Pasadena Health Officials Monitoring COVID Variant

In a statement to Pasadena Now, the city’s health director said although little is known about the Omicron variant of COVID-19, people should continue to get vaccinated and receive booster shots

Omicron has similar mutations to the Delta variant, according to published reports. Some scientists expect it to be more transmissible. As of Tuesday morning 19 countries were reporting cases of the variant. So far there have been no reports of the variant in the United States, but it has been detected in Canada.

According to the city’s dashboard, since the pandemic began the Pasadena Public Health Department has reported 13,888 cases and 367 deaths.

Currently Huntington Hospital is treating 17 people, two of them in the intensive care unit.

“We are still learning about the new variant, including how it spreads and infects individuals as well as how it responds to vaccines,” said Public Health Director Ying Ying Goh.

“According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), there have not been cases detected in the United States yet; however, based on other variants, it is only a matter of time before Omicron is here.”

On Sunday, state and county officials told City News Service they were also closely monitoring the variant.

State Public Health Director Tomos Aragon said, “Vaccines continue to be our best way through the pandemic by safely protecting us against severe illness from COVID-19 and its variants. We are doubling down on our vaccination and booster efforts to ensure that all Californians have access to safe, effective, and free vaccines that can prevent serious illness and death.”

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health addressed the new variant on Saturday.

“Although more studies are needed to determine whether the Omicron variant is more contagious, more deadly or resistant to vaccine and treatments than other COVID-19 strains, as with any variant of concern that is found in other countries, there are important steps we all need to take to protect ourselves from COVID-19 and from emerging variants of concern,” the department said.

According to Goh, new variants will continue to evolve as long as there are large proportions of unvaccinated people.

“We do not know at this time if this new variant causes more severe COVID-19 illness than other variants or how it might impact response to treatment.”

According to CNN, Omicron has a high number of mutations, more than 30 in the key spike protein — the structure that allows the virus to invade cells.

“To protect yourself and those you love, everyone over age 5 should get fully vaccinated, including booster shots for people age 18 and over,” Goh said.

“If you received Pfizer or Moderna, everyone 18 years or older is eligible at least 6 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination series. If you received Johnson and Johnson, you are eligible for a booster at least 2 months after completing your primary COVID-19 vaccination.”

“Appointments for vaccine and booster shots can be found at myturn.ca.gov. Wear masks in all indoor places and outdoors where physical distancing is not possible. Get tested if you have any symptoms (even if you think you have allergies), and before and after travel or gathering with other people.”

As of Monday, 93.7% of all Pasadenans age 5 or older have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, according to the PPHD. 86.1% of all eligible Pasadenans had been fully vaccinated.

“Through our contact tracing, we are asking all confirmed cases about recent travel and exposure to people who have recently traveled internationally,” Goh said. “The CDC recommends that travelers from Southern Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique and Malawi to test within 3-5 days after arrival, quarantine for 7 days, and isolate and test if COVID-19 symptoms develop. We continue to closely monitor the spread of COVID-19 in Pasadena.”