Coronavirus levels in California’s wastewater have reached a “very high” level for the first time since last winter, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Golden State was one of seven states with “very high” levels; the others were Arkansas, Florida, Maryland, Nevada, Oregon and Texas.
In Los Angeles County, the nation’s most populous, coronavirus levels in wastewater have also increased.
For a 10-day period that ended on June 29, the most recent data available from the county’s health department, COVID levels in the county were at 27% of last winter’s peak. That’s a significant increase from a dataset ending on June 26 when the county was just at 17%.
The daily average cases have also increased, from 215 for the week ending June 26 to 307 for the week ending July 7.
Overall, coronavirus levels have increased nationwide, indicating a summer trend continuing to grow.
Two new COVID variants, known as FLiRT, are responsible for more than half of the latest rise in cases. Experts have found that the latest variants are highly transmissible but don’t cause more severe disease.
Here’s a rundown of what you can do to keep yourself protected
Vaccines
Doctors continue to urge people to consider getting up-to-date vaccinations, especially if they are in higher-risk groups.
In California, only 36% of seniors aged 65 and older have received an updated vaccination, which first became available in September.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged everyone 6 months and older to get one dose of the updated vaccine. A second dose is also recommended for those ages 65 and older, as long as at least four months have passed since their last shot, according to the L.A. Times.
Testing
COVID tests should be able to detect the FLiRT strains, according to Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist Scott Roberts.
Experts recommend that people who are feeling sick take a test daily. People should consider taking a rapid COVID test once a day for three to five consecutive days after experiencing symptoms. It’s important to note that it could take longer for a COVID-19 rapid test to show a positive after an onset of illness.
What to do If you get sick
Health officials still recommend that people who test positive for COVID-19 wear a mask, avoid contact with those with a higher risk of catching severe COVID-19 and, if needed, seek medical treatment, according to the updated guidelines released in January.
As of Jan. 9, people who test positive for COVID-19 but have mild symptoms and have been fever-free without the help of medication may return to school or work after one day of isolation.
More COVID-19 guidelines can be found here.