SARS-CoV-2 transmission remains high in San Mateo County, reflecting the continued dominance of the BA.5 variant, necessitating further COVID-19 vaccination to protect against severe disease and death.
This was stated by Louise Rogers, San Mateo County Health Chief, who stressed in a message that as many families begin to think about having children return to classrooms while there is high transmission and fewer requirements or restrictions, it is necessary to strengthen inoculation.
In this regard, the local official thanked educational partners for their work to update prevention policies and protocols to allow for safe in-person learning.
"We appreciate the focus of education professionals and families on staying up to date with vaccinations and promoting ventilation, masking, testing and staying home when sick," she said.
It is worth noting that San Mateo County remains in the "high" tier of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ‒CDC‒, as is much of the Bay Area region and the state.
"This is a longer phase of high transmission than we have experienced in previous periods," Rogers said.
As of Tuesday, the number of patients hospitalized in San Mateo County with COVID-19 was 58 and has fluctuated between 30 and 60 for most of the past two and a half months, the statement said.
The number of hospitalized patients is comparable to the peak of the Delta wave a year ago, but lower than the peak of the Omicron winter wave, which reached 160 patients.
Meanwhile, the level of hospitalization in intensive care units has been in the single digits. “Our local hospitals continue to be able to manage these levels of hospitalization.”
In this regard, he stressed that it is still "strongly recommended" to wear a high-quality mask in indoor environments and to increase ventilation, for example by opening windows and doors where possible, to help prevent infections.
“We urge residents to get tested if they are experiencing symptoms and to contact their doctor. If you are positive, a doctor can assess whether COVID treatments are right for you,” Rogers stressed.
On the vaccination front, she stressed that this is a time of “high transmission,” so if you are eligible for a booster, it is time to get updated, as existing COVID-19 vaccines remain the most important tool to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death.
For those over 50 or immunocompromised who received a first booster more than four months ago, it is recommended to get their second booster as soon as possible. “There are many avenues throughout the county through health care providers and pharmacies.”
The federal government said Friday that eligibility for a second booster shot will remain unchanged, with a variant-specific Omicron booster expected to be available for those 12 and older in the fall.
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