California issued shelter in-place orders on Tue Mar 17, 2020. I have been logging the highlights and lowlights. Two-thirds of Jul slowed down after a fast 2022 first half. Jul was the slowest month. Omicron BA.5 and monkeypox continue the top headlines. However, omicron BA.5 numbers are decreasing in the Bay Area. San Francisco is a top city for monkeypox cases.
Sat Jul 2. 38 of the 58 CA counties were classified as COVID-19 high level according to the Center For Disease Control (CDC). 25 of the 58 CA counties were classified as COVID-19 high level last week. The high level classification is based on new cases and hospitalizations per 100,000 people. The CDC recommended people wear masks in high levels.
Tue Jul 5. Early research concluded the omicron BA.5 variant is more contagious and resistant to current vaccines. People with past BA.5 are not immune to get BA.5 again.
The CDC stated omicron BA.5 is the majority of US cases. The breakdown is 53.6% BA.5 and 16.5% BA.4 totaling 70.1%. Updated vaccines to protect against omicron are available as early as Oct 2022.
Wed Jul 6. CA public health officials announced no mask requirements for the K-12 2022-2023 school year. Indoor masks and vaccination are recommended. Students and staff are advised to be tested after summer, winter, and spring breaks.
The nine Bay Area counties were classified as high level in the CDC's community level due to omicron BA.5.
The Food And Drug Administration (FDA) said pharmacists can prescribe the Pfizer drug Paxlovid for people with COVID-19. Previously, physicians prescribed the antiviral drug. Paxlovid must be taken within five days after symptoms begin. Patients age 12 or older requesting Paxlovid must bring their health records. Patients with a possibility of severe illness and current underlying health conditions such as heart disease, obesity, and cancer, and older age are recommended to take Paxlovid. Patients with severe kidney or liver problems shouldn't take Paxlovid. Three pills are taken two times a day for a total of five days.
Paxlovid was approved by the FDA in Dec 2021.
Thur Jul 7. Beijing and Shanghai in China reported omicron BA.5.2 variant cases. All residents must show proof of vaccination and negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours to enter a public venue.
Sun Jul 10. Omicron variant BA.2.75 detected in multiple countries including the US, India, Australia, Germany, United Kingdom, and Canada. Scientists said it spreads rapidly, immune to current vaccines, and immune to previous infections. Vaccines and boosters are the best defense against hospitalizations and deaths.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer tested positive for COVID-19. He is vaccinated and boosted twice.
Wed Jul 13. I shopped at Costco and Safeway. Costco was dead inside. Driving in and driving out of the parking lot was easy.
The FDA authorized the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use. Adults 18 and older can get the Novavax vaccine. Two doses required. 90.4% efficacy. 170 other countries administer the Novavax vaccine.
1 in 3 Americans are unvaccinated. Less than 50% of the US population are fully vaccinated and not boosted. 28% of the US population over 50 received their second booster.
The White House announced COVID-19 hospitalizations doubled since May nationwide. The breakdown is 65% BA.5 and 16% BA.4 totaling 81%.
Thur Jul 14. I helped my dad's friend with front yard work. I helped my dad complete errands and shopped at Target afterwards.
Fri Jul 15. I helped my dad's friend with front yard work. I completed my errands at Target, Nike, and Grocery Outlet afterwards. I saw more people maskless.
The COVID-19 virus levels in wastewater increased. More people tested positive at home and not reporting their positive results to their county. No Bay Area county considered reinstating mask mandates.
55% of Americans live in a county declared high risk according to the CDC guidelines. 32% of American live in a county declared high risk last week. CDC recommended people wear masks and minimize public indoor activities. Omicron BA.5 is responsible for 67% of positive cases.
Science Advances published an article women experience menstrual changes after getting a COVID-19 vaccine. 42% of women bled more. 44% of women no change. 14% of women bled less. Further research needed according to the article such as why the menstrual change happens.
Mon Jul 18. BART mask mandate ended today. The Board Of Directors may reinstate mask mandates later in the month. BART encouraged all riders wear masks.
A man in the Sebastopol, CA is infected with COVID-19 and monkeypox at the same time.
Tue Jul 19. The CDC approved the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. The US has 3.2 million doses. The vaccine is based on a conventional technology used for 30 years. The Novavax vaccine is based on protein subunit technology which is used for flu and whooping cough vaccines.
77% of US adults are fully vaccinated with Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson.
Thur Jul 21. President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19. Biden is fully vaccinated and boosted twice. Mild symptoms. Biden took Paxlovid.
Fri Jul 22. 151 people died in New Zealand from Jul 9 to Jul 16. The previous seven day record death was 115 in Mar 2022. 26 people died in the last 24 hours. 64,780 people tested positive. The Health Ministry said many infections are unreported. The government dropped its zero-COVID policy when the population was vaccinated. The virus spread. There are no plans to reinstate the zero-COVID policy. New Zealand's quick response to the pandemic in 2020 and its geographic isolation kept the country largely COVID-19 free in 2020 and 2021.
Sat Jul 23. I went to my first outdoor activity since Mar 2020 at the Gilroy Gardens in Gilroy, CA. The Gilroy Gardens is a small amusement park.
The World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a global health emergency.
Wed Jul 27. Biden ended his isolation totaling five days. He tested negative yesterday and today.
Two published studies concluded The Huanan Seafood Market in Wuhan, China is likely the epicenter for the COVID-19 global pandemic. One study stated the virus was present in live animals which were close together. The virus infected the people in the market. The virus spread into other markets and the community.
The second study stated the coronavirus came in two different forms at the same location with animal to human transmission.
Wed Jul 27. One million residents in the Jiangxia district in Wuhan, China are locked down for three days because four people tested positive for COVID-19.
Thur Jul 28. 5% of people worldwide who had COVID-19 experience long lasting loss of smell or taste sense according to the British Medical Association. These people loss these senses at least six months after infection. 75% experience senses recovered in 30 days. 90% experience senses recovered in 90 days. 95% experience senses recovered in 180 days. Treatments are available for people with loss of small or taste.
BART reinstated mask mandates immediately. The mandate ends Oct 1, 2022.
Fri Jul 29. The US Department Of Health And Human Services announced 66 million purchase of the Moderna bivalent booster shot and 105 million purchase of the Pfizer bivalent booster shot. These updated booster shots are available as early as fall pending approval from the federal agencies CDC which recommends and FDA which authorizes.
Sat Jul 30. Biden tested positive for COVID-19 again.
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