![]() What’s different is that the SARS-CoV-2 mutations have made the virus even more infectious. The SARS-CoV-2 virus uses a spike protein to infect cells in the nose, throat, and lungs, however, and it has been a location for mutations it’s also the protein that human antibodies attack. Studies indicate measles virus mutations at that cellular infection point render the virus unable to continue infecting human cells. Measles, like COVID, is highly contagious through sneezes and coughs, but similarities end at the attachment point the virus uses to enter the cell and cause infection. Fisk said, and its vaccine works to protect against a relatively unchanging virus. Comparing SARS-CoV-2 to a virus like polio, the genetic material in the polio virus is more stable and less changeable, Dr. The SARS-CoV-2 virus that causes COVID-19 is considered very unstable and highly given to mutate during those trillions of replications. David Fisk | Credit: Daniel Dreifuss (file)Ī virus duplicates billions and trillions times a day in an infected person, Dr. David Fisk, an infectious disease physician at both Sansum Clinic and Cottage Health, explained the complicated, microscopic reasons why.ĭr. To keep immunity levels high to resist infection and opportunities for mutations, booster shots are recommended. Though people catch the virus again, most are less sick and recover more quickly. Many question if vaccines work at all against this virus, but the question might properly be: Do they work against the current variant? The answer has been yes thus far. Artful dodger full#in June 2021, pushing ICU numbers above 20 locally when full vaccination was barely 60 percent and Omicron arrived at Thanksgiving, casting off more and more contagious variants and re-infecting people who’d made it through a previous COVID illness. The Alpha variant was found in December 2020, about the time vaccines came online Delta arrived in the U.S. Vaccinations began to be available less than a year after the epidemic broke out, but the virus has proved to be very clever in its evolution. Countywide, the first three weeks May have recorded no COVID deaths, a phenomenon also seen in May 2021 however, the pandemic has claimed 688 lives since March 2020. Unvaccinated persons continue to outnumber the vaccinated in positive tests, and hospitalizations have risen from single digits in April to 19 on Friday three patients were in an ICU. This chart reflects case rates by vaccination status in absolute numbers, 20 unvaccinated cases were recorded, seven not boosted, and 21 fully boosted on May 21. In sober statistical terms, the seven-day average case rate - or cases per 100,000 residents - went from about 11 at the end of April to 30 on May 23, the last date posted. The vertigo-inducing changes continued with Thursday’s count at 241 and Friday’s at 168. With vaccination widespread and the virus less severe, the county updates the dashboard twice a week instead of daily, as it has for the past two hyperactive years. On Tuesday, between the Independent’s mid-day report and information released that evening, the new case counts sank from 219 to 85 on the county’s dashboard. With graduation ceremonies beginning June 10, media relations manager Kiki Reyes said that the outdoor ceremonies will not be affected but other indoor celebrations that take place on campus will, through to June 12.įor the county as a whole, the daily number of new cases swings wildly. ![]() Chancellor Henry Yang and other administrators urged them to take advantage of the no-cost PCR testing available on campus. | Credit: SBCPHD DashboardĪt UCSB, a significant increase in cases led to the indoor masking policy, only 10 days after the university canceled a required daily screening survey that barred symptomatic students and faculty from indoor spaces. Santa Barbara County’s Public Health Department maintains a COVID data dashboard twice a week. ![]()
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