Virus Experts Say Most People Catch Omicron

COVID-19 cases are declining as last month's Omicron wave recedes, and mask mandates are being relaxed almost everywhere. But experts say it's still important to try and avoid catching the virus for two main reasons: Even if you have only mild symptoms (or none at all), you can spread COVID to a person who's at risk of severe illness; and even mild illness can result in a debilitating case of "long COVID" (although vaccination is believed to reduce that risk).

To protect yourself and others, experts say you may want to avoid these scenarios, which are how most people contract Omicron now. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don't miss these Sure Signs You've Already Had COVID.

Thinking You Had Omicron, So You're Immune Now

Unfortunately, new research has found that catching the Omicron variant doesn't make you immune from COVID-19—and not even from another case of Omicron. Those are the conclusions of researchers at the University of California—San Francisco, who found that Omicron infection only provided one-third the immune protection of a booster shot. That makes people susceptible to a newly emerging subtype of Omicron known as BA.2, not to mention future variants.

"Our results suggest that omicron-induced immunity may not be sufficient to prevent infection from another, more pathogenic variant, should it emerge in the future," the researchers said. "They also highlight the continued importance of vaccine boosters in enhancing immunity, as breakthrough infection alone may not be reliable."

Being Unvaccinated or Unboosted

On a recent episode of his podcast, epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm said the latest data indicates that people who received a third vaccine dose were nearly four times less likely to test positive for COVID compared to unvaccinated adults. (And they're 97 times less likely to die from the virus.)

Being Unmasked in Crowded Public Places

As mask mandates ease nationwide, the debate has begun about whether such relaxation is premature. Experts are looking with concern at the emergence of the BA.2 subtype of Omicron, which only accounts for 1% of current U.S. cases but seems to be about 30% more infectious than Omicron (which was already much more infectious than earlier iterations of the virus).

The CDC still recommends wearing a mask in public in areas where there is substantial or high community transmission of the virus. CDC director Rochelle Walensky said Americans should consider another standard in their local area when deciding whether to mask in public. "We must consider hospital capacity as an additional important barometer," she said. "We want to give people a break from things like mask wearing when these metrics are better and then have the ability to reach for them again should things worsen."

Being in the Hospital

Last week, Politico reported that a record number of people contracted COVID-19 in the hospital during the Omicron surge: 38 out of the 40 worst daily hospital infection rates during the pandemic occurred this year. "Any level of hospital transmission is concerning," said Aaron Milstone, a professor at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "The data suggests that hospitals should review their practices and make sure they are doing everything they can to protect patients."

Reuters Health News Summary

Distributors McKesson Corp, AmerisourceBergen Corp and Cardinal Health Inc along with J&J had until Friday to decide whether enough cities and counties nationally had opted to join the landmark settlement to justify moving forward with it. Hong Kong reports record daily COVID cases and 83 deaths Hong Kong reported a record 26,026 daily COVID-19 infections on Sunday and 83 deaths, as an outbreak of the highly transmissible Omicron variant overwhelms healthcare facilities and proves hard to control.

Following is a summary of current health news briefs. Hong Kong families despair as COVID rules may separate them from children, Guada, a mother of two young children and pregnant with twins, cries herself to sleep at night, worried that Hong Kong's severe COVID-19 rules will separate her from her kids or force her to give birth alone. Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 in Hong Kong, including infants and children, are put into isolation facilities with no family contact allowed, as authorities enforce their "dynamic zero" COVID policy.

Italy reports 38,375 coronavirus cases on Saturday, 210 deaths

Italy reported 38,375 COVID-19 related cases on Saturday, against 40,948 the day before, the health ministry said, while the number of deaths rose to 210 from 193. Italy has registered 154,416 deaths linked to COVID-19 since its outbreak emerged in February 2020, the second-highest toll in Europe after Britain and the eighth highest in the world. The country has reported 12.7 million cases to date.

COVID-related diabetes may be temporary; racial disparities widen with Omicron infections

The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID-19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review. COVID-related diabetes may be temporary

Hong Kong allows COVID home testing as daily cases soar

Hong Kong health authorities said on Saturday they would adjust COVID testing procedures to allow some people to test from home to ease long queues at designated testing centers, as the city's outbreak proves increasingly hard to control. Health secretary Sophia Chan said a record 17,063 new COVID-19 daily cases had been recorded, and 66 deaths in the past 24-hours in the city of 7.4 million.

Drug distributors, J&J agree to finalize $26 billion opioid settlement

The three largest U.S. drug distributors and drugmaker Johnson & Johnson have agreed to finalize a proposed $26 billion settlement resolving claims by states and local governments that they helped fuel the U.S. opioid epidemic. Distributors McKesson Corp, AmerisourceBergen Corp and Cardinal Health Inc along with J&J had until Friday to decide whether enough cities and counties nationally had opted to join the landmark settlement to justify moving forward with it.

Hong Kong reports record daily COVID cases and 83 deaths

Hong Kong reported a record 26,026 daily COVID-19 infections on Sunday and 83 deaths, as an outbreak of the highly transmissible Omicron variant overwhelms healthcare facilities and proves hard to control. The global financial hub has imposed some of the most stringent COVID restrictions in the world to cope with the coronavirus spike, leading some executives to leave and frustrating some residents.

U.S. eases COVID indoor mask guidelines for most of country

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday dramatically eased its COVID-19 guidelines for masks, including in schools, a move that means 72% of the population reside in communities where indoor face coverings are no longer recommended. The new masking guidelines shift from a focus on the rate of COVID-19 transmission to monitoring local hospitalizations, hospital capacity and infection rates.

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UAE drops face masks outdoors, quarantine for COVID contact cases

The United Arab Emirates, the Middle East tourism and commercial hub, over the weekend ended a requirement to wear face masks outdoors and obligatory quarantine for COVID-19 contact cases. Fully-vaccinated passengers arriving in the country will no longer require PCR tests, said the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority in updated guidance that went into effect on Saturday.

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