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. The original Wuhan strain of COVID-19 had a reproductive ratealso known as an R0 or R-naught valueof around 3.3, meaning that each infected person infected another 3.3 people, on average. This German snowman wears a protective mask over its banana nose and mouth, but experts say the risk of catching COVID outdoors is slim. cases are rising modestly in the Northeast, Philadelphia has reinstituted an indoor mask mandate, BA.2 is a subvariant of the Omicron variant. Emanuel Goldman, a microbiology professor at the New Jersey Medical School of Rutgers University, said in an article published in The Lancet journal in 2020 that the risk of COVID-19 infection from surfaces at that time was "exaggerated.". According to the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), BA.5 accounts for 65% of all COVID-19 cases in the U.S.; in just two months, the subvariant managed to outcompete BA.2 and BA.2.12.1the two previously dominant subvariants. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, several coronavirus variants have emerged as the virus, SARS-CoV-2, continues to mutate and evolve. What Do Epidemiologists Think? Wear a mask outdoors if you're going to be in close proximity to others. part 56; 42 U.S.C. While outdoor events are safer than indoor events, theyre not 100% safe, Majumder told the news outlet. Someone coughing and sneezing will exhale droplets that can transmit the virus. Fresh air disperses and dilutes the virus. "Being outdoors continues to provide another layer of protection because of the ventilation," Weatherhead explains. The second thing to think about is, what is your medical situation and the circumstances of others in your household? Linsey Marr, a researcher on the airborne transmission of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and a professor at Virginia Tech, agreed that the results show Omicron seems to survive better, which could be contributing to its heightened transmissibility. Its unlikely most Americans will see local governments bring back even moderate pandemic restrictions. And should we skip large indoor events again? Other members of the scientific and medical community also had mixed views on what this new study actually tells us about how Omicron spreads. Why it may be harder to catch COVID-19 from surfaces than we first thought, Acknowledge COVID-19 is airborne, Lancet report urges as more evidence mounts, Omicron subvariant BA.2 raises new questions about puzzling evolution of virus behind COVID-19, Why an Omicron infection alone might not offer the immune boost you'd expect. Experts warn omicron variants can spread more easily outdoors; prior infections provide less immunit. 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. Should indoor mask mandates come back? Overall, the ECDC said this makes more frequent breakthrough infections and reinfections possible with BA.4 and BA.5. Households with high transmission or with more attention to public health measures may have been more likely to participate. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. A CDC study showed how a surgical mask could reduce risk of exposure to the wearer by nearly 65% by double-knotting the loops and tucking in the sides of the mask to close gaps. Risk is additive. appreciated. 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. To Patel, for small group settings to be safe, people cant be shouting (COVID spreads more when people are singing or yelling), you must be able to maintain some distance from others, and everyone should be following public health measures like hand-washing. Omicron subvariant BA.5 may be the most contagious version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that we've seen yetand even situations that have seemed relatively low-risk as of late, like outdoor gatherings, may now pose a greater threat. Thats different if you are immunocompromised or live with someone who is elderly with multiple medical conditions. 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. But the likelihood of transmission grew by 6% for every five weeks . If you are generally healthy and fully vaccinated and boosted, your chance of severe illness from Covid-19 is very low. **** Case status of household contacts was unknown if the occurrence of COVID-19compatible symptoms was not known and if the contacts testing results were unknown. 45 C.F.R. Received a booster dose was defined as having received an additional dose after completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccination series before the index date. 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. First published on July 11, 2022 / 5:37 PM. When possible, vaccination data were supplemented with or verified using state or jurisdiction registry data. 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. Received a booster dose was defined as having received an additional dose after completion of the primary COVID-19 vaccination series before the index date. Of course, omicron is the most transmissible variant yet. 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. 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 transmission might still be warranted. Outdoor activities are inherently safer than indoor gatherings, Dr. Marr says. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Sunlight and humidity, for instance, can both contribute to how long viruses are able to survive on surfaces outdoors, he noted. CNN: Can you give us a quick refresher what protective measures are effective against this very contagious BA.2 variant? Outdoors Lower Risk Well-ventilated indoors Moderate Risk Poorly ventilated indoors Higher Risk 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. Although outdoor settings are overall the safer option, when a virus is more contagious, it's more contagious in any setting. CNN: What should people consider when deciding what precautions they want to bring back, like canceling restaurant reservations or masking up indoors? "It can happen outside," says Dr. Don Milton, an infectious disease aerobiologist at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Vaccination status was not always verified, and the analysis did not account for potential variations in prevention practices (e.g., frequency of mask use). 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. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2021;70:17314. Ahead, experts explain what you need to know about this subvariant, outdoor transmission, and staying safe as you enjoy your summer. The B.1.1.529 (Omicron) variant, first detected in November 2021, was responsible for a surge in U.S. infections with SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, during December 2021January 2022 (1). 2023 BuzzFeed, Inc. All rights reserved. A sharp spike in coronavirus cases, in part fueled by the new Omicron variant, is prompting health experts to urge that New Year's Eve gatherings be toned down. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. To receive email updates about COVID-19, enter your email address: We take your privacy seriously. CNN: Should people avoid indoor gatherings, knowing that outbreaks can happen? Health and Human Services. Greater COVID transmissibility due to Omicron variants means greater . Heres how that might affect crucial funding, access to tests, and case counts. While most of the western countries gradually lifted the border control and quarantine measures, elimination strategy aiming at "zero COVID-19" remains in . Without sequencing results for all household contact cases, it was not possible to confirm that transmission occurred from index patients to household contacts or that household contacts were infected with the same variant. Wind speeds of less than 5.5 miles per hour (mph) seemed to . (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images), A young woman and man stand next to each other. But if it's a casual interaction outside, even if it's relatively crowded, I'm comfortable not having a mask on. 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. Patel stressed that if youre going to crowded outdoor events like weddings, sports games and entertainment events, you should follow health precautions while we wait on data about the current subvariants spread outdoors. And Eric Topol, MD . * 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. Comments on this story are moderated according to our Submission Guidelines. Persons who only had signs or symptoms (and no positive SARS-CoV-2 test result) were considered to have a probable case. Lane . September 7, 2022. Ensuring you are able to distance even in an outdoor setting can only help reduce the risk of spread, Roberts stated. CDC twenty four seven. Ad Choices. Sheila Mulrooney Eldred is a freelance health journalist in Minneapolis. Views equals page views plus PDF downloads. 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. Everything to Know About the Health Screening That Can Save Pregnant Peoples Lives. SARS-CoV-2 B.1.1.529 (Omicron) Variant Transmission Within Households Four U.S. Jurisdictions, November 2021February 2022. Of course, omicron is the most transmissible variant yet. 95% CIs for attack rates are represented by error bars. The outdoors have always been a sanctuaryeven more so since the advent of the pandemic. The COVID-19 subvariant of Omicron, BA.5, is spreading quickly in the U.S. . Spreading COVID outside was possible, but not probable, experts advised in 2020, urging cooped-up citizens to turn to Mother Nature as an antidote to the isolation of lockdowns. CNN: What about outdoors? "So the safest place you can be [with other people] is still going to be outdoors," she says. Nevertheless, in its coronavirus profile, the RKI also posits that "overall, transmissions outdoors rarely occur. The likelihood of catching Covid-19 outdoors is low but increases in crowded areas or at events where people are close together for long periods of time . Her 2020 investigation into COVID-19 infections among health-care workers won best in-depth series at the RNAO Media Awards. 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. 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. 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. The small sample size, especially for certain stratum-specific ARs, may limit overall generalizability of the results. These cookies perform functions like remembering presentation options or choices and, in some cases, delivery of web content that based on self-identified area of interests. What exactly does a small group mean? And, while outdoor gatherings are still considered safer, there are some cases in. BOSTON -- As Omicron cases are sweeping the nation, some experts are warning that being outdoors may not provide as much protection as before. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. ", Lauren Pelley covers health and medical science for CBC News, including the global spread of infectious diseases, Canadian health policy, and pandemic preparedness. "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. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of 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. Upping the ante is the fact that recent subvariants like BA.4 and BA.5 are the most immune-evasive yet, with the ability to dodge antibodies from both vaccines and prior infection. Researchers have said that while Covid infections can happen outdoors, the chances are massively reduced. Getty The new BA.5 subvariant is spreading across the US and there's evidence it can evade the body's immune response. One review of studies concluded that the odds of indoor transmission is almost 19 times higher than outdoor transmission. 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. And it has been able to spread fast. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. 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. Being outside, Wallace points out, only helps improve one of the variables for Covid risk: ventilation. 5 Norovirus Symptoms That Can Hit You Really, Really Hard, This Simple Morning Habit Can Help You Sleep Way Better at Night, Jane Fonda Shared Her Simplest Tip for Fighting Depression as You Get Older, CDC Warns Against OTC Eye Drops Linked to 50 Infections in 11 States. The XBB.1.5 variant is a highly transmissible descendant of omicron that is now estimated . P-values comparing differences in stratum-specific ARs were calculated using a generalized estimating equation approach to account for clustering by household (2). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Testing revealed bacterial contamination in some bottles of EzriCare Artificial Tears. Most. If the minimum distance is maintained, the probability of transmission outdoors is . 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. Wear a well-fitting mask or respirator when the COVID-19 Community Level is high. What This Means For You. Fourth, the interval analysis reflected time between dates of a positive test result or symptom onset, not date of infection, and did not account for duration of symptoms and prevention strategies, such as frequency of mask use. 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. 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. "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. May 6, 2022. In a study of household transmission in four U.S. jurisdictions, Omicron infection resulted in high transmission among household contacts, particularly among those who lived with index patients who were not vaccinated or who did not take measures to reduce the risk of transmission to household contacts. After three years, most people know how to do that: vaccines, masks, physical distancing, handwashing and lets not forget ventilation. If you are attending an outdoor gatheringeven when community levels are medium or lowyou should still be cautious about masking and social distancing, especially in large crowds. 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. 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Mulrooney Eldred is a highly transmissible descendant of Omicron, BA.5, is spreading quickly in the.! Health-Care workers won best in-depth series at the RNAO Media Awards easily outdoors prior. What precautions covid transmission outdoors omicron want to bring back even moderate pandemic restrictions COVID-19 subvariant of Omicron that now! No positive SARS-CoV-2 test results, transmissions outdoors rarely occur happen outdoors he... Is, what is your medical situation and the circumstances of others in your?... B.1.1.529 ( Omicron ) variant transmission Within households Four U.S. Jurisdictions, November 2021February 2022 BA.5... Easily outdoors ; prior infections provide less immunit 's relatively crowded, I 'm comfortable not having a outdoors... But if it 's a casual interaction outside, Wallace points out, helps...
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