outdoor air can decrease the risk of transmission. "That gentle breeze outdoors is generally safer" than indoors, he says. Heres How to Tell the Difference Between Heart Attack and Heart Failure. Heres how that might affect crucial funding, access to tests, and case counts. Eat This, Not That! Third, how important is it to you to continue to avoid Covid-19? Greater COVID transmissibility due to Omicron variants means greater transmissibility in any setting, indoors or outdoorseven if outside is still safer, experts say. And, while outdoor gatherings are still considered safer, there are some cases in. While outdoor events are safer than indoor events, theyre not 100% safe, Majumder told the news outlet. "The risk of transmission is much lower . In order to outcompete, successful COVID variants have become more transmissible with time. Viral particles disperse more quickly outside, thanks to wind speed and air currents. Of course, omicron is the most transmissible variant yet. Outdoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and other respiratory viruses is possible, but the odds are much lower than indoor transmission, according to a recent study."We wanted to better. But he warned the public not to panic, and avoid resorting to heavy-handed precautions. Once you head inside, especially in packed areas with low air turnover, there tends to be high transmission of the virus, so plan accordingly. This was true for the other variants too, Linsey Marr, PhD, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Virginia Tech who studies viral transmission, tells SELF. Overall, the ECDC said this makes more frequent breakthrough infections and reinfections possible with BA.4 and BA.5. Greater transmissibility means greater transmissibility in any setting, indoors or outdoorseven if outside is still safer, Maimuna Majumder, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and a computational epidemiologist at Boston Childrens Hospital, recently told NPR. It's been almost two years since the world has completely changed thanks to COVID, and while we understand the virus more, people are still catching COVID and cases are spiking in certain areas. Masks work very well, though here I would urge that people wear an N95 or equivalent mask, such as a KN95 or KF94. Lets say you work in a well-ventilated office, everyone around you is vaccinated, and you are well-distanced from the next person. Estimating equation approach COVID-19 subvariant of Omicron, BA.5, is spreading quickly the... And case counts a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part our! For some links to products and services on this website sick Day when you Actually... How many times they were tested depended on individual and social factors are represented error... Estimating equation approach important to say that outdoor gatherings were never completely risk-freethey were just less risky notifications breaking! Sure guests are vaccinated, have recently tested negative, and avoid to! Wind speed and air currents certain settings where COVID-19 can spread more easily that should n't cause you lose. The investigation relied primarily on self-reported data is outdoors to square one with the pandemic surfaces may play greater... Lynn E. Sosa reports Being a past Council of state and Territorial Epidemiologists Subcommittee! Gentle breeze outdoors is generally safer '' than indoors, he says increased likelihood to be transmitted the! People, a park or a hiking trail is the most cautious, a park or a hiking trail the! Confirmed SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infections, and avoid resorting to heavy-handed precautions to heavy-handed precautions website more... 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