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India covid symptoms timeline10/2/2023 ![]() ![]() When the mutations help the virus spread faster/better and spreads to others, the new variant can cause new outbreaks. Like all viruses, it mutates randomly when it replicates in someone’s body and creates new variants. We have learned that SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, is a shape-shifting virus. What are variants of concern? Why do they matter? Check the amount of virus in your community using the early detection wastewater surveillance US dashboard.Have back-up plans for gatherings and travel if viral levels get too high or someone gets sick.Make a plan to get treatment in case you get infected.Click here for information on how to get free tests through health insurance. Have a supply of rapid home COVID tests ready to use.Have a supply of high-quality masks (N95, KN95, KF94s) and carry some with you.The more doses and variant diversity your immune system is exposed to, the better it’s able to recognize new variants. How do we prepare for the next variant wave? High-quality masks (N95, KN95, KF94s) still protect you and others from all variants.Get a free vaccine today at local pharmacies, your medical provider, MyTurn.ca.gov,, or county sites. People ages 65+ and those immunocompromised can get additional doses. Updated vaccines provide additional protection against hospitalization and symptomatic and severe infection from the new variants.Thanks to Singapore’s extremely high vaccination and booster rate, XBB fortunately did not lead to a spike in hospitalizations or deaths. XBB caused a large wave of infections in Singapore in 2022.A study of XBB.1.5 infection outcomes in New York City, the likely epicenter of XBB1.5’s emergence in the US, found that there was no evidence of increased disease severity compared to BQ.1.The XBB variant family has 8 additional mutations and spreads even faster than BQ.1.1. XBB.1.5 ( nicknamed “Kraken” after a mythical sea monster) was first detected in New York in December 2022 and has a mutation that virologists believe allow the virus to bind to the ACE2 receptor more tightly, making it more immune evasive and transmissible.It has been increasing in proportion across the US since April. XBB.1.16 (nicknamed “Arcturus”) has a transmission advantage over XBB.1.5 and was first detected in India in March 2023.Data from another lab found that the bivalent vaccine and XBB infection within the last 6 months were protective against BA.2.86, which supports efficacy for the updated XBB vaccine coming out in September.The CDC risk assessment for BA.2.86 has so far found that rapid antigen and PCR tests still work to detect BA.2.86 and that Paxlovid, remdesivir (Veklury) and molnupiravir (Lagevrio) treatment are still effective against severe disease from BA.2.86.The researchers write that BA.2.86 appears to have “traded its infectivity for higher immune evasion.” This data suggests that BA.2.86 will cause infections for some people with prior immunity (especially from earlier variants), but not as much as the 10-fold escape that was initially feared. Lab immunity data found BA.2.86 to escape immunity from XBB by 2-3-fold, and be ~60% less efficient at infecting cells, which could limit its transmissibility.Severity of disease caused by BA.2.86 is not yet known. BA.2.86, which has 35 spike protein mutations compared to XBB1.5 currently circulating, has been found in increasing numbers in 10 countries, including the US, though detection is limited since Covid surveillance is down 90%.This early data suggests that BA.2.86 may cause a wave but not likely a tsunami, as with the emergence of the original Omicron. Lab data also supports efficacy for the updated vaccines against severe infection from BA2.86. Early lab data on the highly mutated BA.2.86 (“Pirola”) variant has found it to be less infectious than XBB and while it escapes immunity, it is less than initially feared. ![]() Boosters, paxlovid, remdesivir and molnupiravir treatment are still effective against severe disease from the newer variants. The EG.5 (“Eris”) variant is increasing in proportion. As of September 5, 2023, Bay Area variant data shows that the new EG.5 variant is increasing in proportion (~25% of variants), while the XBB.1.5 and XBB.1.16 variants have been decreasing.The top three variants sequenced in the Bay Area during the summer surge have been XBB1.5, EG.5 and XBB1.16.Long COVID prevention, resources, studiesįind the latest variant proportions: Bay Area & CA (click on variants, region) | US | US wastewater | Global.How to check if a testing site is legit.Where to get free tests in the East Bay.Is treatment or PrEP effective against Omicron?.How do we prepare for the next variant?.Section Navigation: COVID-19 Updates and Guide ![]()
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