Summertime COVID bump in Bay Area

Key Points:

• Wastewater testing in the Bay Area shows high concentrations of COVID-19 in Santa Clara County and San Francisco, with medium levels on the Peninsula and North Bay, prompting health officials to recommend increased precautions.
• Officials advise wearing masks in crowded indoor settings, staying up to date on vaccinations, testing for COVID-19, and staying home when sick, especially as summer travel increases the risk of virus spread.
• Infectious disease expert Peter Chin-Hong anticipates wider COVID-19 spread this summer but notes most cases will not be life-threatening; however, older adults, pregnant women, and young children should take extra precautions.
• COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths have declined in Santa Clara County, with most deaths now occurring among unvaccinated seniors; vaccination rates have dropped since the federal public health emergency ended in 2023.
• Alongside COVID-19 concerns, public health officials urge measles vaccination for children amid rising cases in California and nationwide, with 52 cases confirmed in the state this year and a national surge reaching levels not seen since 2000.