Earlier in the pandemic, contact tracking data showed us where COVID-19 was prevalent. Unfortunately, as our efforts to track contacts have slowed down, we do not have such a clear picture of where people are most likely to become infected with omicron and its sub-variants.
What we do know is that although the virus has evolved to be much more transmissible than previous variants, the way COVID-19 is distributed has not changed. “Nothing has changed about how anyone can take the virus now, regardless of their daily activities,” Mark Cameron, a infectious disease researcher at Case Western Reserve University, told HuffPost.
Therefore, we can assume that there are some hotspots for BA.2 and other omicron subvariants compared to others. Here are common places where COVID-19 is still circulating, according to experts:
Crowded indoor events
So far we have all heard it a million times. COVID-19 is distributed in crowded indoor spaces – consider: gyms, restaurants, concerts, bars and the like.
Cameron said there was no shortage of anecdotes about how the virus spread to such events. Mass epidemics were recently reported after Fish’s four-day concert, the White House reporters’ dinner and the annual dinner at the Washington Gridiron Club, as well as during cruises and high school balls.
In crowded, poorly ventilated indoor areas, virus-containing aerosols can spread through the air and be easily inhaled by many people.
“Like other variants of COVID, BA.2 spreads more easily in crowded indoor areas with limited ventilation,” said Bernadette Boden-Albala, director and founder of the Public Health Program at the University of California, Irvine.
Households
It is also known that COVID-19 is easily spread between family members and roommates who live together. A study published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in February found that COVID-19 already has a household transmission rate of about 53%. Transmission is even more likely to occur when members of the same household are unvaccinated along with those who do not wear a mask or isolation.
The story continues
“The ability to pass from one person to another in close space will still happen. “Nothing has changed about how we can catch this highly contagious virus transmitted through the air when we are in close proximity to someone else,” Cameron said.
Boden-Albala said the proliferation of households is particularly noticeable in apartments and multifamily homes, confirming that COVID-19 – and all its strains – can be a disease of difference.
Although the options have changed, the way COVID is distributed remains largely the same. (Photo: AzmanL via Getty Images)
Although the options have changed, the way COVID is distributed remains largely the same. (Photo: AzmanL via Getty Images)
Nursing homes and common housing
Since the beginning of the pandemic, it has been proven that COVID-19 penetrates the facilities for the elderly. While the latest data from the CDC shows that boosters significantly help nursing home residents avoid severe outcomes, nursing homes and other common housing facilities are still prone to large outbreaks.
Seventeen long-term care homes in Winnipeg, Canada, reported outbreaks last week. A women’s prison in Vermont suffered an outbreak in late April, as did several long-term care facilities in the state.
“These are, from the beginning and still are, hearths,” Cameron said.
Close contacts indoors
Andrew Neumer, an epidemiologist and demographer who studies infectious diseases at the University of California, Irvine, said the main finding was that COVID-19 was being distributed indoors. “Wherever you are indoors, it spreads – everywhere and everywhere,” Neumer said.
Boden-Albala noted that BA.2 is spreading in places that are common suspects: “settings such as bars and restaurants where attendees can share food and drink or wear their masks periodically – if at all.”
Whether you dine at a friend’s house, go to a relative for a game night, take a taxi, go to the office or go out to eat, if you are indoors, there is a risk of catching COVID-19. While aircraft are usually less risky due to their powerful air filtration systems, people can still catch COVID-19 while flying if they are sitting near someone who is infected. Despite the fact that camouflage is no longer required in aircraft, Neumer continues to recommend wearing an N95 mask on an aircraft.
The risk of exposure to COVID-19 may be lower now than in January, when the country experienced a huge jump, but it is still noticeable, as the latter options are much more contagious.
“These new versions of the omicron are appropriate and easy to pass on,” Cameron said.
Experts are still learning about COVID-19. The information in this story is known or available at the time of publication, but guidelines may change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the latest recommendations.
This article originally appeared on HuffPost and has been updated.
Add Comment