SAN FRANCISCO (KCBS RADIO) – The latest COVID-19 variant is more contagious than all the previous variants, but it's unclear if the subsequent surge is as significant as experts anticipated.
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Despite the new variant's transmissibility, it doesn't necessarily mean that the case or hospitalizations rate will spike the way it has in the past.
"It's just the fact by simple Darwinian principles and the mutations it has – it's going to be the one that people become infected with," said Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security on KCBS Radio's Ask an Expert on Friday with Eric Thomas and Margie Shafer.
However, things are looking up, at least in the Bay Area. Despite the usual surge around the holidays, the case rate in the region has slowed substantially since the last peak in November.
Wastewater samples in the Bay Area taken recently have shown a downturn in the virus’ presence as well.
"We're in a very different place with this virus than we have been years ago," said Adalja.
This is a respiratory virus that is going to now always be with us, similar to the common cold or influenza.
"We will see peaks and valleys and new variants emerge but it's much more manageable, and it's not just any disruptive force that it once was," he said.
For those over the age of 65 or who are high risk should still take steps to keep themselves safe, with vaccines and other options.
As the attitude towards the virus continues to shift, entities are taking note. The United States Navy announced this week that sailors will no longer be penalized for not getting the vaccine.
"I don't think it's a reflection of where we are with respect to COVID-19, I think it’s where we are with respect to politics," he said.
The decision was not based on medical consultation, but was based instead on political wins and political pandering, according to Adalja.
"I think it's odd, because the military – as a condition of enrollment or enlistment – they are required to have many different vaccines," he said.
"It's strange to me that they would single COVID-19 out when there are vaccines that have much bigger side-effect profiles – the smallpox vaccine, the yellow fever vaccine – but they picked this one," said Adalja.
Ultimately, a military protected against infectious diseases is a stronger military.
This latest news, along with the falling cases, could be additional motivation to end the current emergency declaration for COVID-19, which gets extended every 90 days.
"The key thing though, however, is to make sure that some of the relaxations of the red tape and bureaucracy are made permanent, and not something that requires an emergency declaration," he said.
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