If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Vaccinated residents with breakthrough infections were significantly less likely to transmit them: 28% versus 36% for those who were unvaccinated. "These 'upgrades' in viral performance mean the virus can spread more quickly than prior variants.". Many of these variants' mutations have little or no impact on how the virus affects humans. Outside gatherings are a prime example of this. When asked about the new Hong Kong results, he said any findings based on the "same old techniques" in a laboratory don't change that, since figuring out transmission is about more than just how viruses survive within controlled settings. First, this investigation used a convenience sample of persons with sequence-confirmed Omicron infections, and participation in this investigation was voluntary. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Third, COVID-19 prevention measures (vaccination, isolation, and mask use) are likely highly correlated within households, and the identified risk factors might not be independent predictors of transmission. While outdoor transmission of COVID-19 in low-risk settings is "generally uncommon," Dr. Adalja says that it's . Audience Relations, CBC P.O. Ive talked before about how the new guidelines from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention can be used here. Hong Kong's mask mandate was implemented in July 2020, with only people visiting national parks or doing strenuous physical activities exempt from wearing face coverings outdoors. If its in green or yellow or low or medium risk you could choose not to, depending on the other two factors. Of course, none of us want to get infected by the coronavirus, and no one should be trying to get it. Though the BA.5 wave hasnt caused a significant spike in hospitalizations or deaths in South Africa, certain locations hit by BA.5, like Portugal, have seen an uptick in hospitalizations. Most index patients (88.4%, 152 of 172) and household contacts (78.7%, 140 of 178) with confirmed cases reported COVID-19compatible symptoms. The volume of droplets used in the lab research five microlitres might sound small, but it's "actually huge compared to droplets we usually spew out," she said. Durch Klicken auf Alle akzeptieren erklren Sie sich damit einverstanden, dass Yahoo und unsere Partner Ihre personenbezogenen Daten verarbeiten und Technologien wie Cookies nutzen, um personalisierte Anzeigen und Inhalte zu zeigen, zur Messung von Anzeigen und Inhalten, um mehr ber die Zielgruppe zu erfahren sowie fr die Entwicklung von Produkten. Then came Omicron, with an reproductive rate almost twice as large: 9.5. Still, he says, you have to be close to the infected person or downwind of them. Ensuring you are able to distance even in an outdoor setting can only help reduce the risk of spread, Roberts stated. The other/multiple races category included American Indian or Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander, another race specified by the person not in the provided list, or multiple races. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Third, how important is it to you to continue to avoid Covid-19? Omicron may hang around longer on surfaces than original virus, early findings suggest | CBC News Loaded. Please note that CBC does not endorse the opinions expressed in comments. Theres free communication of the air with the atmosphere, and that really disperses aerosols [that can carry COVID-19], so the risk would be a lot lower, Roberts explained. When an . COVID is everywhere again thanks to a large and growing ongoing surge of new infections and reinfections fueled by more transmissible Omicron subvariants, particularly the extra-worrisome and now . And while things are admittedly looking up, infection rates are low and (in many locations . Studies conducted prior to omicron show that being outside greatly reduces your risk of infection with the coronavirus. So some people may want to mask up in certain outdoor situations. "When a variant is slated to be more or less transmissible than another, it applies as a blanket statement regardless of setting,'' said Dr. Weissenbach. The 15-minute rule no longer applies. These data points raise a sort of transmission paradox. An index patient with a probable COVID-19 case was the first person with onset of any symptom consistent with COVID-19, but without a positive SARS-CoV-2 test confirmation, reported in a household. There are several ways this can happen: Droplets or aerosols. Even small quantities of the virus floating around could infect you if you are not wearing a mask, said Dr. Janak Patel, director of the Division of Infectious Disease and Immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch, adding that this could be the case for certain outdoor settings, too a situation that was generally considered OK for the past two-plus years of the pandemic. The omicron sub-lineages are so new that infectious disease experts are still measuring their potential impact, even in outdoor settings. Updated provided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or imply It also depends on the specifics of your workplace. But the same factors that make indoor settings riskycrowded spaces, poor air circulation, the sharing of food and drinkcan also increase your chances of contracting COVID outside. A confirmed case in a household contact was receipt of a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test result or antigen test result (through local or home testing) reported 14 days after the index date. The AR among household contacts with previous SARS-CoV-2 infection was 40.9% (9 of 22) compared with 59.8% (183 of 306) among those without previous infection (p-value=0.08). This German snowman wears a protective mask over its banana nose and mouth, but experts say the risk of catching COVID outdoors is slim. How can I reduce my risk of getting COVID-19? In other words, 10 people crowded at an al fresco table doesnt equal safety just because there are only a handful of people around. Although outdoor settings are overall the safer option, when a virus is more contagious, it's more contagious in any setting. Analysis of AR among household contacts excluded eight persons with unknown case status (persons for whom it was not known whether COVID-19compatible symptoms were present and whether SARS-CoV-2 testing had occurred [or if testing occurred, the results were unknown]). Dr. Mallika Marshall explains: Omicron. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2022;71:341346. * These authors contributed equally to this report. Age at index date was determined from date of birth or self-reported age. While most of the western countries gradually lifted the border control and quarantine measures, elimination strategy aiming at "zero COVID-19" remains in . You'll also want to consider your own personal risk for COVID-19, that of those close to you, and your combined risk tolerance for public situations. ARs were high across all household contact vaccination categories but lowest among those who received a booster dose (47.8%, 54 of 113) or were fully vaccinated <5 months before the index date (50.0%, 14 of 28). Longer exposure timeincreasesthe risk of transmission (for example, contact longer than 15 minutes is more likely to result in transmission than two minutes of contact). Eat This, Not That! The outdoors have always been a sanctuaryeven more so since the advent of the pandemic. Each week, we answer frequently asked questions about life during the coronavirus crisis. "So the safest place you can be [with other people] is still going to be outdoors," she says. / CBS Boston. ** An index patient with a confirmed COVID-19 case was the first person with a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test result or antigen test result (through local or home testing) reported in a household. "The risk outside is going to be substantially less. In that case, they should definitely feel free to wear a mask when in outdoor and more crowded settings. Some persons who were fully vaccinated had unknown dates for completion of their primary vaccination series. For example, if you work in an office that has pretty good ventilation and is well-spaced, and requires proof of vaccination, you may consider not masking in that setting. Box 500 Station A Toronto, ON Canada, M5W 1E6. Thanks to a unique cluster of mutations on the spike protein, the part of the virus that latches to our cells, BA.5 is believed to be the most contagious strain of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, so far. CDC twenty four seven. The findings from this investigation reinforce the importance of multi-component prevention strategies, including up-to-date vaccination, isolation of infected persons, and mask use at home, to reduce Omicron transmission in household settings. Thus, the latest dominant COVID subvariants have a reproductive rate of around 18.6, tying or surpassing measles, the worlds most infectious viral disease, according to Esterman. Being closer to someone who is infected with COVID-19 increases the risk of transmission. Should You Be Worried About Outdoor Transmission During the BA.5 Surge? So attending a tightly packed outdoor concert and sharing your drink with a friend tends to lend itself to a higher transmission risk than, say, a park picnic in an open space with a couple of friends who arent sitting close to you. an editorial on the research on football teams. They can also be exposed by inhaling aerosol particles that are spreading away from the infected person. Some will think those activities are worth the risk. Lets say you work in a well-ventilated office, everyone around you is vaccinated, and you are well-distanced from the next person. Activities like coughing, singing, shouting, or breathing heavily due to exertionincreasethe risk of transmission. This is because fresh air disperses and dilutes the virus as well as helping to evaporate . the date of publication. Statistical significance was defined as p<0.05. May 6, 2022. Being outside, Wallace points out, only helps improve one of the variables for Covid risk: ventilation. So what's the takeaway for Canadians who are trying to navigate a reopening society while mitigating the risk of falling ill with COVID-19? For this investigation, a confirmed case in a household contact was defined as a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test result or antigen test result (through local or home testing)** 14 days after the index date. Sheila Mulrooney Eldred is a freelance health journalist in Minneapolis. Closed Captioning and Described Video is available for many CBC shows offered on CBC Gem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Subanalyses focusing on secondary household transmission demonstrated a similar interval (median=3 days, IQR=25) (Supplementary Figure 1, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/114723) and similar patterns in ARs (Supplementary Figure 2, https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/114722). Published on December 6, 2021. The second thing to think about is, what is your medical situation and the circumstances of others in your household? Again, Id urge that if you are wearing a mask, wear an N95 or equivalent mask, because it will be your best chance of protecting against the very contagious BA.2 variant. But being outside is still much, much safer than being indoors. 2023 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. "If you are young and healthy or fully immunized, BA.5 may still make you feel pretty rotten for a while and some people can get very sick from it, so know your risks.". It's nice to see people's expressions and feel a sense of normalcy.". Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Regular testing after potential exposure and remaining up to date on vaccines and boosters are also necessary steps, regardless of whether you're indoors or outdoors. The outdoors have always been a sanctuaryeven more so since the advent of the pandemic. You could decide to go to an outdoor lunch with your colleagues, but skip the happy hour in a packed bar. That will reduce not only this coronavirus transmission but other respiratory and gastrointestinal pathogens, too. Getty The new BA.5 subvariant is spreading across the US and there's evidence it can evade the body's immune response. First published on July 11, 2022 / 5:37 PM. Experts believe the virus that causes COVID-19 spreads mainly from person to person. "But for something that's very efficient at spreading like BA.5 is, it won't be as protective.". 2022 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. When it comes to COVID, the outdoors are great for two main reasons: there's plenty of fresh air outside, and you have more space to keep a distance, Milton says. Linking to a non-federal website does not constitute an endorsement by CDC or any of its employees of the sponsors or the information and products presented on the website. Updated COVID-19 booster vaccines are here. For some people, a tented wedding is outdoors. But he warned the public not to panic, and avoid resorting to heavy-handed precautions. See the Interactive Home Ventilation Tool. Multicomponent COVID-19 prevention strategies, including up-to-date vaccination, isolation of infected persons, and mask use at home, are critical to reducing Omicron transmission in household settings. Different modes of transportation pose varying risks of COVID-19 depending on the quality of ventilation in the enclosed space. Depending on the outdoor situation youre in, it changes the ventilation dynamics of that area and can alter the risk of COVID for people in that [space], Roberts said, adding that hed feel pretty comfortable in a socially distant, outdoor setting with nothing covering the space (like tents, tarps, overhangs, and enclosures) even with the BA.5 variant. See what it's like. cases are rising modestly in the Northeast, Philadelphia has reinstituted an indoor mask mandate, BA.2 is a subvariant of the Omicron variant. And, if you dont feel well, stay home. S&P Index data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. "Slipping on the ice or getting in an accident on the way [to an outdoor rendezvous] is probably more likely than getting COVID outside," Malani says. But if you're not able to keep. In order to outcompete, successful COVID variants have become more transmissible with time. SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Overall, spending time outside is "a safer mechanism of prevention against COVID" because of the unlimited ventilation. Rodney E. Rohde, PhD, a virologist and professor of clinical laboratory science at Texas State University, tells SELF that many people have seen the outdoors as a get out of jail free cardbut that has never really been the case. We take your privacy seriously. First, what is the Covid-19 risk in your community? Biometrics 1988;44:104960. Among 431 household contacts, 227 were classified as having a case of COVID-19 (attack rate [AR] = 52.7%). Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. The emergence of BA.5 and other highly contagious omicron subvariants is definitely concerning, experts said. "You're never going to find that much virus in a small area that you touch," he said. On smooth surfaces, Omicron lasted more than a week, while infectious amounts of the original virus were recovered up to just four days on polypropylene plastic and stainless and up to seven days on glass. Even past infection or immunization don't offer quite as much protection as would be expected. The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication, but guidance can change as scientists discover more about the virus. As the United States navigates a third year of the Covid-19 pandemic, cases are rising modestly in the Northeast, Philadelphia has reinstituted an indoor mask mandate and some colleges are requiring masks during the final days of the spring semester. "The air movement [outdoors] is more random and the virus won't build up.". In each instance, infectious amounts of Omicron were recovered for longer amounts of time than the samples of the original virus. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Heres What You Should Know About BA.5 Symptoms and Severity, A Devastating Number of Americans Will Experience Long COVID. All information these cookies collect is aggregated and therefore anonymous. Persons who reported any signs or symptoms during the course of their recent illness were considered to have COVID-19compatible symptoms. As for indoor activities outside of homemask up, even if your trips are brief, she recommended: Its more possible than ever to catch COVID in passing. These findings further highlight young childrens potential contribution to household transmission of SARS-CoV-2, as well as their ongoing susceptibility to infection when SARS-CoV-2 is introduced in the home (5). For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. Overall, the ECDC said this makes more frequent breakthrough infections and reinfections possible with BA.4 and BA.5. Being around people who are symptomatic increases the risk of transmission. Wind is typically good because it will lead to more rapid dilution [of particles], but you should pay attention to wind direction and avoid being close and directly downwind of others, Dr. Marr says. You should wear a mask if its impossible to create distance (ideally a well-fitted one, like a KN95) and take a COVID test before you go out, Patel said. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. ARs among household contacts were estimated overall, by household contact characteristics, and by index patient characteristics, by dividing the number of household contacts with confirmed and probable cases by the total number of household contacts within a given stratum. Interferon lambda, an injectable drug in development, is already being compared to Paxlovid. They help us to know which pages are the most and least popular and see how visitors move around the site. It's also important to say that outdoor gatherings were never completely risk-freethey were just less risky. According to Dr. Blaivas, it's helpful to think of these changes in BA.5 (and other variants that have outcompeted their predecessors) as "upgrades" to make them better fit to survive (aka, infect humans). Households with high transmission or with more attention to public health measures may have been more likely to participate. **** A negative SARS-CoV-2 test result was reported on the day of or after symptom onset by 38.8% (19 of 49) of household contacts classified as having probable COVID-19 and 68.6% (140 of 204) of those classified as not having COVID-19. Transportation pose varying risks of COVID-19 ( attack rate [ AR ] = covid transmission outdoors omicron % ), treatment! 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Protective. `` a non-federal website readers and do not constitute or imply it depends. To distance even in an outdoor lunch with your colleagues, but skip the happy in... Be expected because of the Omicron sub-lineages are so new that infectious experts! Is, what is your medical situation and the virus affects humans downwind them... Next person recent illness were considered to have COVID-19compatible symptoms Omicron were recovered longer! In each instance, infectious amounts of time than the samples of the pandemic should you be Worried outdoor! Of them, experts said order to outcompete, successful COVID variants have become more transmissible with time with. An outdoor lunch with your colleagues, but skip the happy hour in a small area that touch... That infectious Disease experts are still measuring their potential impact, even in an outdoor can... Functionality more relevant to you a freelance health journalist in Minneapolis signs or symptoms during the BA.5 Surge transmission.... Health measures may have been more likely to transmit them: 28 % versus 36 % for those were. Varying risks of COVID-19 depending on the specifics of your workplace be used for advertising purposes these...