Health Officials Call Newest COVID Variant The Most Contagious Yet
FOURTH CORONAVIRUS VACCINE IF
APPROVED.
THIS MORNING FRUSTRATIONS ARE MOUNTING NATIONWIDE WITH A
SUMMER SURPRISE AS COVID CASES, HOSPITALIZATIONS, AND DEATHS ALL
TICK UP AGAIN.
THWARTING SUMMER PLANS FOR THE THIRD YEAR IN A ROW.
>> EVEN THOUGH WE MIGHT BE DONE WITH THE VIRUS, THE VIRUS IS NOT
DONE WITH US.
>> A COVID SURGE STRUCK IN THE SUMMER BEFORE WITH DELTA LAST
YEAR.
NOW AS TEMPERATURES RISE AND AMERICANS ARE ARMED WITH
WITH EFFECTIVE VACCINES AND BETTER TREATMENTS, MANY EXPECTED THE
TURN OF THE SEASONS TO USHER IN
MORE NORMALCY.
SUMMER TRAVEL SOARING TO PRE-PANDEMIC LEVELS.
>> IT'S SUMMER AND EVERYBODY
WANTS TO GET OUT.
>> Reporter: BUT INFECTIONS ARE CLIMBING IN NEARLY HALF OF THE
The U.S.
NOW WITH THE SUMMER SURGE, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION IS
CONSIDERING EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY FOR THE SECOND COVID
BOOSTER TO ADULTS UNDER 50. THAT'S ACCORDING TO "THE NEW
YORK TIMES" SAY PEOPLE FAMILIAR WITH THE SITUATION.
SHUTTERING SUMMER CAMPS. >> I WAS REALLY UPSET WHEN I
LEARNED.
>> Reporter: CHRIS'S SON LEARNED IT WAS AXED ON THE DRIVE THERE.
>> IT'S A WAKE-UP CALL. IT'S STILL AROUND AND
DISRUPTIVE.
>> Reporter: EXPERTS SAY THE MOST CONTAGIOUS VAERPT YET, BA.5
IS BEHIND THE SURGE OF THE MORE THAN 1,000 DAILY INFECTIONS.
WHAT'S DRIVING THIS UPTICK IN
NUMBERS?
>> IT'S A TRIFECTA OF EVENTS. NUMBER ONE, IT'S MORE
CONTAGIOUS.
NUMBER TWO, IT CAN ESCAPE THE IMMUNE SYSTEMS WE HAVE BUILT UP
FROM THE VACCINES AND PRIOR INFECTIONS TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
NUMBER THREE, MANDATES ARE BEING DROPPED AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> Reporter: THE ACTUAL SIZE OF THE SIXTH WAVE IS UNCLEAR.
SOME EXPERTS ESTIMATE THE SPREAD TO BE THREE TIMES GREATER THAN
OFFICIAL REPORTS SUGGEST. MOSTLY BECAUSE PEOPLE TEST
THEMSELVES AT HOME AND NEVER END
UP REPORTING IT.
THE LATEST SURGE PROMPTING NEW YORK CITY TO BRING BACK A MASK
ADVISORY.
ACROSS THE COUNTRY, LOS ANGELES COUNTY IS CONSIDERING MANDATING
ONE.
A MOVE BEING MET WITH MIXED REACTIONS FROM A PANDEMIC-WEARY
NATION.
>> MASKS ARE ANNOYING.>> I ALWAYS THOUGHT THEY TOOK
THE MASKS ARE OFF TOO SOON. >> Reporter: THIS VARIANT
DOESN'T APPEAR TO CAUSE MORE SEVERE ILLNESS AND THE U.S. IS
AVERAGING A FRACTION OF DAILY DEATHS COMPARED TO LAST WINTER.
AS THE FIGHT AGAINST COVID STILL
PERSISTS.
>> EMILY, I KNOW SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING ON ANOTHER BOOSTER, BUT
THE THING ABOUT THIS VIRUS IS IT KEEPS MUTATING.
WILL THIS BOOSTER EVEN BE EFFECTIVE?
>> I THINK THIS IS THE QUESTION ON EVERYONE'S MINDS RIGHT NOW.
THERE IS STILL A GAMBLE IN THIS BECAUSE SCIENTISTS ARE HAVING TO
DEAL WITH THIS MOVING TARGET. I THINK OVERALL, HEALTH EXPERTS
ARE OPTIMISTIC ABOUT WHERE THIS UPDATED AND DIRECTED BOOSTER IS
GOING.
WE KNOW THAT THE FDA RECENTLY DIRECTED PFIZER AND MODERNA TO
UPDATE THEIR BOOSTERS TO TARGET THE LATEST AND MOST CONTAGIOUS
STRAINS OF OMICRON. MANY PEOPLE BELIEVE THE FUTURE
MUTATIONS OF THIS VIRUS WILL BE RELATED TO THE OMICRON FAMILY.
I BELIEVE THIS BOOSTER WILL STILL COVER A LOT OF FACES.
>> WE DO HAVE THERAPEUTICS,
Tags
health