Coronavirus levels in California’s wastewater continues to grow, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The Golden State is one of 21 states within the category, a notable increase from seven the week prior.
Other states with “very high” levels are Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Maryland, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, and Wyoming.
Washington, D.C., is also in that category.
Two new COVID variants, known as FLiRT, are responsible for more than half of the latest rise in cases.
In Los Angeles County, the nation’s most populous, coronavirus levels in wastewater have also increased.
The most recent data available from the county’s health department show that COVID levels in the county were at 36% of last winter’s peak for a 10-day period ending on July 17. That’s a significant increase from a dataset ending on July 10, when the county was just at 27%.
The daily average cases have also increased, from 307 for the week ending July 10 to 359 for the week ending July 17.
Nationally, COVID levels in wastewater have been considered “high” for the second straight week, according to the CDC. However, those numbers can change as more data comes in.
Here’s a rundown of what you can do to keep yourself protected:
Vaccines
Doctors continue to urge people to consider getting up-to-date vaccinations, especially if they are in higher-risk groups.
In California, only 36% of seniors aged 65 and older have received an updated vaccination, which first became available in September.
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has urged everyone 6 months and older to get one dose of the updated vaccine. A second dose is also recommended for those ages 65 and older, as long as at least four months have passed since their last shot, according to the L.A. Times.
Testing
COVID tests should be able to detect the FLiRT strains, according to Yale Medicine infectious diseases specialist Scott Roberts.
Experts recommend that people who are feeling sick take a test daily. People should consider taking a rapid COVID test once a day for three to five consecutive days after experiencing symptoms. It’s important to note that it could take longer for a COVID-19 rapid test to show a positive after an onset of illness.
What to do if you get sick
Health officials still recommend that people who test positive for COVID-19 wear a mask, avoid contact with those with a higher risk of catching severe COVID-19 and, if needed, seek medical treatment, according to the updated guidelines released in January.
As of Jan. 9, people who test positive for COVID-19 but have mild symptoms and have been fever-free without the help of medication may return to school or work after one day of isolation.