As Los Angeles County prepares to deal with the possible threat from Ómicron, the new strain of covid-19, health authorities advise that instead of worrying, we should make sure that everyone from the age of 5, get fully vaccinated and get their booster dose. However, that hasn’t stopped fear from rising again among Angelenos.
“We encourage all eligible adults 18 years of age and older to receive their booster dose to protect themselves from infection and transmission of the virus, as infections continue to be significant in the county, and the additional booster makes a difference,” said the Dr. Barbara Ferrer, Los Angeles County Director of Public Health.
On November 30, Los Angeles County reported a total of 843 new cases and 28 deaths from covid that day alone; and since the outbreak of the pandemic, 1,527,132 infections and 27,166 deaths have been registered.
Throughout the country, until November 26, there was a report of more than 47 million confirmed cases of covid-19, and more than 773,000 deaths.
President Biden said Monday that the new variant is cause for concern, but not panic, because we have the tools to confront it and continue to advance the war against the virus.
“We have vaccines for everyone, ages 5 and up, boosters that provide the highest level of protection, meaningful genomic sequence, the ability to test to detect cases early, and life-saving therapies.”
So he said the country has more tools than ever. “We are prepared and will continue to be guided by science, and we will be vigilant to keep people safe.”
The Omicron strain was first reported in Botswana on November 11, and on November 14 in South Africa.
What is most striking about the new variant is the large number of mutations, about 50, many more than the previous strains. As of Monday, November 29, there were 205 cases of infected with the Omicron variant in 18 countries; and by Tuesday, November 30, there were 226 registered in 20 countries.
“It is very important to say that it has not been detected in the United States,” Biden said.
Dr. Anthony Stephen Fauci, director of the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and President Biden’s chief medical adviser, told a news conference this morning that the best way to protect yourself has been said by one and the other. time, and it deserves to be repeated.
“If you are not vaccinated, get vaccinated. Put on the booster if you’ve already been vaccinated. Continue to wear masks, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces “.
At the same time He recommended keeping your distance, washing your hands, and choosing indoors over outdoors. “If appropriate, get tested and quarantine.”.
Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), said at the same conference that the virus is unpredictable, and we must remain ready to be proactive as new variants, science and data evolve. .
“One thing has become clear about the past 20 months: we cannot predict the future, but we can prepare. And we have been doing exactly that, preparing for this moment. “
He noted that we have more tools to fight this variant than a year ago, with the vaccine for everyone 5 years and older, and booster doses for all adults.
But also after actively looking for the Omicron variant in the country, they have found no evidence. “The Delta variant remains the predominant circulating strain, accounting for 99.9% of all samples.”
On November 26, President Biden announced restrictions on entry into the country for immigrants, non-immigrants and non-citizens of the United States, who have been physically in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
Never ending tale
Community leader Mayra Todd stated that she is definitely concerned about the new Omicron variant.
“I’m just recovering from the injuries I suffered during a crash, and since I was left with a lot of clots, I don’t know if I can put the brace on,” he said.
He noted that with the emergence of the Omicron strain, it seems that the pandemic is a never-ending story.
“We already got the first vaccine, the second, now comes the booster. We do not have confidence to go out, and you keep seeing people who keep falling in the hospital. A friend of mine was hospitalized for covid all week at the Tarzana Medical Center; and a 23-year-old girl who worked as an interpreter for the North Hills Police Station, has just died from the virus. “
One step back
Pat Osuna, a food delivery driver and open-air market trader, said she’s not only worried about the new variant, she’s dreading it.
“Of course I am very afraid of catching a disease that I don’t know how much it will impact me. And it is enough that an American who went hunting in Africa, returns to the country and brings the strain, so that it spreads in the United States ”.
She mentioned that already with the three doses of the anticovid vaccine, she felt safe and had even let her guard down.
“I feel that with this new strain, we have taken a step backwards. The only thing that remains for us is to continue with the same protection measures, and use the antibacterial gel, take a bath when we get home and change our clothes ”.
The truth, he said, no longer knows how to take care of himself.
“They will think I’m crazy, but at night I have a cocktail of 10 vitamins to strengthen the immune system.”