Will Labor Day be California's next big COVID test?

Good morning. Wednesday, August 28.This is what you need to know to start your day.

What to know about the latest Covid surge and upcoming vaccines

Labor Day weekend is just around the corner. As you prepare for a short vacation or gathering with friends and family, doctors and experts have a plea: Protect yourself and others from COVID-19,

In California and other corners of the country, summer travel is contributing to a COVID surge – Strongest since 2022 in the context of infection. Busy airports and large indoor eventsLike last week’s Democratic National Convention in Chicago, these events are expected to fuel the spread of the coronavirus.

The Transportation Security Administration said it was investigating 2.99 million The number of passengers carried on June 23 was the highest in a single day since the agency's formation. Passenger Number has been recorded in the Southern California Airports,

After the DNC, where many events were held indoors, A dozen people from CaliforniaSeveral people, including delegates, political strategists and news reporters, said they had tested positive.

In the midst of this strong and persistent summer wave of COVID, the US Food and Drug Administration last week authorized the distribution of Moderna and Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine renewal For the 2024–25 season.

The new vaccines are expected to become available this week, and according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, September and October are the best months for most people to get vaccinated against both COVID-19 and the flu.

How new subvariants are fueling the latest Covid surge

We have seen multiple waves of Covid this year, one reason for this being the continued emergence of highly infectious coronavirus subtypes. to flirtThe collective nickname for some sub-variants that succeeded the dominant strain of the previous winter and included the strain officially known as KP.2, which triggered a mid-year wave.

FLiRT was followed by even more infectious subvariants, named FLuQE (KP.3) and the latest one, named DeFLuQE (KP.3.1.1).

KP.3.1.1 was “a little bit different than what people had seen with natural immunity or with the vaccines that we have available,” said Dr. Elizabeth Hudson, regional chief of infectious diseases at Kaiser Permanente Southern California. told TeaTimesThis “made it much easier to get into a population” where many people were about a year or more out from their last vaccination or COVID-19 illness.

The prevalence of these subtypes has increased made many Americans sickAnd the rate at which Californians in particular are testing positive for COVID continues to rise.

CDC officials said last week that some data suggests the rate of new coronavirus infections has slowed in some parts of the country. But we will need several consecutive weeks of decline in COVID cases before we can say the surge has reversed.

“Our underlying immunity from previous vaccines and past infections provides some protection,” said CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen. “But we know that protection wanes over time, and some groups remain at higher risk from COVID and other viruses, and we need to continue to protect ourselves and our loved ones.”

How to protect yourself and others

My colleagues Rong-Gong Lin II and Seema Mehta gathered Useful Tips For to protectING to yourself and to others.You need to know:

1. Get vaccinated. The new vaccines are designed to provide maximum protection against the most commonly circulating coronavirus variants. The CDC recommends that everyone 6 months and older, especially those who are immunocompromised or who have not been vaccinated for more than a year, should get COVID-19 and other vaccines. Fever Vaccines september or october,
2. If you are sick, get yourself checked daily. it may take Now Rapid tests can be administered once you have symptoms of the disease. Consider getting tested again every day for up to five days after you develop cough and cold symptoms, Hudson said, because you could still have COVID even if your initial test comes back negative. Americans will soon be able to register for a vaccine Four free trials in the mailfederal officials said.
3. Ask paxlovid Or other anti-COVID medications if you get sick. Antiviral drugs like Paxovid reduce the risk of hospitalization and death when taken by people at risk for severe COVID-19 who have mild to moderate symptoms.
4. avoid others until At least 24 hours when your symptoms get better and you don't have a fever and aren't taking fever-reducing medicine. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health recommends staying away from the elderly and people with weakened immune systems for 10 days after you start feeling sick.
5. Wear a mask and avoid large indoor gatherings. Other common precautions include increasing ventilation by opening windows, turning on air purifiers, following good hygiene practices, and being prepared. Travel health kit,

*You can already register or soon register for an appointment for the new COVID-19 vaccine at major retailers — including CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid, Ralphs, Vons, Pavilions, Albertsons and Safeway. Kaiser Permanente expects to begin administering vaccines by mid-September, and possibly earlier at some locations.

Today's major news

Tom Girardi found guilty of embezzlement for wire fraud Crores in customer's money

• The conviction ended a 13-day trial in which prosecutors received emotional testimony from former clients, including a burn victim and a widow whose husband died in a boating accident.
• Girardi faces another trial next year in Chicago, in which he and others are accused of stealing payments made by Boeing to families whose loved ones died in the Indonesian plane crash.

Teachers raise concerns over safety of child artistes on film and TV sets

• According to the Times review, educators who work on film and TV productions say the system designed to protect child actors is the subject of much controversy and often falls short.
• “It's only a matter of time before a 'Twilight Zone' situation occurs again,” one studio teacher said, referring to the 1982 movie set accident that killed actor Vic Morrow and two children.

California students return to college amid tight security in wake of protests

• Colleges and universities across the state are increasing security and enforcing zero-tolerance policies for camps to prevent violent protests over the Israel-Hamas war.
• These restrictions will be tested on Thursday, when Bay Area students plan to hold coordinated protests at UC Berkeley, San Jose State University, San Francisco State University and the University of San Francisco.

Los Angeles' Men's Central Jail could become a death trap in the event of an earthquake, according to a report.

• According to an engineering study redone in 2006, the old building has major structural problems, including weak walls and concrete so brittle that it could crack or shatter under pressure.
• The prison, like much of the city, sits on top of the Puente Hills thrust fault system, which experts say is capable of producing a powerful magnitude 7.5 earthquake.

Even bigger stories

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Today marks the start of the 2024 Paralympic Games in Paris, with visually impaired parathletes describing how they rely on sound and touch to know when to kick a football or time a long jump.

“Running to a sound that you can't see is challenging, it's tough,” said long jumper Lex Gillett. “But it's really awesome.”

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And finally… a great photo

Show us your favorite place in California! Send us photos of your favorite California destinations And we may include them in an edition of Essential California.

The best picture of the day is from here Lorraine Opper Los Angeles and Sacramento attraction: The American River flowing through Sacramento, which is “a beautiful place to walk or bike.”

Lorraine writes: “There's nothing like walking around early in the morning to see birds, deer, coyotes, or people.”

Have a great day from the Essential California Team

Ryan Fonseca, Reporter
Daphne Karabatur, Fellow
Andrew Campa, Sunday correspondent
Hunter Kloss, Multiplatform Editor
Christian Orozco, Assistant Editor
Stephanie Chavez, deputy metro editor
Karim Doumar, Head of Newsletters

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