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. The other/multiple races category included American Indian or Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, another race specified by the person not in the provided list, or multiple races. 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. Sheila Mulrooney Eldred is a freelance health journalist in Minneapolis. Users are referred to the electronic PDF version (https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr) Index patients and household contacts participated in voluntary telephone interviews to retrospectively collect information on demographic characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 testing, symptoms, COVID-19 vaccination history, previous SARS-CoV-2 infection, index patient isolation practices (defined as always or sometimes isolating in a room by oneself at any point during their potentially infectious period), and index patient mask use practices (defined as ever wearing a mask at home during their potentially infectious period). Nevertheless, in its coronavirus profile, the RKI also posits that "overall, transmissions outdoors rarely occur. When search suggestions are available use up and down arrows to review and enter to select. Testing revealed bacterial contamination in some bottles of EzriCare Artificial Tears. The findings from this investigation reinforce the importance of multi-component prevention strategies, including up-to-date vaccination, isolation of infected persons, and mask use at home, to reduce Omicron transmission in household settings. So, does this mean youre at risk every time you step outside? Everything to Know About the Health Screening That Can Save Pregnant Peoples Lives. Among the 204 excluded households, 143 did not meet eligibility criteria, 47 were excluded because the index patient could not be identified, 11 were excluded because household contacts had confirmed or probable cases and were known to have a SARS-CoV-2 exposure other than exposure to the index patient, and three were excluded when sequencing results (pending at the time of interview) indicated a variant that was not Omicron. The main way people get infected, most leading public health officials and scientists now agree, isthrough exposure to this virus through the air, not through contaminated surfaces known scientifically as "fomites.". We conducted a test-negative case-control study and recruited the test-positive cases and test-negative controls in the outbreak caused by . But being outside is still much, much safer than being indoors. 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. 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). Being closer to someone who is infected with COVID-19 increases the risk of transmission. ** An index patient with a confirmed COVID-19 case was the first person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test result or antigen test result (through local or home testing) reported in a household. Ad Choices. How should people weigh which precautions they want to follow? Some persons who were fully vaccinated had unknown dates for completion of their primary vaccination series. check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One review of studies concluded that the odds of indoor transmission is almost 19 times higher than outdoor transmission. Experts say staying outdoors for dinners during the holiday may help reduce transmissions. When possible, vaccination data were supplemented with or verified using state or jurisdiction registry data. Overall, the ECDC said this makes more frequent breakthrough infections and reinfections possible with BA.4 and BA.5. Depending on the outdoor situation youre in, it changes the ventilation dynamics of that area and can alter the risk of COVID for people in that [space], Roberts said, adding that hed feel pretty comfortable in a socially distant, outdoor setting with nothing covering the space (like tents, tarps, overhangs, and enclosures) even with the BA.5 variant. BA.5the omicron subvariant that emerged in South Africa in February before sweeping across the worldis now the dominant coronavirus variant in the United States. CDC twenty four seven. part 46.102(l)(2), 21 C.F.R. But Marr stressed the study's conditions don't reflect real-world scenarios. Testing prior to getting together with others tells people if they are infectious and need to avoid the gathering. When an . Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. Research suggests that outdoor transmission, when it does occur, typically results from prolonged close contact. Masking in those environments, distancing, and vaccination are still effective preventative tools for us to utilize, Dr. Rohde says. While outdoor events are safer than indoor events, theyre not 100% safe, Majumder told the news outlet. So far, however, BA.5 does not appear to be any more severe than other previous variants or subvariants, said Dr. Blaivas. Emerg Infect Dis 2022;28:7569. Yes, you can catch BA.5 outside, but its more likely that youll catch it indoors than outdoors. The 15-minute rule no longer applies. * Analysis of attack rates among HCs excluded persons with unknown case status or unknown categorization within a given stratum. 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. 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. How to Protect Yourself During Outdoor Events, CDC Stops Reporting COVID-19 Cases on Cruise ShipsHere's How You Can Still Stay Safe, COVID-19 Boosters Are Being Updated To Target Omicron SubvariantsHere's Why, What to Know About COVID Reinfections as BA.5 Cases Continue to Rise, Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 Symptoms: What To Know, BA.2.75 Is the Newest Omicron SubvariantHere's What We Know So Far. Vaccination au 20 fvrier 2023 (donnes Vaccin Covid) : 22,5% des 60-79 ans avaient reu un rappel adapt au variant Omicron (26,8% parmi les ligibles) ; ils taient respectivement 25,2% et 28,8% chez les 80 ans et plus ; 27,1% des 60-79 ans et 17,5% des 80 ans et plus avaient reu une dose datant de moins de 6 et 3 mois respectivement. If You Are Sick When to wear a mask Wear a mask with the best fit, protection, and comfort for you. / CBS Boston. appreciated. Like previous variants, its spread through direct contact and is airborne. Thats different if you are immunocompromised or live with someone who is elderly with multiple medical conditions. For those hosting events, Majumder recommended decreasing the amount of attendees at gatherings, a move that can drastically reduce transmission. See an archive of our FAQs here. Heres how that might affect crucial funding, access to tests, and case counts. it all depends on the context, the space and the type of activity. There isnt a tried-and-true rule. You could decide to remove your mask when sitting at your desk, but put it on again to go into a crowded elevator or a conference room where youre sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with other people. 241(d); 5 U.S.C. 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. Of those with known SARS-CoV-2 infection history, eleven (6.1%) of 181 index patients and nine (4.7%) of 192 household contacts with confirmed or probable COVID-19 reported a previous SARS-CoV-2 infection. Overall, spending time outside is "a safer mechanism of prevention against COVID" because of the unlimited ventilation. * These authors contributed equally to this report. What . Dr. Mallika Marshall explains: Omicron. If multiple factors below indicate higher transmission risk, you should follow the steps for what to do if you are exposed. Discover new workout ideas, healthy-eating recipes, makeup looks, skin-care advice, the best beauty products and tips, trends, and more from SELF. It's this increased transmissibility that can make activities that were previously thought of safer (but not completely risk-free) options, more risky. On Twitter: @milepostmedia. First, this investigation used a convenience sample of persons with sequence-confirmed Omicron infections, and participation in this investigation was voluntary. "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. Most index patients (88.4%, 152 of 172) and household contacts (78.7%, 140 of 178) with confirmed cases reported COVID-19compatible symptoms. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. September 7, 2022. Its unlikely most Americans will see local governments bring back even moderate pandemic restrictions. The AR was lower among household contacts of index patients who reported ever wearing a mask at home during their potentially infectious period (39.5%, 88 of 223) compared with household contacts of index patients who reported never wearing a mask at home during this period (68.9%, 124 of 180, p-value<0.01). You can bring back some things that are lower risk or higher value but still take some precautions. CDC twenty four seven. A SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant, BA.2, became the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States. What Is the C.1.2 Variant in COVID-19 Cases? 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. MMWR and Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report are service marks of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. So if you find yourself worrying about not being able to distance yourself in a crowded outdoor situation with people of unknown vaccination status, slip a mask on. The key is really just ensuring that theres adequate distancing, particularly if youre in a situation where someone sneezes or coughs within a few feet of you, Roberts emphasized. An index patient with a probable COVID-19 case was the first person with onset of any symptom consistent with COVID-19, but without a positive SARS-CoV-2 test confirmation, reported in a household. A probable case in a household contact was the presence of any symptom consistent with COVID-19 during the same 14-day period but without a positive SARS-CoV-2 test confirmation. "The mutations of BA.5 impact its spike protein in part and result in some important 'upgrades' in the ability of the virus to infect humans more quickly and also attach to the lungs," Dr. Blaivas said. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, several coronavirus variants have emerged as the virus, SARS-CoV-2, continues to mutate and evolve. Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. Cookies used to enable you to share pages and content that you find interesting on CDC.gov through third party social networking and other websites. Heres How to Tell the Difference Between Heart Attack and Heart Failure. Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of 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. References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are Masks are still effective at protecting you against COVID-19 even if you're the only person wearing one. It's still going to die very quickly in the environment.". This study aims to explore the relationship between the doses of inactivated COVID-19 vaccines received and SARS-CoV-2 Omicron infection in the real-world setting, so as to preliminarily evaluate the protective effect induced by COVID-19 vaccination. More information is available, Travel requirements to enter the United States are changing, starting November 8, 2021. With previous coronavirus variants, like alpha and delta, being outdoors provided good protection against infection, but with the newest Omicron subvariants, being at an outdoor event could be somewhat risky. Eat This, Not That! 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. Experts are still learning about COVID-19. The New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which oversees subways and buses and lost billions of dollars in passenger revenue in 2020, spent $484 million last year in its response to. The more crowded an outdoors space is, the more it begins to mimic an indoor space in terms of our exposure to shared air.. What is the difference between people who are asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic? Washington, DC: US Travel Association; 2021. . In other words, 10 people crowded at an al fresco table doesnt equal safety just because there are only a handful of people around. Accessed February 23, 2022. Some people washed their mail or wore gloves to the grocery store, while policymakers cordoned off playgrounds and encouraged businesses to scrub every surface. For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. Of course, omicron is the most transmissible variant yet. the date of publication. Omicron contains troubling characteristics that might make it more transmissible particularly among people who have already gotten and recovered from Covid, according to the WHO. Corresponding authors: Julia M. Baker, nwk0@cdc.gov; Jasmine Y. Nakayama, qdt2@cdc.gov. Applying that to real life is an entirely different thing," he said. In order to outcompete, successful COVID variants have become more transmissible with time. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:14652. For some people, a tented wedding is outdoors. CNN: What should people consider when deciding what precautions they want to bring back, like canceling restaurant reservations or masking up indoors? Events, dining, and even entire classrooms were moved outside, when feasible. CNN: What about outdoors? Peter Kneffel Again, Id urge that if you are wearing a mask, wear an N95 or equivalent mask, because it will be your best chance of protecting against the very contagious BA.2 variant. 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