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"content": "\u003cp>The San Francisco Bay Area has a long history of protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you plan on attending a rally yourself, on any cause, how can you stay safe? What \u003cem>are\u003c/em> your rights as a protester?\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#start\">Tips on what to have ready before going to a protest.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If this is the first time you or your friends have gone to a protest, make sure to bookmark this guide, as our team frequently updates it with new information. We also have a \u003ca href=\"#immigrantrights\">new section on what your rights are if you are a not a U.S. citizen and plan to attend to a protest.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember: If you’re unable to join a rally or protest in person for whatever reason but want to make your stance on an issue known, you always have the option to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">contact your elected officials to express your opinions\u003c/a>. For more information on what “call your reps” actually means, how to do it, and what to expect as a result, read our explainer: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">How Can I Call My Representative? A Step-by-Step Guide to the Process\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12013354\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12013354\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A crowd gathers for a candlelight vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco on Nov. 6, 2024, organized by the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club for the community to come together post-election. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"start\">\u003c/a>Have a plan — and then a backup plan\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There’s a lot you can do before a protest in terms of logistics and planning:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Travel with friends\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Choose a meeting place beforehand in the event you get separated. You may also want to designate a friend who is not at the protest as someone you can check in with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Charge your phone. However, some activist groups also recommend taking digital security measures, such as disabling the fingerprint unlock feature to prevent a police officer from forcing you to unlock the phone. Others also recommend turning off text preview on messages and using a more secure messaging app, such as Signal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, make sure that you can function without a phone. Consider writing down important phone numbers and keeping them with you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Research the intended protest route if possible\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This may be confusing since there’s not always a clearly stated route (a protest is, of course, not a parade), but some rallies do have preplanned routes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By knowing where the protest is headed, you will be able to plan how you might \u003ca href=\"https://netpol.org/guide-to-kettles/\">avoid being caught in a “kettle”\u003c/a> or other containment method — and be able to leave when you are ready.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11965032\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11965032 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A young woman stands in front of a high school building. She looks away from the camera and has the Palestinian flag painted on her rigth cheek.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Deena, a high school student, participates in a walkout to demand a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in San Francisco on Oct. 18, 2023. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know who is organizing the protest\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s worth doing some research on the people and groups behind any protest you plan to attend to make sure it’s in alignment with your values and objectives. During certain Black Lives Matter protests in San Diego in June 2020, for instance, organizers warned demonstrators to avoid specific events they said likely had been surreptitiously coordinated by white nationalist groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pack a small bag\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bring only essentials such as water, snacks, hand sanitizer and an extra phone charger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The active component in tear gas adheres to moisture on your face. So it’s also a good idea to pack an extra N95, surgical mask or face covering in case you are exposed to tear gas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some people \u003ca href=\"https://lifehacker.com/how-to-protest-safely-and-legally-5859590\">recommend bringing basic medical supplies and a bandana soaked in vinegar\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/tear-gas-guide/\">in water in a sealed plastic bag\u003c/a> in case there is tear gas. Others recommend a small bottle of water — or even better, a squirt bottle — to pour on your face and eyes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you get tear-gassed, it is often recommended to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Close your eyes.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Hold your breath.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Get out of the area as soon as possible.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Rinse your eyes when possible (ideally using what you have packed with you).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Know your rights\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You are entitled to free speech and freedom of assembly. However, your rights can be unclear during curfews and shelter-in-place orders. The American Civil Liberties Union has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/#i-want-to-take-pictures-or-shoot-video-at-a-protest\">detailed guide to your rights as a protester or a protest organizer\u003c/a>. Notably, when police issue an order to disperse, it is meant to be the last resort for law enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If officers issue a dispersal order, they must provide a reasonable opportunity to comply, including sufficient time and a clear, unobstructed exit path,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/#i-want-to-take-pictures-or-shoot-video-at-a-protest\">according to the ACLU\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11955465/dolores-hill-bomb-legal-rights-spectator-onlooker\">Read our guide to your rights as a spectator.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are photographing others, it is recommended to respect privacy, as some may not want to have videos or photos taken. This may also depend on context, location and time of day. In some cases journalists, or those documenting events, have been the target of tear gas and rubber bullets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The First Amendment gives you the right to film police who are actively performing their duties, and bystander videos can provide important counternarratives to official accounts. Read our \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11871364/recording-the-police-what-to-know-and-how-to-stay-safe-doing-it\">guide to filming encounters with the police safely and ethically\u003c/a> and where to share your footage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional information can be found from the ACLU and the National Lawyers Guild — the NLG has \u003ca href=\"https://www.nlg.org/know-your-rights/\">pocket-sized know-your-rights guides\u003c/a> in multiple languages. Writing the number for the NLG hotline (and other important numbers such as emergency contacts) on your arm in case you lose your phone or have it confiscated is another suggested way to ensure you have it — should you need it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11958935\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11958935\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A large crowd with signs gathers in front of a large stone building. A line of police officers stands nearby.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Protesters, counter-protesters, and SFPD are seen at a rally in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. The court is hearing arguments for the city’s appeal of an injunction filed by the Coalition on Homelessness, which has temporarily kept city workers from removing encampments on the streets. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Be aware of your surroundings\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the first few days of George Floyd protests in the Bay Area in June 2020, there were fireworks, fires, rubber bullets, tear gas, flash-bangs and even some gunshots. Being aware of your surroundings includes having an understanding of what possible actions may occur around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Know the possible law enforcement ramifications of attending a protest\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In April 2024, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11983413/could-protesters-who-shut-down-golden-gate-bridge-be-charged-with-false-imprisonment\">she was considering charging a group of pro-Palestinian protesters\u003c/a> with a felony for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11982940/protesters-shut-down-880-freeway-in-oakland-as-part-of-economic-blockade-for-gaza\">blocking Bay Area freeways\u003c/a>. People who were stuck in traffic on the bridge, Jenkins \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11983413/could-protesters-who-shut-down-golden-gate-bridge-be-charged-with-false-imprisonment\">wrote on X\u003c/a>, “may be entitled to restitution + have other victim rights guaranteed under Marsy’s law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/sf-judge-dismisses-majority-charges-pro-palestinian-protesters-shut-down-golden-gate-bridge-back-april/15582777/\">a judge dismissed most of the charges later that year\u003c/a>, and the agency that operates the Golden Gate Bridge \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">withdrew its nearly $163,000 restitution claim\u003c/a> against the activists in November 2025, several of them still face more serious charges including felony conspiracy.[aside postID=news_11984807 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/04/240425-STANFORDGAZAPROTEST-011-BL-KQED-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ACLU Northern California’s legal director, Shilpi Agarwal said she found the move by Jenkins had the potential to cast a “chilling effect” on speech in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Lawful protests are, by design, meant to be visible and inconvenient,” Agarwal said. And while the government can place “reasonable limits on protest” in what is called \u003ca href=\"https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/time-place-and-manner-restrictions/\">a “time, place, and manner restriction\u003c/a>” — meaning authorities can call for certain parameters of protest for safety or other people using the space — the government may \u003ci>not \u003c/i>tell people they cannot protest. And in public spaces, Agarwal said, “people are allowed to protest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What kinds of law enforcement charges could protesters face, however? Agarwal said while \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclunc.org/our-work/know-your-rights\">charges for protests can be nuanced\u003c/a>, at a basic level, if you are engaged in a protest and encounter police officers who then determine for “some reason” you have violated the “parameters” of the protest, there are usually three charging options available to officers:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>An infraction: typically a ticket where you show your ID, get a citation and may have to appear in court. Usually, an infraction is just a fine to pay.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A misdemeanor: for which “you rarely serve” jail time for low-level offenses, Agarwal said.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A felony: A more serious criminal charge that usually brings jail time.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Agarwal said the “vast majority of offenses that are commonly charged at protests, when the police do get involved, are typically infractions or misdemeanors.” Common provisions for protesters have been something like resisting arrest, disrupting a public meeting, and failing to disperse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Center for Protest Law and Litigation’s senior counsel, Rachel Lederman, said restitution is common in criminal cases, adding that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967536/protesters-calling-for-gaza-ceasefire-block-bay-bridges-westbound-lanes\">pro-Palestinian protesters who previously blocked the Bay Bridge\u003c/a> in November 2023 are currently paying “a very small amount of restitution to one person who had a specific medical bill, that they attributed to the traffic blockage.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In April 2024, California State Assemblymember Kate Sanchez introduced \u003ca href=\"https://www.courthousenews.com/california-bill-would-create-new-infraction-for-protesters-who-block-highways/\">a bill before the Assembly Transportation Committee\u003c/a> that would create a new infraction for those who obstruct a highway during a protest that affects an emergency vehicle. AB 2742 proposed a fine of between $200 and $500 for the first offense, $300 and $1000 for the second offense and $500 to $1000 for additional offenses, but\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202320240ab2742\"> ultimately stalled in the California legislature.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Reminder: Your rights are at their highest in a public forum\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When considering your rights, take into account the location where a protest may take place — it could be a campus, a city council meeting, or a usually busy road. And Agarwal said that while the law is complicated and can vary in different situations, First Amendment rights are generally “at their highest when something is a public forum” — that is, a place like a sidewalk or a public plaza.[aside postID='news_11984807,news_11967439,news_11955465,news_11871364,news_11827832' label='Related Guides From KQED']Aside from the \u003ca href=\"https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/time-place-and-manner-restrictions/\">time, place, and manner restriction\u003c/a>, “when you have a public forum, there is very, very little that the government can do to regulate your speech,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Conversely, First Amendment rights are at their lowest at places like private homes, Agarwal said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t mean that you have no rights, but it does mean that whenever and wherever you are on something that is not a public forum, the strength of your First Amendment rights starts to wane,” she said. “And the government can do more to regulate what you can and cannot say.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984807/know-your-rights-california-protesters-legal-standing-under-the-first-amendment\">Read more about your First Amendment rights at a protest.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"immigrantrights\">\u003c/a>Attending a protest when you’re not a U.S. citizen\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One question that KQED has gotten over the years is: “I’m not a U.S. citizen. Can I even be part of a protest?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a question that’s only become more pressing against the backdrop of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025647/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-ice\">high profile activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents\u003c/a> in the last year, spurred by President Trump’s promises to conduct mass deportations in his second term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003cem>technical\u003c/em> answer is: yes, you can attend a protest as a non-citizen. “As a general rule, people who are not citizens have the same First Amendment rights as citizens,” said attorney Carl Takei, the community safety program director at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.asianlawcaucus.org/get-help\">Asian Law Caucus\u003c/a>: a civil rights organization based in San Francisco that offers services to low-income, immigrant, and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islander communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The First Amendment of the United States Constitution is meant to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984807/know-your-rights-california-protesters-legal-standing-under-the-first-amendment\">protect five basic rights\u003c/a>: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, peaceful assembly and petitioning the government. Whether you have a green card or no permanent legal status, you are still protected by the Constitution, and that includes your right to be part of a peaceful assembly, like a march or rally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028351/what-happens-if-the-president-disobeys-the-courts-a-constitutional-crisis-experts-say\">judges have argued that many of the Trump administrations plans and actions right now flatly go against the Constitution\u003c/a>. And legal scholars and immigration advocates have warned that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12042492/what-is-due-process-habeas-corpus-definition-courts-push-back-trump-moves-limit-this-right\">the president is testing his ability to challenge due process in the area of immigration particularly.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bear in mind also that there are limitations to First Amendment protections. For example, they do not protect speech that can be considered true threats, incitement, fighting words or harassment. The First Amendment also does not protect against “violent or unlawful conduct, even if the person engaging in it intends to express an idea.” \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984807/know-your-rights-california-protesters-legal-standing-under-the-first-amendment\">KQED has a complete guide on how First Amendment protections apply in protests.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what if you’re a non-citizen who’s determined to attend a protest right now? \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12014436/undocumented-what-to-know-before-a-second-trump-term\">Undocumented people and green card holders have always faced additional risks\u003c/a> at a protest that citizens don’t, warned Takei — especially when law enforcement gets involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065885/ice-immigration-us-citizens-detained-carry-passports-documentation-green-card\">A green card holder is required under federal law to carry\u003c/a> evidence of their permanent resident status,” he explained. He adds that carrying a fake green card or identification and presenting that to law enforcement could make the situation a lot more difficult.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re stopped by the police, \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20under%20arrest,are%20not%20allowed%20to%20listen.\">you have the same rights as anyone else\u003c/a>,” Takei said. “You don’t need to consent to a search, answer questions or sign anything.” Even if the situation seems intimidating, Takei explains,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025647/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-ice\"> you have the right to remain silent and not share personal information with law enforcement.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re asked a question about your immigration status and debating whether to share false information or remain silent, “it’s better to remain silent,” said Takei.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But ultimately, if you’re set on protesting as a non-citizen, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to make a safety plan for yourself before going to a protest, he recommended. “Write out the contact information for resources, including an attorney or legal organization, and make sure that you’ve talked with friends or family about what to do if you are arrested or if anything goes wrong,” he explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Remember there are many ways to protest\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As the disability community continues to remind others, there are many ways to show up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can participate in many meaningful ways that don’t include attending an in-person protest or rally. This could include educating yourself, voting, talking to your community and supporting grassroots organizations, as outlined in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13881199/5-ways-to-show-up-for-racial-justice-today\">this 2020 guide from KQED’s Nastia Voynovskaya\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">contact your elected officials to express your opinions\u003c/a>. For more information on what “call your reps” actually means, read our explainer, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">How Can I Call My Representative? A Step-by-Step Guide to the Process\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>COVID is still with us: What to know about your possible risks attending a protest\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The good news: Your risks of getting COVID-19 outdoors remain far lower than your risks indoors — about 20 times less, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at UCSF.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, being vaccinated and boosted will greatly reduce your risks of getting very sick, being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But you should still think about your risks of getting (or spreading) COVID-19 at a big event full of people, even when you’re outdoors. As with so many decisions against the backdrop of COVID-19, a lot comes down to your personal risks and circumstances — not just to protect yourself but others, too. “I think it requires people to be thoughtful about who they are, who they live with, and what happens when they leave the protest and go back home,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Consider bringing a mask along regardless\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not only the number of people you’ll encounter at a protest — it’s what they might be \u003cem>doing\u003c/em>. Even outside, screaming, chanting, coughing and singing all expel more of the particles that can spread COVID-19 than regular activity does, and you may decide to keep your mask on during a protest if it’s a super-crowded space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might also find that some protest organizers explicitly request you wear a mask and maintain social distancing at the event, especially if the event is being attended by groups or communities at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also the possibility that you might not \u003cem>stay\u003c/em> outside the whole time. “Whenever you have a protest, nobody just stays necessarily outdoors,” Chin-Hong said, giving pre-protest gatherings and meetings or post-protest dinners as examples.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These may be done in people’s homes. I think it’s the stuff that goes around the actual outdoor protest that I’m more worried about,” Chin-Hong said. He recommends that people “think about carrying a mask with them, like they carry an umbrella. So that they just bring out the ‘umbrella’ when it’s potentially ‘raining with COVID\u003ci>.\u003c/i>‘”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11965077\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11965077\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/RS43804_GettyImages-1244191840-1-qut-1020x680-1.jpg\" alt=\"A large crowed with signs crowds around a building that has been fenced off. Many are pushing against the fence and others are carrying signs. Almost all are wearing facemasks.\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/RS43804_GettyImages-1244191840-1-qut-1020x680-1.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/RS43804_GettyImages-1244191840-1-qut-1020x680-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/RS43804_GettyImages-1244191840-1-qut-1020x680-1-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Protesters take a knee during a demonstration outside of Mission Police Station to honor of George Floyd on June 3, 2020, in San Francisco. Three years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still common to see people wearing facemasks at protests to protect themselves from a possible coronavirus infection.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Back in 2021, Chin-Hong told KQED that protests against racist violence and the killing of Black people by police were themselves “a response to a public health threat, if you think about the impact of structural racism and stress on health care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, when it comes to weighing the desire to protest a cause with the risks of getting or spreading COVID-19, “I think the benefits of protesting are even more in favor of protesting now,” Chin-Hong told KQED in 2022. That “risk/benefit calculus,” as he puts it, is even more in favor of attending a rally — “because we have so many tools to keep people safer,” from vaccines and boosters to improved COVID-19 treatment if someone \u003cem>is\u003c/em> hospitalized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s Lakshmi Sarah, Lisa Pickoff-White, Carly Severn, Nisa Khan and Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí. Beth LaBerge and \u003c/em>\u003cem>Peter Arcuni also contributed. A version of this story originally published on April 23, 2021. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The San Francisco Bay Area has a long history of protest.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you plan on attending a rally yourself, on any cause, how can you stay safe? What \u003cem>are\u003c/em> your rights as a protester?\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#start\">Tips on what to have ready before going to a protest.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If this is the first time you or your friends have gone to a protest, make sure to bookmark this guide, as our team frequently updates it with new information. We also have a \u003ca href=\"#immigrantrights\">new section on what your rights are if you are a not a U.S. citizen and plan to attend to a protest.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember: If you’re unable to join a rally or protest in person for whatever reason but want to make your stance on an issue known, you always have the option to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">contact your elected officials to express your opinions\u003c/a>. For more information on what “call your reps” actually means, how to do it, and what to expect as a result, read our explainer: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">How Can I Call My Representative? A Step-by-Step Guide to the Process\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12013354\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12013354\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/11/241106-HarveyMilkElectionVigil-16-BL-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A crowd gathers for a candlelight vigil at Harvey Milk Plaza in San Francisco on Nov. 6, 2024, organized by the Harvey Milk LGBTQ Democratic Club for the community to come together post-election. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"start\">\u003c/a>Have a plan — and then a backup plan\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There’s a lot you can do before a protest in terms of logistics and planning:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Travel with friends\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Choose a meeting place beforehand in the event you get separated. You may also want to designate a friend who is not at the protest as someone you can check in with.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Charge your phone. However, some activist groups also recommend taking digital security measures, such as disabling the fingerprint unlock feature to prevent a police officer from forcing you to unlock the phone. Others also recommend turning off text preview on messages and using a more secure messaging app, such as Signal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, make sure that you can function without a phone. Consider writing down important phone numbers and keeping them with you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Research the intended protest route if possible\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This may be confusing since there’s not always a clearly stated route (a protest is, of course, not a parade), but some rallies do have preplanned routes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>By knowing where the protest is headed, you will be able to plan how you might \u003ca href=\"https://netpol.org/guide-to-kettles/\">avoid being caught in a “kettle”\u003c/a> or other containment method — and be able to leave when you are ready.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11965032\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11965032 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A young woman stands in front of a high school building. She looks away from the camera and has the Palestinian flag painted on her rigth cheek.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/231018-StudentWalkoutGaza-011-BL-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Deena, a high school student, participates in a walkout to demand a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war in San Francisco on Oct. 18, 2023. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know who is organizing the protest\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s worth doing some research on the people and groups behind any protest you plan to attend to make sure it’s in alignment with your values and objectives. During certain Black Lives Matter protests in San Diego in June 2020, for instance, organizers warned demonstrators to avoid specific events they said likely had been surreptitiously coordinated by white nationalist groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Pack a small bag\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bring only essentials such as water, snacks, hand sanitizer and an extra phone charger.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The active component in tear gas adheres to moisture on your face. So it’s also a good idea to pack an extra N95, surgical mask or face covering in case you are exposed to tear gas.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some people \u003ca href=\"https://lifehacker.com/how-to-protest-safely-and-legally-5859590\">recommend bringing basic medical supplies and a bandana soaked in vinegar\u003c/a> or \u003ca href=\"https://www.popsci.com/story/diy/tear-gas-guide/\">in water in a sealed plastic bag\u003c/a> in case there is tear gas. Others recommend a small bottle of water — or even better, a squirt bottle — to pour on your face and eyes.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you get tear-gassed, it is often recommended to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Close your eyes.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Hold your breath.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Get out of the area as soon as possible.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Rinse your eyes when possible (ideally using what you have packed with you).\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Know your rights\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You are entitled to free speech and freedom of assembly. However, your rights can be unclear during curfews and shelter-in-place orders. The American Civil Liberties Union has a \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/#i-want-to-take-pictures-or-shoot-video-at-a-protest\">detailed guide to your rights as a protester or a protest organizer\u003c/a>. Notably, when police issue an order to disperse, it is meant to be the last resort for law enforcement.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If officers issue a dispersal order, they must provide a reasonable opportunity to comply, including sufficient time and a clear, unobstructed exit path,” \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights/#i-want-to-take-pictures-or-shoot-video-at-a-protest\">according to the ACLU\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11955465/dolores-hill-bomb-legal-rights-spectator-onlooker\">Read our guide to your rights as a spectator.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are photographing others, it is recommended to respect privacy, as some may not want to have videos or photos taken. This may also depend on context, location and time of day. In some cases journalists, or those documenting events, have been the target of tear gas and rubber bullets.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The First Amendment gives you the right to film police who are actively performing their duties, and bystander videos can provide important counternarratives to official accounts. Read our \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11871364/recording-the-police-what-to-know-and-how-to-stay-safe-doing-it\">guide to filming encounters with the police safely and ethically\u003c/a> and where to share your footage.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additional information can be found from the ACLU and the National Lawyers Guild — the NLG has \u003ca href=\"https://www.nlg.org/know-your-rights/\">pocket-sized know-your-rights guides\u003c/a> in multiple languages. Writing the number for the NLG hotline (and other important numbers such as emergency contacts) on your arm in case you lose your phone or have it confiscated is another suggested way to ensure you have it — should you need it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11958935\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11958935\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A large crowd with signs gathers in front of a large stone building. A line of police officers stands nearby.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS68263_20230822-HomelessLawsuit-17-JY-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Protesters, counter-protesters, and SFPD are seen at a rally in front of the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco on Wednesday, Aug. 23, 2023. The court is hearing arguments for the city’s appeal of an injunction filed by the Coalition on Homelessness, which has temporarily kept city workers from removing encampments on the streets. \u003ccite>(Juliana Yamada/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Be aware of your surroundings\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During the first few days of George Floyd protests in the Bay Area in June 2020, there were fireworks, fires, rubber bullets, tear gas, flash-bangs and even some gunshots. Being aware of your surroundings includes having an understanding of what possible actions may occur around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Know the possible law enforcement ramifications of attending a protest\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In April 2024, San Francisco District Attorney Brooke Jenkins announced that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11983413/could-protesters-who-shut-down-golden-gate-bridge-be-charged-with-false-imprisonment\">she was considering charging a group of pro-Palestinian protesters\u003c/a> with a felony for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11982940/protesters-shut-down-880-freeway-in-oakland-as-part-of-economic-blockade-for-gaza\">blocking Bay Area freeways\u003c/a>. People who were stuck in traffic on the bridge, Jenkins \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11983413/could-protesters-who-shut-down-golden-gate-bridge-be-charged-with-false-imprisonment\">wrote on X\u003c/a>, “may be entitled to restitution + have other victim rights guaranteed under Marsy’s law.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://abc7news.com/post/sf-judge-dismisses-majority-charges-pro-palestinian-protesters-shut-down-golden-gate-bridge-back-april/15582777/\">a judge dismissed most of the charges later that year\u003c/a>, and the agency that operates the Golden Gate Bridge \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12063531/golden-gate-bridge-agency-drops-163k-restitution-claim-against-pro-palestinian-protesters\">withdrew its nearly $163,000 restitution claim\u003c/a> against the activists in November 2025, several of them still face more serious charges including felony conspiracy.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>ACLU Northern California’s legal director, Shilpi Agarwal said she found the move by Jenkins had the potential to cast a “chilling effect” on speech in the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Lawful protests are, by design, meant to be visible and inconvenient,” Agarwal said. And while the government can place “reasonable limits on protest” in what is called \u003ca href=\"https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/time-place-and-manner-restrictions/\">a “time, place, and manner restriction\u003c/a>” — meaning authorities can call for certain parameters of protest for safety or other people using the space — the government may \u003ci>not \u003c/i>tell people they cannot protest. And in public spaces, Agarwal said, “people are allowed to protest.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What kinds of law enforcement charges could protesters face, however? Agarwal said while \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclunc.org/our-work/know-your-rights\">charges for protests can be nuanced\u003c/a>, at a basic level, if you are engaged in a protest and encounter police officers who then determine for “some reason” you have violated the “parameters” of the protest, there are usually three charging options available to officers:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>An infraction: typically a ticket where you show your ID, get a citation and may have to appear in court. Usually, an infraction is just a fine to pay.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A misdemeanor: for which “you rarely serve” jail time for low-level offenses, Agarwal said.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>A felony: A more serious criminal charge that usually brings jail time.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Agarwal said the “vast majority of offenses that are commonly charged at protests, when the police do get involved, are typically infractions or misdemeanors.” Common provisions for protesters have been something like resisting arrest, disrupting a public meeting, and failing to disperse.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Center for Protest Law and Litigation’s senior counsel, Rachel Lederman, said restitution is common in criminal cases, adding that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967536/protesters-calling-for-gaza-ceasefire-block-bay-bridges-westbound-lanes\">pro-Palestinian protesters who previously blocked the Bay Bridge\u003c/a> in November 2023 are currently paying “a very small amount of restitution to one person who had a specific medical bill, that they attributed to the traffic blockage.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In April 2024, California State Assemblymember Kate Sanchez introduced \u003ca href=\"https://www.courthousenews.com/california-bill-would-create-new-infraction-for-protesters-who-block-highways/\">a bill before the Assembly Transportation Committee\u003c/a> that would create a new infraction for those who obstruct a highway during a protest that affects an emergency vehicle. AB 2742 proposed a fine of between $200 and $500 for the first offense, $300 and $1000 for the second offense and $500 to $1000 for additional offenses, but\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.digitaldemocracy.org/bills/ca_202320240ab2742\"> ultimately stalled in the California legislature.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Reminder: Your rights are at their highest in a public forum\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When considering your rights, take into account the location where a protest may take place — it could be a campus, a city council meeting, or a usually busy road. And Agarwal said that while the law is complicated and can vary in different situations, First Amendment rights are generally “at their highest when something is a public forum” — that is, a place like a sidewalk or a public plaza.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Aside from the \u003ca href=\"https://firstamendment.mtsu.edu/article/time-place-and-manner-restrictions/\">time, place, and manner restriction\u003c/a>, “when you have a public forum, there is very, very little that the government can do to regulate your speech,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Conversely, First Amendment rights are at their lowest at places like private homes, Agarwal said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It doesn’t mean that you have no rights, but it does mean that whenever and wherever you are on something that is not a public forum, the strength of your First Amendment rights starts to wane,” she said. “And the government can do more to regulate what you can and cannot say.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984807/know-your-rights-california-protesters-legal-standing-under-the-first-amendment\">Read more about your First Amendment rights at a protest.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"immigrantrights\">\u003c/a>Attending a protest when you’re not a U.S. citizen\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>One question that KQED has gotten over the years is: “I’m not a U.S. citizen. Can I even be part of a protest?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a question that’s only become more pressing against the backdrop of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025647/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-ice\">high profile activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents\u003c/a> in the last year, spurred by President Trump’s promises to conduct mass deportations in his second term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003cem>technical\u003c/em> answer is: yes, you can attend a protest as a non-citizen. “As a general rule, people who are not citizens have the same First Amendment rights as citizens,” said attorney Carl Takei, the community safety program director at the \u003ca href=\"https://www.asianlawcaucus.org/get-help\">Asian Law Caucus\u003c/a>: a civil rights organization based in San Francisco that offers services to low-income, immigrant, and underserved Asian Americans and Pacific Islander communities.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The First Amendment of the United States Constitution is meant to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984807/know-your-rights-california-protesters-legal-standing-under-the-first-amendment\">protect five basic rights\u003c/a>: freedom of religion, freedom of speech, freedom of the press, peaceful assembly and petitioning the government. Whether you have a green card or no permanent legal status, you are still protected by the Constitution, and that includes your right to be part of a peaceful assembly, like a march or rally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12028351/what-happens-if-the-president-disobeys-the-courts-a-constitutional-crisis-experts-say\">judges have argued that many of the Trump administrations plans and actions right now flatly go against the Constitution\u003c/a>. And legal scholars and immigration advocates have warned that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12042492/what-is-due-process-habeas-corpus-definition-courts-push-back-trump-moves-limit-this-right\">the president is testing his ability to challenge due process in the area of immigration particularly.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bear in mind also that there are limitations to First Amendment protections. For example, they do not protect speech that can be considered true threats, incitement, fighting words or harassment. The First Amendment also does not protect against “violent or unlawful conduct, even if the person engaging in it intends to express an idea.” \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11984807/know-your-rights-california-protesters-legal-standing-under-the-first-amendment\">KQED has a complete guide on how First Amendment protections apply in protests.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But what if you’re a non-citizen who’s determined to attend a protest right now? \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12014436/undocumented-what-to-know-before-a-second-trump-term\">Undocumented people and green card holders have always faced additional risks\u003c/a> at a protest that citizens don’t, warned Takei — especially when law enforcement gets involved.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12065885/ice-immigration-us-citizens-detained-carry-passports-documentation-green-card\">A green card holder is required under federal law to carry\u003c/a> evidence of their permanent resident status,” he explained. He adds that carrying a fake green card or identification and presenting that to law enforcement could make the situation a lot more difficult.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you’re stopped by the police, \u003ca href=\"https://www.aclu.org/know-your-rights/protesters-rights#:~:text=If%20you%20are%20under%20arrest,are%20not%20allowed%20to%20listen.\">you have the same rights as anyone else\u003c/a>,” Takei said. “You don’t need to consent to a search, answer questions or sign anything.” Even if the situation seems intimidating, Takei explains,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12025647/what-to-do-if-you-encounter-ice\"> you have the right to remain silent and not share personal information with law enforcement.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re asked a question about your immigration status and debating whether to share false information or remain silent, “it’s better to remain silent,” said Takei.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But ultimately, if you’re set on protesting as a non-citizen, the most important thing you can do to protect yourself is to make a safety plan for yourself before going to a protest, he recommended. “Write out the contact information for resources, including an attorney or legal organization, and make sure that you’ve talked with friends or family about what to do if you are arrested or if anything goes wrong,” he explained.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Remember there are many ways to protest\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As the disability community continues to remind others, there are many ways to show up.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can participate in many meaningful ways that don’t include attending an in-person protest or rally. This could include educating yourself, voting, talking to your community and supporting grassroots organizations, as outlined in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/arts/13881199/5-ways-to-show-up-for-racial-justice-today\">this 2020 guide from KQED’s Nastia Voynovskaya\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">contact your elected officials to express your opinions\u003c/a>. For more information on what “call your reps” actually means, read our explainer, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967439/how-can-i-call-my-representative-a-step-by-step-guide-to-the-process\">How Can I Call My Representative? A Step-by-Step Guide to the Process\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>COVID is still with us: What to know about your possible risks attending a protest\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The good news: Your risks of getting COVID-19 outdoors remain far lower than your risks indoors — about 20 times less, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, professor of medicine and infectious disease specialist at UCSF.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, being vaccinated and boosted will greatly reduce your risks of getting very sick, being hospitalized or dying from COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But you should still think about your risks of getting (or spreading) COVID-19 at a big event full of people, even when you’re outdoors. As with so many decisions against the backdrop of COVID-19, a lot comes down to your personal risks and circumstances — not just to protect yourself but others, too. “I think it requires people to be thoughtful about who they are, who they live with, and what happens when they leave the protest and go back home,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Consider bringing a mask along regardless\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not only the number of people you’ll encounter at a protest — it’s what they might be \u003cem>doing\u003c/em>. Even outside, screaming, chanting, coughing and singing all expel more of the particles that can spread COVID-19 than regular activity does, and you may decide to keep your mask on during a protest if it’s a super-crowded space.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You might also find that some protest organizers explicitly request you wear a mask and maintain social distancing at the event, especially if the event is being attended by groups or communities at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also the possibility that you might not \u003cem>stay\u003c/em> outside the whole time. “Whenever you have a protest, nobody just stays necessarily outdoors,” Chin-Hong said, giving pre-protest gatherings and meetings or post-protest dinners as examples.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“These may be done in people’s homes. I think it’s the stuff that goes around the actual outdoor protest that I’m more worried about,” Chin-Hong said. He recommends that people “think about carrying a mask with them, like they carry an umbrella. So that they just bring out the ‘umbrella’ when it’s potentially ‘raining with COVID\u003ci>.\u003c/i>‘”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11965077\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1020px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11965077\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/RS43804_GettyImages-1244191840-1-qut-1020x680-1.jpg\" alt=\"A large crowed with signs crowds around a building that has been fenced off. Many are pushing against the fence and others are carrying signs. Almost all are wearing facemasks.\" width=\"1020\" height=\"680\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/RS43804_GettyImages-1244191840-1-qut-1020x680-1.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/RS43804_GettyImages-1244191840-1-qut-1020x680-1-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/RS43804_GettyImages-1244191840-1-qut-1020x680-1-160x107.jpg 160w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1020px) 100vw, 1020px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Protesters take a knee during a demonstration outside of Mission Police Station to honor of George Floyd on June 3, 2020, in San Francisco. Three years since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is still common to see people wearing facemasks at protests to protect themselves from a possible coronavirus infection.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Back in 2021, Chin-Hong told KQED that protests against racist violence and the killing of Black people by police were themselves “a response to a public health threat, if you think about the impact of structural racism and stress on health care.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Now, when it comes to weighing the desire to protest a cause with the risks of getting or spreading COVID-19, “I think the benefits of protesting are even more in favor of protesting now,” Chin-Hong told KQED in 2022. That “risk/benefit calculus,” as he puts it, is even more in favor of attending a rally — “because we have so many tools to keep people safer,” from vaccines and boosters to improved COVID-19 treatment if someone \u003cem>is\u003c/em> hospitalized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s Lakshmi Sarah, Lisa Pickoff-White, Carly Severn, Nisa Khan and Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí. Beth LaBerge and \u003c/em>\u003cem>Peter Arcuni also contributed. A version of this story originally published on April 23, 2021. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "How to Improve Indoor Airflow at Your Holiday Gathering",
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"content": "\u003cp>Back in 2020, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11846759/saying-no-to-a-covid-thanksgiving-holidays-how-to-break-it-to-family-or-friends\">a huge number of people chose to say no to gathering for the holidays \u003c/a>because of the dangers posed by COVID-19 pre-vaccines, especially to older or immunocompromised family members.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five years on, many folks now feel much safer when it comes to fears of getting sick from a holiday gathering — especially if they’ve recently \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055165/where-can-i-find-new-updated-2025-covid-vaccine-near-me-moderna-pfizer-cvs-walgreens-safeway-vaccinations-health-insurance-cost\">received an updated COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> and flu shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the fact remains that at times like Thanksgiving, you’re gathering a large amount of people in the same room. And in crowded indoor spaces, the risk of transmitting respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu and RSV increases if someone in that room has the virus, whether they know it or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cb>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#openwindows\">The best way to open your windows to help reduce respiratory virus risks\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgZOIEdlbmV41AGKAQZjNjg1ZjfAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=c685f7\">rates of COVID-19 in Bay Area wastewater\u003c/a> are low heading into Thanksgiving 2025, levels of flu and RSV are beginning to tick up, according to Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN team, who monitor virus presence in human sewage.[aside postID='news_12064296,news_11967137,news_11970450' label='More Holiday Guides']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And one way to help reduce the risks of respiratory virus transmission in an indoor space is to ensure that an indoor space has clean air — because particles of COVID-19, flu and RSV can hang in the air of places that aren’t ventilated properly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But other than cracking a window, what \u003ci>does \u003c/i>“ventilating your space” really mean in practice for your own holiday dinner, especially if you’re hosting friends and family who may be more vulnerable to sickness? Keep reading for practical tips about filtering and ventilating your home for your holiday dinner to reduce the risks of your loved ones catching a respiratory virus like flu, RSV or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Filtering the air for the holidays\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Clean air makes it harder for the particles that cause respiratory viruses to hang around and infect you — and it can be achieved by filtering those particles from the air with a filtration device or by ventilating the space with fresh air. (This principle of fresh, ventilated air is also why being outdoors makes your risk of viral transmission drop significantly.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/06/29/1106822268/coronavirus-faq-got-any-tips-on-improving-indoor-air-flow-to-reduce-infection-ri\">“If people could see COVID in the air\u003c/a>, it would make a lot more sense that what you need to do is clean the air in your house,” Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician at Stanford University, told NPR in 2022. The basic idea: “Exchange the air out, get fresh air in, improve ventilation so that you don’t have a lot of air hanging around where other people can breathe it in and get infected,” Karan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some ways to filter in the air inside your home:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Use an air purifier\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2023 Catherine Gorle, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford, told KQED that if you have a filtration device in your home — perhaps an air purifier you purchased in the past to combat wildfire smoke — then that is probably the best way to improve air quality.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gorle said this comes with two caveats, though. First, “you need to make sure that you replace the filter frequently enough that the system can work optimally,” she said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.vox.com/even-better/23299793/clean-your-filters-hepa-water\">The recommended time limit for filter use may depend on the specific appliance\u003c/a>, but it’s probably time if you can’t remember when you last replaced it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Second, make sure that “the capacity is rated for the room [size] that you have,” Gorle said. That is, don’t rely on a tiny filtering device intended for a small space to clean the air inside a really big room — because it just won’t do the job. \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/air-cleaners-and-air-filters-home\">Read more from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about effectively using an indoor air purifying unit.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Use your air conditioning (if you have it)\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may hear the filtration systems built \u003ci>into \u003c/i>homes called HVAC systems, an acronym for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In our usually temperate climate, Bay Area homes typically don’t have air conditioning, so this tip may not apply to many locals. But if your home does have AC, those systems can have “really high-grade filters as well,” Gorle said — “HEPA filters that will filter out particles, just the way that you do it with any indoor air filtering system.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re conscious of your energy use (and your bills), Gorle notes that your AC “will consume a bit more energy because at the same time they’re conditioning the air [to be] cooling it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11932984\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11932984 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183.jpg\" alt=\"A shot taken from above of a group of people around a table, eating dinner and raising their glasses in a toast.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1281\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">As the holiday season arrives, there are things you can do to help reduce your risk of exposure to indoor COVID-19. \u003ccite>(fauxels via Pexels)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>No air purifier? Try making your own\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have access to a box fan, \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-merv-rating\">a MERV filter\u003c/a> and some duct tape, you can make your own DIY air filter device. Find our instructions — first published for wildfire smoke — in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1976551/how-to-get-or-make-a-free-low-cost-air-purifier-for-your-home#air\">this KQED guide, “How to make your own air purifier.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NPR also has another \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/06/29/1106822268/coronavirus-faq-got-any-tips-on-improving-indoor-air-flow-to-reduce-infection-ri\">guide to making your own DIY air filter using a box fan\u003c/a>, or you can consult this \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/how-to-diy-an-air-purifier/\">“How to DIY an Air Purifier” explainer \u003c/a>from the \u003cem>New York Times\u003c/em> Wirecutter blog.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"openwindows\">\u003c/a>How to open your windows to create maximum airflow\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have a filtration device or AC, it’s time to open your windows, Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Basically, you’re going to focus on “how you can maximize that airflow” through your space, she said. But it’s not just a case of cracking a solitary window open. Gorle’s expert advice is as follows:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Try to open more than one window around a room\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The more windows you can open, the more ventilation you are going to get,” Gorle said — because it’s not enough to bring fresh air into your space. Ideally, you want to then help get that air out through \u003ci>another \u003c/i>window — and “the more windows, the better.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Opening windows on the opposite sides of a room is particularly effective for creating cross-ventilation, Gorle said. In other words, opening two windows that are side-by-side will be less useful at this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you can’t — or don’t want to — open your windows all the way? In this instance, even just cracking windows a bit is still a good idea, Virginia Tech professor of civil and environmental engineering Linsey Marr told NPR. \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/06/29/1106822268/coronavirus-faq-got-any-tips-on-improving-indoor-air-flow-to-reduce-infection-ri\">Your windows “don’t have to be wide open,” Marr said.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>…but think carefully about where you seat your guests\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consider the airflow direction in and out of your space when you have two or more windows open. “Because if you’re sitting at the window where the air is coming in, you’re getting all that clean air,” Gorle said. “But you’re sitting at the window where the air is going \u003ci>out\u003c/i>, you’re actually getting all the air that people have been breathing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Try to seat your guests as close as possible to the fresh air coming in — and don’t park them all by the window where airflow is going out. Because if respiratory virus particles are in that airflow, that “air out” area will be heavy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11967991\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11967991\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458.jpg\" alt=\"An image of a window with short grey curtains set into brown walls. There is soft yellow light coming through.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you’re hosting guests this holiday season, opening your windows can help reduce the risk of indoor transmission of COVID-19. \u003ccite>(Carlos Caamal Can/Pexels)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Run a test to see how air is coming in — or out\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How do you know which is the “air in” window and which is the “air out” one? Gorle has a few tricks up her sleeve for this. The simplest is to stand in front of the open window and hold up a small piece of string, ribbon, or anything similar in front of it, letting it hang down. This way, “you can kind of see which way the stream moves and then understand if the air is coming in or going out,” Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could also use a candle for this — although, of course, be careful with the lit flame (especially if you and your guests have already begun the holiday celebrations with a drink or two.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve established how air is coming in and out of your space through the windows, you know where best to seat your guests closest to that fresh incoming air and furthest from the outflow — especially those at higher risk for severe disease or hospitalization from viruses like COVID-19, flu and RSV. “That’s what I’ve done with my mom, who was at risk as well,” Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Only got one window? Still open that\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Don’t panic if you only have one window to open, Gorle said — you’ll still “get some air exchanged depending on where the wind is coming from.” And some fresh air in your space is better than none.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you get lucky, “you might have enough pressure differences between indoor and outdoor that you do actually get some ventilation with just one window open, she said — “so it is always better to open your window than to keep it closed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Use portable fans to help that existing airflow move\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve worked out how air is coming in and out of your open windows, you could try using portable fans — like a box fan — to help push the existing airflow along, Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You’ll be “using the fan to help the airflow in that same direction because you don’t want to start counteracting the natural driving force,” Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11967994\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11967994\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615.jpg\" alt=\"A hand holds a bottle of olive oil, drizzling the oil over a raw turkey against the backdrop of a kitchen\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Improving ventilation in your indoor space over the holidays can help reduce COVID-19 risks. \u003ccite>(RDNE Stock project/Pexels)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Got a skylight? Check if it opens\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have a skylight with a manual or remote-controlled way of opening it, do it. Opening an overhead window like a skylight will create airflow really easily, Gorle said — “because of temperature differences between indoors and outdoors, the air will move vertically as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, in addition to windows on your walls, “you can actually use buoyancy effects to try and create that airflow through openings that are at different heights,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Use your bathroom fan\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This tip is particularly good for smaller homes, or if you don’t have many windows, you can open them: Keep all the doors in your home open, and run any bathroom fan that’s extracting air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That is going to help bring air in through any windows that you can open as well,” and then push the air out, Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Getting chilly inside? Don’t be afraid of using a heater\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your family or friends complain about the cold indoors from all your open windows, rest assured that it’s okay to turn on your space heater — you won’t be undoing all your good ventilation work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It might be that you’re actually increasing the airflow if you heat up the indoors a little bit better,” Gorle said. “Bigger temperature differences usually cause more airflow” — unless you’ve got unlucky, and the air buoyancy (that is, the upward force) and the wind are fighting each other. But ultimately, it’s worth turning on a heater just to be able to \u003ci>keep \u003c/i>those windows open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/indoor-air-homes-and-coronavirus-covid-19\">Read even more about ways to ventilate and filter the air inside your home from the EPA\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published on November 21, 2023.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Back in 2020, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11846759/saying-no-to-a-covid-thanksgiving-holidays-how-to-break-it-to-family-or-friends\">a huge number of people chose to say no to gathering for the holidays \u003c/a>because of the dangers posed by COVID-19 pre-vaccines, especially to older or immunocompromised family members.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Five years on, many folks now feel much safer when it comes to fears of getting sick from a holiday gathering — especially if they’ve recently \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055165/where-can-i-find-new-updated-2025-covid-vaccine-near-me-moderna-pfizer-cvs-walgreens-safeway-vaccinations-health-insurance-cost\">received an updated COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> and flu shot.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But the fact remains that at times like Thanksgiving, you’re gathering a large amount of people in the same room. And in crowded indoor spaces, the risk of transmitting respiratory viruses like COVID-19, flu and RSV increases if someone in that room has the virus, whether they know it or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cb>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#openwindows\">The best way to open your windows to help reduce respiratory virus risks\u003c/a>\u003c/b>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>While \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgZOIEdlbmV41AGKAQZjNjg1ZjfAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=c685f7\">rates of COVID-19 in Bay Area wastewater\u003c/a> are low heading into Thanksgiving 2025, levels of flu and RSV are beginning to tick up, according to Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN team, who monitor virus presence in human sewage.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And one way to help reduce the risks of respiratory virus transmission in an indoor space is to ensure that an indoor space has clean air — because particles of COVID-19, flu and RSV can hang in the air of places that aren’t ventilated properly.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But other than cracking a window, what \u003ci>does \u003c/i>“ventilating your space” really mean in practice for your own holiday dinner, especially if you’re hosting friends and family who may be more vulnerable to sickness? Keep reading for practical tips about filtering and ventilating your home for your holiday dinner to reduce the risks of your loved ones catching a respiratory virus like flu, RSV or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Filtering the air for the holidays\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Clean air makes it harder for the particles that cause respiratory viruses to hang around and infect you — and it can be achieved by filtering those particles from the air with a filtration device or by ventilating the space with fresh air. (This principle of fresh, ventilated air is also why being outdoors makes your risk of viral transmission drop significantly.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/06/29/1106822268/coronavirus-faq-got-any-tips-on-improving-indoor-air-flow-to-reduce-infection-ri\">“If people could see COVID in the air\u003c/a>, it would make a lot more sense that what you need to do is clean the air in your house,” Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician at Stanford University, told NPR in 2022. The basic idea: “Exchange the air out, get fresh air in, improve ventilation so that you don’t have a lot of air hanging around where other people can breathe it in and get infected,” Karan said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some ways to filter in the air inside your home:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Use an air purifier\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In 2023 Catherine Gorle, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering at Stanford, told KQED that if you have a filtration device in your home — perhaps an air purifier you purchased in the past to combat wildfire smoke — then that is probably the best way to improve air quality.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Gorle said this comes with two caveats, though. First, “you need to make sure that you replace the filter frequently enough that the system can work optimally,” she said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.vox.com/even-better/23299793/clean-your-filters-hepa-water\">The recommended time limit for filter use may depend on the specific appliance\u003c/a>, but it’s probably time if you can’t remember when you last replaced it.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Second, make sure that “the capacity is rated for the room [size] that you have,” Gorle said. That is, don’t rely on a tiny filtering device intended for a small space to clean the air inside a really big room — because it just won’t do the job. \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/air-cleaners-and-air-filters-home\">Read more from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) about effectively using an indoor air purifying unit.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Use your air conditioning (if you have it)\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You may hear the filtration systems built \u003ci>into \u003c/i>homes called HVAC systems, an acronym for heating, ventilation and air conditioning.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In our usually temperate climate, Bay Area homes typically don’t have air conditioning, so this tip may not apply to many locals. But if your home does have AC, those systems can have “really high-grade filters as well,” Gorle said — “HEPA filters that will filter out particles, just the way that you do it with any indoor air filtering system.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re conscious of your energy use (and your bills), Gorle notes that your AC “will consume a bit more energy because at the same time they’re conditioning the air [to be] cooling it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11932984\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11932984 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183.jpg\" alt=\"A shot taken from above of a group of people around a table, eating dinner and raising their glasses in a toast.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1281\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183-800x534.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183-1020x681.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/11/pexels-fauxels-3184183-1536x1025.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">As the holiday season arrives, there are things you can do to help reduce your risk of exposure to indoor COVID-19. \u003ccite>(fauxels via Pexels)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>No air purifier? Try making your own\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have access to a box fan, \u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/what-merv-rating\">a MERV filter\u003c/a> and some duct tape, you can make your own DIY air filter device. Find our instructions — first published for wildfire smoke — in \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1976551/how-to-get-or-make-a-free-low-cost-air-purifier-for-your-home#air\">this KQED guide, “How to make your own air purifier.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>NPR also has another \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/06/29/1106822268/coronavirus-faq-got-any-tips-on-improving-indoor-air-flow-to-reduce-infection-ri\">guide to making your own DIY air filter using a box fan\u003c/a>, or you can consult this \u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/wirecutter/blog/how-to-diy-an-air-purifier/\">“How to DIY an Air Purifier” explainer \u003c/a>from the \u003cem>New York Times\u003c/em> Wirecutter blog.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"openwindows\">\u003c/a>How to open your windows to create maximum airflow\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have a filtration device or AC, it’s time to open your windows, Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Basically, you’re going to focus on “how you can maximize that airflow” through your space, she said. But it’s not just a case of cracking a solitary window open. Gorle’s expert advice is as follows:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Try to open more than one window around a room\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The more windows you can open, the more ventilation you are going to get,” Gorle said — because it’s not enough to bring fresh air into your space. Ideally, you want to then help get that air out through \u003ci>another \u003c/i>window — and “the more windows, the better.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Opening windows on the opposite sides of a room is particularly effective for creating cross-ventilation, Gorle said. In other words, opening two windows that are side-by-side will be less useful at this.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you can’t — or don’t want to — open your windows all the way? In this instance, even just cracking windows a bit is still a good idea, Virginia Tech professor of civil and environmental engineering Linsey Marr told NPR. \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2022/06/29/1106822268/coronavirus-faq-got-any-tips-on-improving-indoor-air-flow-to-reduce-infection-ri\">Your windows “don’t have to be wide open,” Marr said.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>…but think carefully about where you seat your guests\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Consider the airflow direction in and out of your space when you have two or more windows open. “Because if you’re sitting at the window where the air is coming in, you’re getting all that clean air,” Gorle said. “But you’re sitting at the window where the air is going \u003ci>out\u003c/i>, you’re actually getting all the air that people have been breathing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Try to seat your guests as close as possible to the fresh air coming in — and don’t park them all by the window where airflow is going out. Because if respiratory virus particles are in that airflow, that “air out” area will be heavy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11967991\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11967991\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458.jpg\" alt=\"An image of a window with short grey curtains set into brown walls. There is soft yellow light coming through.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-carlos-caamal-can-910458-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">If you’re hosting guests this holiday season, opening your windows can help reduce the risk of indoor transmission of COVID-19. \u003ccite>(Carlos Caamal Can/Pexels)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Run a test to see how air is coming in — or out\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>How do you know which is the “air in” window and which is the “air out” one? Gorle has a few tricks up her sleeve for this. The simplest is to stand in front of the open window and hold up a small piece of string, ribbon, or anything similar in front of it, letting it hang down. This way, “you can kind of see which way the stream moves and then understand if the air is coming in or going out,” Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could also use a candle for this — although, of course, be careful with the lit flame (especially if you and your guests have already begun the holiday celebrations with a drink or two.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve established how air is coming in and out of your space through the windows, you know where best to seat your guests closest to that fresh incoming air and furthest from the outflow — especially those at higher risk for severe disease or hospitalization from viruses like COVID-19, flu and RSV. “That’s what I’ve done with my mom, who was at risk as well,” Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Only got one window? Still open that\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Don’t panic if you only have one window to open, Gorle said — you’ll still “get some air exchanged depending on where the wind is coming from.” And some fresh air in your space is better than none.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you get lucky, “you might have enough pressure differences between indoor and outdoor that you do actually get some ventilation with just one window open, she said — “so it is always better to open your window than to keep it closed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Use portable fans to help that existing airflow move\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve worked out how air is coming in and out of your open windows, you could try using portable fans — like a box fan — to help push the existing airflow along, Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You’ll be “using the fan to help the airflow in that same direction because you don’t want to start counteracting the natural driving force,” Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11967994\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11967994\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615.jpg\" alt=\"A hand holds a bottle of olive oil, drizzling the oil over a raw turkey against the backdrop of a kitchen\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/pexels-rdne-stock-project-5847615-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Improving ventilation in your indoor space over the holidays can help reduce COVID-19 risks. \u003ccite>(RDNE Stock project/Pexels)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Got a skylight? Check if it opens\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have a skylight with a manual or remote-controlled way of opening it, do it. Opening an overhead window like a skylight will create airflow really easily, Gorle said — “because of temperature differences between indoors and outdoors, the air will move vertically as well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, in addition to windows on your walls, “you can actually use buoyancy effects to try and create that airflow through openings that are at different heights,” she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Use your bathroom fan\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This tip is particularly good for smaller homes, or if you don’t have many windows, you can open them: Keep all the doors in your home open, and run any bathroom fan that’s extracting air.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That is going to help bring air in through any windows that you can open as well,” and then push the air out, Gorle said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Getting chilly inside? Don’t be afraid of using a heater\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your family or friends complain about the cold indoors from all your open windows, rest assured that it’s okay to turn on your space heater — you won’t be undoing all your good ventilation work.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It might be that you’re actually increasing the airflow if you heat up the indoors a little bit better,” Gorle said. “Bigger temperature differences usually cause more airflow” — unless you’ve got unlucky, and the air buoyancy (that is, the upward force) and the wind are fighting each other. But ultimately, it’s worth turning on a heater just to be able to \u003ci>keep \u003c/i>those windows open.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.epa.gov/coronavirus/indoor-air-homes-and-coronavirus-covid-19\">Read even more about ways to ventilate and filter the air inside your home from the EPA\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story was originally published on November 21, 2023.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "COVID is Everywhere (Again) in the Bay Area. What to Know About the Latest XFG 'Stratus' Variant",
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"headTitle": "COVID is Everywhere (Again) in the Bay Area. What to Know About the Latest XFG ‘Stratus’ Variant | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Looking for information about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">the FDA’s limited approval of 2025-26 COVID vaccines?\u003c/a> Read what we know about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">who can get an updated COVID shot this year.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated Aug. 27\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it feels like several people you know are complaining of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11954507/covid-symptoms-after-pride-how-to-find-test\">feeling sick with what they assume is an “awful summer cold” — perhaps with an especially sore throat — \u003c/a>there’s a good chance it could be COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>COVID-19 levels in Bay Area wastewater have gone up 50% in August compared to the month before, and are still far exceeding the winter peak, according to Stanford’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors coronavirus presence in human sewage. And according to \u003ca href=\"https://skylab.cdph.ca.gov/calwws/\">the California Department of Public Health’s own wastewater tracking\u003c/a>, infections statewide numbers also surpassed winter highs back in July.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also a new top variant out there, XFG or “Stratus.” This now makes up 82% of variants detected in Bay Area wastewater, according to Stanford. People infected with Stratus often report a scratchy, hoarse throat that’s easily mistaken for allergies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The previous top variant, NB.1.8.1 or “Nimbus” — known for a particularly nasty sore throat that earned it the nickname “razor blade throat” — now only makes up 5.2% of variants in local wastewater, according to Stanford. So if you suspect you’ve got COVID-19, right now it’s more likely to be the XFG strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, what do you need to know about the symptoms of XFG? What’s the COVID-19 incubation period in 2025, how long should you isolate and where can you still find a free COVID-19 test? And if you’re unfortunate enough to suffer painful throat symptoms, what can you do to ease your symptoms?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about the new Stratus variant or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#xfg-stratus-nimbus-covid-symptoms-sore-throat\">What are the symptoms of XFG (Stratus)?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covid-incubationperiod-2025\">If I’m exposed, how long before I get sick with COVID in 2025?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#stratus-nimbus-variants-vaccines-work\">Do the latest COVID-19 vaccines work against the new variant, and should I get another shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freecovidtests\">Where can I still find free COVID-19 tests?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you’re reading this because you suspect you \u003cem>have\u003c/em> COVID-19:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covid-isolation-guidance-cdc-2025\">How long should I isolate with COVID-19 in 2025?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covid-incubation-period\">I tested negative. Can I trust my antigen kit?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#nimbus-razor-blade-throat-medicine-remedy\">How can I soothe my painful sore throat if I’m infected?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What is XFG, and is it worse than previous variants?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>XFG or Stratus is currently the most prevalent COVID-19 subvariant in the Bay Area at 82%, according to WastewaterSCAN.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s own\u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\"> \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">variant tracker\u003c/a> to see the top variants nationwide, as it was last updated in June.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like Nimbus before it, Stratus is absolutely more transmissible — that is, more contagious and more easily caught — than previous variants, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. That’s how a new variant ends up beating its siblings and “rising to the top of the charts,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>XFG’s particular “superpower,” said Chin-Hong, “is that it has four mutations in the spike protein, which make it just a little bit more transmissible than the previous variants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s no evidence that Stratus causes more serious disease, Chin-Hong said, echoing \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/25062025_xfg_ire.pdf\">the World Health Organization’s June briefing designating it a “variant under monitoring.” \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, new variants like Stratus \u003cem>will\u003c/em> still cause more people to go to the hospital with COVID-19, he said, “because if it’s fueling more people getting it, some of those people are going to be more vulnerable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"xfg-stratus-nimbus-covid-symptoms-sore-throat\">\u003c/a>What are the symptoms of the new XFG Stratus COVID-19 variant?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong confirmed that no surprising wild card symptoms have yet been reported for XFG — they’re the same COVID-19 symptoms you’re used to hearing about from previous variants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, Chin-Hong noted that doctors are hearing that people infected with Stratus report suffering from scratchy, hoarse throats that resemble allergy symptoms. And previously with Nimbus, patients particularly complained about the very painful throat symptom that \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/covid19-sore-throat-razor-blade-vaccine-4688df53917022cb61204e08b41d5952\">earned NB.1.8.1 the unfortunate nickname of “razor blade throat.”\u003c/a>[aside postID=science_1997707 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/07/MediCalGetty.jpg']\u003cb>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why is Stratus — and Nimbus before it — causing such throat symptoms? They’re descendants of the omicron variant that first emerged in 2021, and “I think omicron in general prioritizes the upper respiratory tract instead of the getting into the lungs as much,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8989396/\">One 2022 study from the United Kingdom\u003c/a> found that a higher proportion of patients — up to 70% of those studied — reported sore throats when infected with the omicron variant compared with earlier variants. Or as Chin-Hong put it, “a lot of the action is at the throat level.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As with previous variants to reach the Bay Area, Chin-Hong noted that more people also now appear to experience more non-respiratory symptoms like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting when they get COVID-19 — gastrointestinal symptoms that folks can often initially dismiss as being unrelated to the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/\">this is the full list of the possible symptoms of COVID-19\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Fever or chills\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cough\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fatigue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Muscle or body aches\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Headache\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>New loss of taste or smell\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sore throat\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Congestion or runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nausea or vomiting\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Diarrhea.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember, you might have a combination of these symptoms or just one. They might be mild or feel more severe. But if you’re experiencing any of these, take a COVID-19 test (more on this below).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"nimbus-razor-blade-throat-medicine-remedy\">\u003c/a>OK, so how can I soothe my sore throat if I’m infected?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For any kind of sore throat, it might be tempting to focus on topical medicine for your throat itself. But in general, systemic therapies — treatments which enter through your bloodstream like Advil and affect your whole body — “are better than topical ones,” Chin-Hong said. His recommendations:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ibuprofen and acetaminophen\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ibuprofen (like Advil) is better than acetaminophen (like Tylenol) in this case, he said, although you should check with your health provider if you have other medical conditions which might make taking ibuprofen unsafe. If your throat hurts too much to swallow a pill, you can consider liquid versions of these drugs, but make sure you use the right dose depending on age, Chin-Hong said. And if you’re using a combination cold remedy like Nyquil, be aware it might already contain ibuprofen or acetaminophen — and be careful not to accidentally double-dose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Topic remedies\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could try warm remedies like chicken soup, broth, lemon tea, honey or cold ones like popsicles, ice cream or ice chips. The upside of these treatments is the immediate relief they can bring, but they might also not last as long. You could also try gargling salt water, “which may loosen mucus” Chin-Hong said, or sucking lozenges with menthol or a mild anesthetic like benzocaine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Environmental treatments to try \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong also recommends:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Stay hydrated\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Get your rest\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Consider a humidifier, as dryness may make your symptoms worse.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And you should consider seeking medical attention if your symptoms last longer than a week, if your sore throat is very severe, and if you begin drooling or become unable to eat or drink, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidcasesbayarea\">\u003c/a>What are the current COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Actual “COVID cases” — that is positive test results — are no longer tracked as closely by local and state public health bodies. In the absence of widespread up-to-date data on positive test results, monitoring the presence of the coronavirus in human sewage has become an increasingly important way to gauge the levels of COVID-19 spread in a particular area. This is because if you have COVID-19, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1963120/one-way-to-monitor-a-communitys-coronavirus-infections-raw-sewage\">the virus will show up in your feces \u003c/a>soon after you’re infected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12053957\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12053957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/WWSCAN_SARSCoV2_wastewater_concentrations_SF_Bay_Area_last_24_months_20250826.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"763\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/WWSCAN_SARSCoV2_wastewater_concentrations_SF_Bay_Area_last_24_months_20250826.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/WWSCAN_SARSCoV2_wastewater_concentrations_SF_Bay_Area_last_24_months_20250826-160x64.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/WWSCAN_SARSCoV2_wastewater_concentrations_SF_Bay_Area_last_24_months_20250826-1536x610.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Concentrations of COVID-19 in Bay Area wastewater, as of Aug. 26, 2025. \u003ccite>(Stanford/WastewaterSCAN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Despite recent increases in COVID-19 levels in the Bay Area’s wastewater, Amanda Bidwell from Stanford’s WastewaterSCAN team said that average concentrations are still lower than this time last year when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">the Bay Area experienced a summer surge\u003c/a>. However, the Bay Area’s wastewater sites monitored by Stanford are currently in the “high” category, and have kept rising over the last three weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check the COVID-19 levels in your own county’s wastewater according to WastewaterSCAN’s monitoring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgZOIEdlbmV41AGKAQZiNDYyMGHAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=b4620a\">San Francisco \u003c/a>| \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkUQACABSABSBjVhYTY5OVIGMDJkMjQyUgZkZDM2ZmJSBjY3YzJlYlIGMjkzYjI1WgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQY1OTRlYzPAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=594ec3\">Alameda\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Cj0QACABSABSBjA3Y2VkN1IGN2NhOTA1UgY3NGIzOWFSBmM5NWU2NFoGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGMjc3MmU4wAEB&selectedChartId=2772e8\">San Mateo\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Cj0QACABSABSBjI1NDgxOVIGOGE5YjRiUgY1NzlkYTNSBmM4ZDM1N1oGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGZDVjZjMzwAEB&selectedChartId=d5cf33\">Santa Clara\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBjc0ZDAyNlIGNTc1NzM4WgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQY1MDg4Y2XAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=5088ce\">Contra Costa\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmZhMmQ2M1IGMGM4MDkxWgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQYwMzU3N2bAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=03577f\">Solano\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkQQACABSABSBjI0ZDAzMFIGNjQ3M2MwUgZiOTI1ZTdSBmRkZTg4ZlIGODRkNDg5WgZOIEdlbmV4dYoBBmZhZGM0ZsABAQ%3D%3D&selectedChartId=fadc4f\">Marin\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CjIQACABSABSBjMwMzJjOFIGNzFhMmY0UgZiYzc5ZjlaBk4gR2VuZXjSAYoBBmQ1NjA5Yw%3D%3D&selectedChartId=d5609c\">Sonoma\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CiUQACABSABSBmI3MjNhZVoGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGZDU1MTZkwAEB&selectedChartId=d5516d\">Napa\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948962\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948962\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut.jpg\" alt=\"In this photo illustration, a COVID-19 self-test package is seen on a dark table.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When COVID-19 cases rise, strongly consider rising up — and testing if you feel symptoms. \u003ccite>(Photo Illustration by Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"stratus-nimbus-variants-vaccines-work\">\u003c/a>Is the latest COVID-19 vaccine still effective against the new variants?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">The COVID-19 vaccine that rolled out in August 2024 \u003c/a>is effective against XFG, or Stratus, Chin-Hong said, because like Nimbus it’s a descendant of JN.1, which last year’s vaccines were based on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you didn’t \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">get your COVID-19 shot in the fall, Chin-Hong has a message\u003c/a>: Go get one now, particularly if you plan to travel this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not only will your protection last roughly a year, he said, “getting it now if it’s being paid for would help that person navigate through what we might see in the summer, but also later on in the year if rules change” — referring to the widespread uncertainty about \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fda-kennedy-covid-shots-rfk-trump-bb4de15b6ff955d6cd0b406aaec3cdc5\">how President Donald Trump’s administration might further change the U.S.’s vaccine policies\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html\">Currently, the CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for most adults 18 and older\u003c/a>, which means that most health insurance companies should cover the costs for people with insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covid-incubationperiod-2025\">\u003c/a>I think I was exposed or have symptoms. When should I take a COVID-19 test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 1: Know about updated incubation times \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive — it’s true. People are testing positive more quickly than they were in 2020, when the average incubation period was five to seven days, because it has changed with each new variant, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three days is a common period of time between exposure and getting sick, Chin-Hong said, and given this trend, it makes sense to take a COVID-19 test as early as two days after exposure if you’re already having symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"covid-incubation-period\">\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>Step 2: Don’t trust a negative early COVID-19 test\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your first test is negative, you should absolutely test again the next day if symptoms persist — and again after that if you’re still negative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s why you can’t necessarily trust a negative at-home COVID-19 test in 2025: While incubation times have gotten shorter, doctors are seeing people take longer to get a positive test, Chin-Hong said, and that’s probably more to do with how much quicker someone with COVID-19 might develop \u003cem>symptoms\u003c/em> in 2025 than they would have done in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a reminder, those symptoms are the sign that your body’s immune system is mounting a response to an invading virus. Back at the start of the pandemic, by the time you developed COVID-19 symptoms and took a test, it would probably already be positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at this stage of the pandemic, “we likely have more immune cells circulating that can recognize the enemy, so it ‘sounds the alarm’ quicker [and] people might feel something faster than in the old days,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Stanford University, also put it this way for NPR in 2024: “With our immune systems primed, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/01/07/1222847727/coronavirus-faq-my-partner-roommate-kid-got-covid-and-i-didnt-how-come\">the body’s response [now] comes much more quickly than it would have back in 2020\u003c/a> when SARS-CoV-2 was a novel pathogen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And because many of us take a COVID-19 test when we \u003cem>start\u003c/em> to feel sick, we might actually be testing way too early for an at-home antigen kit to successfully detect enough virus inside us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line: If you’re testing because you’ve started feeling unwell, don’t assume a negative result means you don’t actually have COVID-19. Play it safe, stay home as much as you can and wear a well-fitted mask if you can’t. Take another antigen test 48 hours later, Chin-Hong said. You can also seek out a PCR test, which is more sensitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 3: Make sure your COVID-19 test hasn’t expired\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those COVID-19 tests you might have in a drawer may be approaching their expiration date if they haven’t already passed it. And an expired test could give you an unreliable result.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types \u003c/a>to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended\u003c/a> by the manufacturer. The FDA said that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another tip from Chin-Hong: “A quick and dirty way” to know if you’re using a functional COVID-19 test is to make sure the control line turns positive. If that doesn’t happen, “that means the test is probably not working,” he warned.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covid-isolation-guidance-cdc-2025\">\u003c/a>If I test positive, how long do I have do isolate with COVID-19 in 2025?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In March 2024, the CDC officially revised their national COVID-19 isolation guidance, saying that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html\">COVID-positive people could now return to work or regular activities\u003c/a> once “symptoms are improving overall” and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html\">they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours\u003c/a> without use of a fever-reducing medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">Read more about current isolation guidance for COVID-19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been infected, consider asking your health provider for the COVID-19 medication \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment in pill form that is still available free by prescription in California. \u003c/a>Read more on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">requesting a prescription for Paxlovid, with or without health insurance.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freecovidtests\">\u003c/a>Where can I \u003cem>still\u003c/em> find a free COVID-19 test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Good question.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding a quick, free COVID-19 test — whether an at-home antigen test or a PCR test — has gotten progressively harder at this stage of the pandemic as more sites and services have been shuttered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And visiting \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/lab-leak-true-origins-of-covid-19/\">the White House site that once offered you free at-home COVID-tests\u003c/a> through USPS will now greet you with an image of Trump superimposed over the headline “LAB LEAK: The True Origins of COVID-19,” as well as \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/18/g-s1-61324/lab-leak-white-house-covid-origins\">a page dedicated to the theory disputed by many scientists\u003c/a> that the pandemic was caused by the coronavirus leaking from a government laboratory in Wuhan, China.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11957645\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11957645\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person with long hair inserts a long cottonswab in her nostril while standing in the doorway of her home.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Janet Franco-Orona swabs her nose for a COVID-19 test at her home in San José on Feb. 3, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So, what do you do now if you don’t already have a supply of antigen tests for COVID-19 at home right now? Try the following:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Purchase a COVID-19 at-home antigen test at a pharmacy near you\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>The quickest option will also be one of the most expensive up-front: Purchasing an at-home antigen test at a nearby pharmacy. (Ideally, ask someone to purchase one for you so you don’t potentially expose other people at the pharmacy, and if you really have to go yourself, wear a well-fitted N95 mask to help lower the risk you pose to others.) These at-home test kits are usually around $20 for a pack of two.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">request reimbursement from your health insurer for the cost of up to eight at-home tests per month\u003c/a>, so don’t throw away your receipts.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Find a COVID-19 PCR testing site near you\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>PCR testing is more accurate than an antigen test. It’s more sensitive at picking up traces of the coronavirus in your body, but it may take longer to get your results than with an at-home test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, there are still some sites offering free COVID-19 testing around the state. Try visiting \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">MyTurn.ca.gov/testing\u003c/a> and applying the “Free Sites” filter from the drop-down menu. You can also find\u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\"> a health center near you \u003c/a>and ask if they offer COVID-19 testing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/Search\">The CDC’s COVID-19 test locator\u003c/a> is no longer operational.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you may be able to get a PCR test ordered by your health care provider with the costs covered. Having a test ordered by a provider is — usually — the only way to get your testing costs covered if you have Medicare, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>If you have health insurance, contact your provider\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>If you’re insured through major Bay Area providers like Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest way to get a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through your provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member login and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story was originally published on June 26. KQED’s Lesley McClurg, Alexander Gonzalez and Brian Watt contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "A new COVID variant called XFG, or \"Stratus\" is spreading. Here's what you need to know about the incubation period, symptoms (including particular throat symptoms) and when to take a test.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>Looking for information about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">the FDA’s limited approval of 2025-26 COVID vaccines?\u003c/a> Read what we know about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">who can get an updated COVID shot this year.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated Aug. 27\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If it feels like several people you know are complaining of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11954507/covid-symptoms-after-pride-how-to-find-test\">feeling sick with what they assume is an “awful summer cold” — perhaps with an especially sore throat — \u003c/a>there’s a good chance it could be COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Again.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>COVID-19 levels in Bay Area wastewater have gone up 50% in August compared to the month before, and are still far exceeding the winter peak, according to Stanford’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors coronavirus presence in human sewage. And according to \u003ca href=\"https://skylab.cdph.ca.gov/calwws/\">the California Department of Public Health’s own wastewater tracking\u003c/a>, infections statewide numbers also surpassed winter highs back in July.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also a new top variant out there, XFG or “Stratus.” This now makes up 82% of variants detected in Bay Area wastewater, according to Stanford. People infected with Stratus often report a scratchy, hoarse throat that’s easily mistaken for allergies.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The previous top variant, NB.1.8.1 or “Nimbus” — known for a particularly nasty sore throat that earned it the nickname “razor blade throat” — now only makes up 5.2% of variants in local wastewater, according to Stanford. So if you suspect you’ve got COVID-19, right now it’s more likely to be the XFG strain.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, what do you need to know about the symptoms of XFG? What’s the COVID-19 incubation period in 2025, how long should you isolate and where can you still find a free COVID-19 test? And if you’re unfortunate enough to suffer painful throat symptoms, what can you do to ease your symptoms?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for everything you need to know about the new Stratus variant or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#xfg-stratus-nimbus-covid-symptoms-sore-throat\">What are the symptoms of XFG (Stratus)?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covid-incubationperiod-2025\">If I’m exposed, how long before I get sick with COVID in 2025?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#stratus-nimbus-variants-vaccines-work\">Do the latest COVID-19 vaccines work against the new variant, and should I get another shot?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#freecovidtests\">Where can I still find free COVID-19 tests?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And if you’re reading this because you suspect you \u003cem>have\u003c/em> COVID-19:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covid-isolation-guidance-cdc-2025\">How long should I isolate with COVID-19 in 2025?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covid-incubation-period\">I tested negative. Can I trust my antigen kit?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#nimbus-razor-blade-throat-medicine-remedy\">How can I soothe my painful sore throat if I’m infected?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What is XFG, and is it worse than previous variants?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>XFG or Stratus is currently the most prevalent COVID-19 subvariant in the Bay Area at 82%, according to WastewaterSCAN.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Unfortunately, you won’t be able to use \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s own\u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\"> \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">variant tracker\u003c/a> to see the top variants nationwide, as it was last updated in June.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Like Nimbus before it, Stratus is absolutely more transmissible — that is, more contagious and more easily caught — than previous variants, said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. That’s how a new variant ends up beating its siblings and “rising to the top of the charts,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>XFG’s particular “superpower,” said Chin-Hong, “is that it has four mutations in the spike protein, which make it just a little bit more transmissible than the previous variants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s no evidence that Stratus causes more serious disease, Chin-Hong said, echoing \u003ca href=\"https://www.who.int/docs/default-source/coronaviruse/25062025_xfg_ire.pdf\">the World Health Organization’s June briefing designating it a “variant under monitoring.” \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Despite this, new variants like Stratus \u003cem>will\u003c/em> still cause more people to go to the hospital with COVID-19, he said, “because if it’s fueling more people getting it, some of those people are going to be more vulnerable.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"xfg-stratus-nimbus-covid-symptoms-sore-throat\">\u003c/a>What are the symptoms of the new XFG Stratus COVID-19 variant?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong confirmed that no surprising wild card symptoms have yet been reported for XFG — they’re the same COVID-19 symptoms you’re used to hearing about from previous variants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, Chin-Hong noted that doctors are hearing that people infected with Stratus report suffering from scratchy, hoarse throats that resemble allergy symptoms. And previously with Nimbus, patients particularly complained about the very painful throat symptom that \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/covid19-sore-throat-razor-blade-vaccine-4688df53917022cb61204e08b41d5952\">earned NB.1.8.1 the unfortunate nickname of “razor blade throat.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cb>\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why is Stratus — and Nimbus before it — causing such throat symptoms? They’re descendants of the omicron variant that first emerged in 2021, and “I think omicron in general prioritizes the upper respiratory tract instead of the getting into the lungs as much,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8989396/\">One 2022 study from the United Kingdom\u003c/a> found that a higher proportion of patients — up to 70% of those studied — reported sore throats when infected with the omicron variant compared with earlier variants. Or as Chin-Hong put it, “a lot of the action is at the throat level.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As with previous variants to reach the Bay Area, Chin-Hong noted that more people also now appear to experience more non-respiratory symptoms like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting when they get COVID-19 — gastrointestinal symptoms that folks can often initially dismiss as being unrelated to the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/\">this is the full list of the possible symptoms of COVID-19\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Fever or chills\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cough\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fatigue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Muscle or body aches\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Headache\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>New loss of taste or smell\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sore throat\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Congestion or runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nausea or vomiting\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Diarrhea.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember, you might have a combination of these symptoms or just one. They might be mild or feel more severe. But if you’re experiencing any of these, take a COVID-19 test (more on this below).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"nimbus-razor-blade-throat-medicine-remedy\">\u003c/a>OK, so how can I soothe my sore throat if I’m infected?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For any kind of sore throat, it might be tempting to focus on topical medicine for your throat itself. But in general, systemic therapies — treatments which enter through your bloodstream like Advil and affect your whole body — “are better than topical ones,” Chin-Hong said. His recommendations:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ibuprofen and acetaminophen\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ibuprofen (like Advil) is better than acetaminophen (like Tylenol) in this case, he said, although you should check with your health provider if you have other medical conditions which might make taking ibuprofen unsafe. If your throat hurts too much to swallow a pill, you can consider liquid versions of these drugs, but make sure you use the right dose depending on age, Chin-Hong said. And if you’re using a combination cold remedy like Nyquil, be aware it might already contain ibuprofen or acetaminophen — and be careful not to accidentally double-dose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Topic remedies\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You could try warm remedies like chicken soup, broth, lemon tea, honey or cold ones like popsicles, ice cream or ice chips. The upside of these treatments is the immediate relief they can bring, but they might also not last as long. You could also try gargling salt water, “which may loosen mucus” Chin-Hong said, or sucking lozenges with menthol or a mild anesthetic like benzocaine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Environmental treatments to try \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong also recommends:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Stay hydrated\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Get your rest\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Don’t smoke or expose yourself to smoke\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Consider a humidifier, as dryness may make your symptoms worse.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And you should consider seeking medical attention if your symptoms last longer than a week, if your sore throat is very severe, and if you begin drooling or become unable to eat or drink, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidcasesbayarea\">\u003c/a>What are the current COVID-19 cases in the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Actual “COVID cases” — that is positive test results — are no longer tracked as closely by local and state public health bodies. In the absence of widespread up-to-date data on positive test results, monitoring the presence of the coronavirus in human sewage has become an increasingly important way to gauge the levels of COVID-19 spread in a particular area. This is because if you have COVID-19, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1963120/one-way-to-monitor-a-communitys-coronavirus-infections-raw-sewage\">the virus will show up in your feces \u003c/a>soon after you’re infected.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12053957\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12053957\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/WWSCAN_SARSCoV2_wastewater_concentrations_SF_Bay_Area_last_24_months_20250826.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"763\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/WWSCAN_SARSCoV2_wastewater_concentrations_SF_Bay_Area_last_24_months_20250826.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/WWSCAN_SARSCoV2_wastewater_concentrations_SF_Bay_Area_last_24_months_20250826-160x64.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/08/WWSCAN_SARSCoV2_wastewater_concentrations_SF_Bay_Area_last_24_months_20250826-1536x610.png 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Concentrations of COVID-19 in Bay Area wastewater, as of Aug. 26, 2025. \u003ccite>(Stanford/WastewaterSCAN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Despite recent increases in COVID-19 levels in the Bay Area’s wastewater, Amanda Bidwell from Stanford’s WastewaterSCAN team said that average concentrations are still lower than this time last year when \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">the Bay Area experienced a summer surge\u003c/a>. However, the Bay Area’s wastewater sites monitored by Stanford are currently in the “high” category, and have kept rising over the last three weeks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check the COVID-19 levels in your own county’s wastewater according to WastewaterSCAN’s monitoring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgZOIEdlbmV41AGKAQZiNDYyMGHAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=b4620a\">San Francisco \u003c/a>| \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkUQACABSABSBjVhYTY5OVIGMDJkMjQyUgZkZDM2ZmJSBjY3YzJlYlIGMjkzYjI1WgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQY1OTRlYzPAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=594ec3\">Alameda\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Cj0QACABSABSBjA3Y2VkN1IGN2NhOTA1UgY3NGIzOWFSBmM5NWU2NFoGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGMjc3MmU4wAEB&selectedChartId=2772e8\">San Mateo\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Cj0QACABSABSBjI1NDgxOVIGOGE5YjRiUgY1NzlkYTNSBmM4ZDM1N1oGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGZDVjZjMzwAEB&selectedChartId=d5cf33\">Santa Clara\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBjc0ZDAyNlIGNTc1NzM4WgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQY1MDg4Y2XAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=5088ce\">Contra Costa\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmZhMmQ2M1IGMGM4MDkxWgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQYwMzU3N2bAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=03577f\">Solano\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkQQACABSABSBjI0ZDAzMFIGNjQ3M2MwUgZiOTI1ZTdSBmRkZTg4ZlIGODRkNDg5WgZOIEdlbmV4dYoBBmZhZGM0ZsABAQ%3D%3D&selectedChartId=fadc4f\">Marin\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CjIQACABSABSBjMwMzJjOFIGNzFhMmY0UgZiYzc5ZjlaBk4gR2VuZXjSAYoBBmQ1NjA5Yw%3D%3D&selectedChartId=d5609c\">Sonoma\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CiUQACABSABSBmI3MjNhZVoGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGZDU1MTZkwAEB&selectedChartId=d5516d\">Napa\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11948962\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11948962\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut.jpg\" alt=\"In this photo illustration, a COVID-19 self-test package is seen on a dark table.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/05/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">When COVID-19 cases rise, strongly consider rising up — and testing if you feel symptoms. \u003ccite>(Photo Illustration by Michael Ho Wai Lee/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"stratus-nimbus-variants-vaccines-work\">\u003c/a>Is the latest COVID-19 vaccine still effective against the new variants?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes: \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">The COVID-19 vaccine that rolled out in August 2024 \u003c/a>is effective against XFG, or Stratus, Chin-Hong said, because like Nimbus it’s a descendant of JN.1, which last year’s vaccines were based on.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you didn’t \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">get your COVID-19 shot in the fall, Chin-Hong has a message\u003c/a>: Go get one now, particularly if you plan to travel this summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Not only will your protection last roughly a year, he said, “getting it now if it’s being paid for would help that person navigate through what we might see in the summer, but also later on in the year if rules change” — referring to the widespread uncertainty about \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/vaccines-fda-kennedy-covid-shots-rfk-trump-bb4de15b6ff955d6cd0b406aaec3cdc5\">how President Donald Trump’s administration might further change the U.S.’s vaccine policies\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html\">Currently, the CDC recommends the COVID-19 vaccine for most adults 18 and older\u003c/a>, which means that most health insurance companies should cover the costs for people with insurance.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covid-incubationperiod-2025\">\u003c/a>I think I was exposed or have symptoms. When should I take a COVID-19 test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 1: Know about updated incubation times \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive — it’s true. People are testing positive more quickly than they were in 2020, when the average incubation period was five to seven days, because it has changed with each new variant, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three days is a common period of time between exposure and getting sick, Chin-Hong said, and given this trend, it makes sense to take a COVID-19 test as early as two days after exposure if you’re already having symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"covid-incubation-period\">\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>Step 2: Don’t trust a negative early COVID-19 test\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your first test is negative, you should absolutely test again the next day if symptoms persist — and again after that if you’re still negative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s why you can’t necessarily trust a negative at-home COVID-19 test in 2025: While incubation times have gotten shorter, doctors are seeing people take longer to get a positive test, Chin-Hong said, and that’s probably more to do with how much quicker someone with COVID-19 might develop \u003cem>symptoms\u003c/em> in 2025 than they would have done in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a reminder, those symptoms are the sign that your body’s immune system is mounting a response to an invading virus. Back at the start of the pandemic, by the time you developed COVID-19 symptoms and took a test, it would probably already be positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at this stage of the pandemic, “we likely have more immune cells circulating that can recognize the enemy, so it ‘sounds the alarm’ quicker [and] people might feel something faster than in the old days,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Stanford University, also put it this way for NPR in 2024: “With our immune systems primed, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/goatsandsoda/2024/01/07/1222847727/coronavirus-faq-my-partner-roommate-kid-got-covid-and-i-didnt-how-come\">the body’s response [now] comes much more quickly than it would have back in 2020\u003c/a> when SARS-CoV-2 was a novel pathogen.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And because many of us take a COVID-19 test when we \u003cem>start\u003c/em> to feel sick, we might actually be testing way too early for an at-home antigen kit to successfully detect enough virus inside us.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line: If you’re testing because you’ve started feeling unwell, don’t assume a negative result means you don’t actually have COVID-19. Play it safe, stay home as much as you can and wear a well-fitted mask if you can’t. Take another antigen test 48 hours later, Chin-Hong said. You can also seek out a PCR test, which is more sensitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Step 3: Make sure your COVID-19 test hasn’t expired\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Those COVID-19 tests you might have in a drawer may be approaching their expiration date if they haven’t already passed it. And an expired test could give you an unreliable result.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types \u003c/a>to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended\u003c/a> by the manufacturer. The FDA said that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another tip from Chin-Hong: “A quick and dirty way” to know if you’re using a functional COVID-19 test is to make sure the control line turns positive. If that doesn’t happen, “that means the test is probably not working,” he warned.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covid-isolation-guidance-cdc-2025\">\u003c/a>If I test positive, how long do I have do isolate with COVID-19 in 2025?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In March 2024, the CDC officially revised their national COVID-19 isolation guidance, saying that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html\">COVID-positive people could now return to work or regular activities\u003c/a> once “symptoms are improving overall” and \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html\">they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours\u003c/a> without use of a fever-reducing medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">Read more about current isolation guidance for COVID-19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been infected, consider asking your health provider for the COVID-19 medication \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment in pill form that is still available free by prescription in California. \u003c/a>Read more on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">requesting a prescription for Paxlovid, with or without health insurance.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"freecovidtests\">\u003c/a>Where can I \u003cem>still\u003c/em> find a free COVID-19 test?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Good question.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding a quick, free COVID-19 test — whether an at-home antigen test or a PCR test — has gotten progressively harder at this stage of the pandemic as more sites and services have been shuttered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And visiting \u003ca href=\"https://www.whitehouse.gov/lab-leak-true-origins-of-covid-19/\">the White House site that once offered you free at-home COVID-tests\u003c/a> through USPS will now greet you with an image of Trump superimposed over the headline “LAB LEAK: The True Origins of COVID-19,” as well as \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2025/04/18/g-s1-61324/lab-leak-white-house-covid-origins\">a page dedicated to the theory disputed by many scientists\u003c/a> that the pandemic was caused by the coronavirus leaking from a government laboratory in Wuhan, China.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11957645\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11957645\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person with long hair inserts a long cottonswab in her nostril while standing in the doorway of her home.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Janet Franco-Orona swabs her nose for a COVID-19 test at her home in San José on Feb. 3, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>So, what do you do now if you don’t already have a supply of antigen tests for COVID-19 at home right now? Try the following:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Purchase a COVID-19 at-home antigen test at a pharmacy near you\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>The quickest option will also be one of the most expensive up-front: Purchasing an at-home antigen test at a nearby pharmacy. (Ideally, ask someone to purchase one for you so you don’t potentially expose other people at the pharmacy, and if you really have to go yourself, wear a well-fitted N95 mask to help lower the risk you pose to others.) These at-home test kits are usually around $20 for a pack of two.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">request reimbursement from your health insurer for the cost of up to eight at-home tests per month\u003c/a>, so don’t throw away your receipts.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>Find a COVID-19 PCR testing site near you\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>PCR testing is more accurate than an antigen test. It’s more sensitive at picking up traces of the coronavirus in your body, but it may take longer to get your results than with an at-home test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, there are still some sites offering free COVID-19 testing around the state. Try visiting \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">MyTurn.ca.gov/testing\u003c/a> and applying the “Free Sites” filter from the drop-down menu. You can also find\u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\"> a health center near you \u003c/a>and ask if they offer COVID-19 testing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/Search\">The CDC’s COVID-19 test locator\u003c/a> is no longer operational.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you may be able to get a PCR test ordered by your health care provider with the costs covered. Having a test ordered by a provider is — usually — the only way to get your testing costs covered if you have Medicare, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch4>If you have health insurance, contact your provider\u003c/h4>\n\u003cp>If you’re insured through major Bay Area providers like Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest way to get a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through your provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member login and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story was originally published on June 26. KQED’s Lesley McClurg, Alexander Gonzalez and Brian Watt contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Worried About COVID Symptoms After Pride? What to Do Now",
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"content": "\u003cp>“Is my sore throat, slight cough or runny nose COVID-19?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a concern that’s still, alas, familiar to many of us in 2025. You go out, perhaps in a crowded space — or\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967946/covid-ventilation-guide-indoors-windows\"> gather with friends and family inside for the holidays\u003c/a> — and a few days later, you start to feel … a little off. (Or maybe you just start to feel \u003cem>immediately\u003c/em> sick and gross.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046464/55th-annual-sf-pride-parade-focuses-on-queer-joy-as-resistance\">many folks in the Bay Area gathered this past weekend to celebrate San Francisco Pride\u003c/a>, perhaps you’re one of those people waking up this morning wondering if you have COVID symptoms.[aside postID=news_12045979 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/005_StockPhoto_AtHomeCOVIDTest_02022022_qut-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>COVID-19 levels in Bay Area wastewater may be lower than they were this time last year, but they’re slowly increasing, according to Stanford’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors coronavirus presence in human sewage. And this is fueled in part by a new subvariant called NB.1.8.1, dubbed “Nimbus” — reported to bring with it a particularly nasty sore throat among its symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If that’s you, keep calm and keep reading for what to know about COVID symptoms with the new NB.1.8.1 “Nimbus” variant and where to find a free COVID test. You can also jump to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidincubation\">What’s the incubation period for COVID in 2025?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidtestnearme\">How to find a free or low-cost COVID test\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What are the COVID symptoms to look for in 2025?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, confirmed that no surprising wild card symptoms have yet been reported for NB.1.8.1 — they’re the same COVID-19 symptoms you’re used to hearing about from previous variants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, the one symptom that doctors are hearing about from patients is the very painful throat that’s \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/covid19-sore-throat-razor-blade-vaccine-4688df53917022cb61204e08b41d5952\">earned the unfortunate nickname “razor blade throat.”\u003c/a> Or \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/Coronavirus/comments/1ldvned/new_razor_blade_throat_covid_subvariant_quickly/\">as Reddit commenters have described it\u003c/a>, “like being burned by acid whenever I ate or drank something” and “like my throat was coated in broken glass.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As with previous variants to reach the Bay Area, Chin-Hong noted that more people also now appear to experience non-respiratory symptoms like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting when they get COVID-19 — gastrointestinal symptoms that folks can often initially dismiss as being unrelated to the virus. So if you’re feeling symptoms that feel more like food poisoning, don’t rule out COVID-19 straightaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/\">this is the full list of the possible symptoms of COVID-19\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Fever or chills\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cough\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fatigue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Muscle or body aches\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Headache\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>New loss of taste or smell\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sore throat\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Congestion or runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nausea or vomiting\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Diarrhea.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember, you might have a combination of these symptoms or just one. They might be mild or feel more severe. But if you’re experiencing any of these, take a COVID-19 test (more on this below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12045979/nimbus-nb181-covid-variant-symptoms-razor-blade-throat-incubation-period-testing\">Read more about the new NB.1.8.1. variant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11901091\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-scaled.jpg\" alt='Several small boxes are stacked next to each other on a counter, each one has the same design and label, which read, \"COVID-19 Antigen Home Test.\"' width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidincubation\">\u003c/a>How soon after exposure can I get COVID?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive — it’s true. People are testing positive more quickly than they were in 2020, when the average incubation period was five to seven days, because it has changed with each new variant, Chin-Hong said.[aside label='More Guides from KQED' tag='audience-news']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three days is a common period of time between exposure and getting sick, Chin-Hong said. And given this trend, it makes sense to take a COVID-19 test as early as two days after exposure if you’re already having symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you were out partying for Pride starting Saturday and started feeling a little sick on Monday? Don’t wait to test.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Don’t trust a negative early COVID-19 test …\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If your first test is negative, you should absolutely test again the next day if symptoms persist — and again after that if you’re still negative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s why you can’t necessarily trust a negative at-home COVID-19 test in 2025: While incubation times have gotten shorter, doctors are seeing people take longer to get a positive test, Chin-Hong said, and that’s probably more to do with how much quicker someone with COVID-19 might develop \u003cem>symptoms\u003c/em> in 2025 than they would have done in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a reminder, those symptoms are the sign that your body’s immune system is mounting a response to an invading virus. Back at the start of the pandemic, by the time you developed COVID-19 symptoms and took a test, it would probably already be positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at this stage of the pandemic, “we likely have more immune cells circulating that can recognize the enemy, so it ‘sounds the alarm’ quicker [and] people might feel something faster than in the old days,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line: If you’re testing because you’ve started feeling unwell, don’t assume a negative result means you don’t actually have COVID-19. Play it safe, stay home as much as you can and wear a well-fitted mask if you can’t. Take another antigen test 48 hours later, Chin-Hong said. You can also seek out a PCR test, which is more sensitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>… and make sure your COVID-19 test hasn’t expired\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Those COVID-19 tests you might have in a drawer may be approaching their expiration date if they haven’t already passed it. And an expired test could give you an unreliable result.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types \u003c/a>to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended\u003c/a> by the manufacturer. The FDA said that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another tip from Chin-Hong: “A quick and dirty way” to know if you’re using a functional COVID-19 test is to make sure the control line turns positive. If that doesn’t happen, “that means the test is probably not working,” he warned.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidtestnearme\">\u003c/a>How to find a COVID test (with or without insurance)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There’s no way to sugarcoat this: Finding a quick, free COVID test — whether an at-home antigen test or a PCR test — has gotten progressively harder at this stage of the pandemic, as more sites and services have been shuttered for good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, what do you do now if you don’t already have a supply of antigen tests for COVID-19 at home right now? Try the following:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Purchase a COVID-19 at-home antigen test at a pharmacy near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">request reimbursement from your health insurer for the cost of up to eight at-home tests per month\u003c/a>, so don’t throw away your receipts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 PCR testing site near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, there are still some sites offering free COVID-19 testing around the state. Try visiting \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">MyTurn.ca.gov/testing\u003c/a> and applying the “Free Sites” filter from the drop-down menu. You can also find\u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\"> a health center near you \u003c/a>and ask if they offer COVID-19 testing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you have health insurance, contact your provider\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re insured through major Bay Area providers like Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest way to get a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through your provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member login and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12045979/nimbus-nb181-covid-variant-symptoms-razor-blade-throat-incubation-period-testing#freecovidtests\">Read more about where to find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test in 2025.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Negative for COVID? Keep testing and stay home\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If your first initial COVID test is negative, remember that because incubation periods can vary, it can take a little while longer to get a positive COVID test — even if you have symptoms already. Follow Dr. Chin-Hong’s advice above to “rinse and repeat” your tests, to be sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you’re still feeling sick and it’s \u003cem>not\u003c/em> COVID? Whether you’re suffering from a bad cold instead, it’s still a very good idea to stay home as much as you possibly can, to avoid infecting other people.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2025. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, helpful explainers and guides about issues like COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Let us know and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story was published on Oct. 31, 2023.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>“Is my sore throat, slight cough or runny nose COVID-19?”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s a concern that’s still, alas, familiar to many of us in 2025. You go out, perhaps in a crowded space — or\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967946/covid-ventilation-guide-indoors-windows\"> gather with friends and family inside for the holidays\u003c/a> — and a few days later, you start to feel … a little off. (Or maybe you just start to feel \u003cem>immediately\u003c/em> sick and gross.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12046464/55th-annual-sf-pride-parade-focuses-on-queer-joy-as-resistance\">many folks in the Bay Area gathered this past weekend to celebrate San Francisco Pride\u003c/a>, perhaps you’re one of those people waking up this morning wondering if you have COVID symptoms.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>COVID-19 levels in Bay Area wastewater may be lower than they were this time last year, but they’re slowly increasing, according to Stanford’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors coronavirus presence in human sewage. And this is fueled in part by a new subvariant called NB.1.8.1, dubbed “Nimbus” — reported to bring with it a particularly nasty sore throat among its symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If that’s you, keep calm and keep reading for what to know about COVID symptoms with the new NB.1.8.1 “Nimbus” variant and where to find a free COVID test. You can also jump to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidincubation\">What’s the incubation period for COVID in 2025?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidtestnearme\">How to find a free or low-cost COVID test\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What are the COVID symptoms to look for in 2025?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, confirmed that no surprising wild card symptoms have yet been reported for NB.1.8.1 — they’re the same COVID-19 symptoms you’re used to hearing about from previous variants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, the one symptom that doctors are hearing about from patients is the very painful throat that’s \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/covid19-sore-throat-razor-blade-vaccine-4688df53917022cb61204e08b41d5952\">earned the unfortunate nickname “razor blade throat.”\u003c/a> Or \u003ca href=\"https://www.reddit.com/r/Coronavirus/comments/1ldvned/new_razor_blade_throat_covid_subvariant_quickly/\">as Reddit commenters have described it\u003c/a>, “like being burned by acid whenever I ate or drank something” and “like my throat was coated in broken glass.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As with previous variants to reach the Bay Area, Chin-Hong noted that more people also now appear to experience non-respiratory symptoms like diarrhea, nausea and vomiting when they get COVID-19 — gastrointestinal symptoms that folks can often initially dismiss as being unrelated to the virus. So if you’re feeling symptoms that feel more like food poisoning, don’t rule out COVID-19 straightaway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/signs-symptoms/\">this is the full list of the possible symptoms of COVID-19\u003c/a>:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Fever or chills\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Cough\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fatigue\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Muscle or body aches\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Headache\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>New loss of taste or smell\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sore throat\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Congestion or runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Nausea or vomiting\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Diarrhea.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember, you might have a combination of these symptoms or just one. They might be mild or feel more severe. But if you’re experiencing any of these, take a COVID-19 test (more on this below).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12045979/nimbus-nb181-covid-variant-symptoms-razor-blade-throat-incubation-period-testing\">Read more about the new NB.1.8.1. variant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11901091\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-scaled.jpg\" alt='Several small boxes are stacked next to each other on a counter, each one has the same design and label, which read, \"COVID-19 Antigen Home Test.\"' width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/GettyImages-1237588762-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidincubation\">\u003c/a>How soon after exposure can I get COVID?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive — it’s true. People are testing positive more quickly than they were in 2020, when the average incubation period was five to seven days, because it has changed with each new variant, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Three days is a common period of time between exposure and getting sick, Chin-Hong said. And given this trend, it makes sense to take a COVID-19 test as early as two days after exposure if you’re already having symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if you were out partying for Pride starting Saturday and started feeling a little sick on Monday? Don’t wait to test.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Don’t trust a negative early COVID-19 test …\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If your first test is negative, you should absolutely test again the next day if symptoms persist — and again after that if you’re still negative.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here’s why you can’t necessarily trust a negative at-home COVID-19 test in 2025: While incubation times have gotten shorter, doctors are seeing people take longer to get a positive test, Chin-Hong said, and that’s probably more to do with how much quicker someone with COVID-19 might develop \u003cem>symptoms\u003c/em> in 2025 than they would have done in 2020.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As a reminder, those symptoms are the sign that your body’s immune system is mounting a response to an invading virus. Back at the start of the pandemic, by the time you developed COVID-19 symptoms and took a test, it would probably already be positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But at this stage of the pandemic, “we likely have more immune cells circulating that can recognize the enemy, so it ‘sounds the alarm’ quicker [and] people might feel something faster than in the old days,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The bottom line: If you’re testing because you’ve started feeling unwell, don’t assume a negative result means you don’t actually have COVID-19. Play it safe, stay home as much as you can and wear a well-fitted mask if you can’t. Take another antigen test 48 hours later, Chin-Hong said. You can also seek out a PCR test, which is more sensitive.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>… and make sure your COVID-19 test hasn’t expired\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Those COVID-19 tests you might have in a drawer may be approaching their expiration date if they haven’t already passed it. And an expired test could give you an unreliable result.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">You can check the FDA’s list of antigen test types \u003c/a>to see \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">whether the box you’re holding has had its shelf life extended\u003c/a> by the manufacturer. The FDA said that if a test’s shelf life has been extended, it’s because the manufacturer has given the agency enough “data showing that the shelf-life is longer than was known when the test was first authorized.” (In other words, it’s still OK to use that test.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another tip from Chin-Hong: “A quick and dirty way” to know if you’re using a functional COVID-19 test is to make sure the control line turns positive. If that doesn’t happen, “that means the test is probably not working,” he warned.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidtestnearme\">\u003c/a>How to find a COVID test (with or without insurance)\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There’s no way to sugarcoat this: Finding a quick, free COVID test — whether an at-home antigen test or a PCR test — has gotten progressively harder at this stage of the pandemic, as more sites and services have been shuttered for good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, what do you do now if you don’t already have a supply of antigen tests for COVID-19 at home right now? Try the following:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Purchase a COVID-19 at-home antigen test at a pharmacy near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">request reimbursement from your health insurer for the cost of up to eight at-home tests per month\u003c/a>, so don’t throw away your receipts.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a COVID-19 PCR testing site near you\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Currently, there are still some sites offering free COVID-19 testing around the state. Try visiting \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">MyTurn.ca.gov/testing\u003c/a> and applying the “Free Sites” filter from the drop-down menu. You can also find\u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\"> a health center near you \u003c/a>and ask if they offer COVID-19 testing.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>If you have health insurance, contact your provider\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’re insured through major Bay Area providers like Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest way to get a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through your provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member login and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12045979/nimbus-nb181-covid-variant-symptoms-razor-blade-throat-incubation-period-testing#freecovidtests\">Read more about where to find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test in 2025.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Negative for COVID? Keep testing and stay home\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If your first initial COVID test is negative, remember that because incubation periods can vary, it can take a little while longer to get a positive COVID test — even if you have symptoms already. Follow Dr. Chin-Hong’s advice above to “rinse and repeat” your tests, to be sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you’re still feeling sick and it’s \u003cem>not\u003c/em> COVID? Whether you’re suffering from a bad cold instead, it’s still a very good idea to stay home as much as you possibly can, to avoid infecting other people.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2025. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, helpful explainers and guides about issues like COVID\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Let us know and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "More Free COVID Tests via USPS Are Now Available to Order",
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"content": "\u003cp>You can once again order four free at-home \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">COVID-19\u003c/a> tests from the federal government through the United States Postal Service (USPS) at\u003ca href=\"https://covidtests.gov/\"> covidtests.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House program reopened Thursday in the wake of a nationwide surge in COVID-19 infections this summer. Keep reading for how to order your four new tests, or jump straight to how you can:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#USPSCOVIDtests\">Order more at-home COVID tests via USPS\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#findtests\">Find another free or low-cost COVID test near you\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidincubationtime\">Learn about current COVID-19 incubation times and the latest CDC isolation guidance\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And remember, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">a new updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer, Moderna and now Novavax\u003c/a> is currently available across the state at pharmacies, health providers and clinics, ahead of a predicted winter rise in infections. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">Read more on how to find your 2024 COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why have these free COVID tests returned? Are infection rates that bad?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This is the first time that these free COVID-19 tests have been made available again this year since the White House program shut down on March 8.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also marks the second time that the program has been reopened in the fall on the heels of a national rise in infections: First, in 2023 with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the EG.5 “Eris” variant\u003c/a>, and now this year, after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">a nationwide surge fueled by the so-called “FLiRT” variants\u003c/a> KP.1.1, KP.2 and KP.3.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a summer surge that saw COVID-19 infections soar nationwide, levels in the Bay Area have fallen, says Amanda Bidwell at Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors viral levels in human sewage locally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12006655\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12006655\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"897\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424-800x374.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424-1020x477.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424-160x75.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424-1536x718.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A snapshot of the levels of COVID-19 detected in Bay Area wastewater as of Sept. 24. \u003ccite>(WastewaterSCAN, Stanford University)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But a new omicron subvariant, XEC, has fast been spreading across Europe, and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/new-covid-variant-catches-doctors-attention/103-aa480605-d45c-417e-9b56-dac9d4000ee6\">already been detected in several U.S. states, including California\u003c/a>. And while the CDC isn’t ranking XEC among\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\"> the top COVID-19 variants nationwide\u003c/a>, and WastewaterSCAN isn’t testing for it in the Bay just yet, each new subvariant rises because of how much more transmissible it is — meaning that \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-09-23/new-covid-subvariant-xec-a-potential-threat-for-winter-as-doctors-urge-vaccinations\">XEC could be poised to fuel a likely winter surge.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>WastewaterSCAN’s Bidwell says her team is already watching for signs of a rise in COVID-19 levels in Bay Area wastewater heading into the fall/winter respiratory virus season, which last year began in late October.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in spring, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also released new guidelines on isolating with COVID-19 \u003c/a>that de-emphasize testing in favor of people monitoring their symptoms to judge when they should leave isolation. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">Read more about how long you might be contagious with COVID-19 and the CDC’s new isolation guidelines.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11973108 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/GettyImages-1361590305-1-1020x680.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">A new updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> is now available across the state at pharmacies, health providers and clinics, ahead of this predicted winter rise. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">Read more on how to find your 2024 COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of this means having extra COVID-19 antigen tests in your household over the next few months could be a good idea, to help you swiftly identify any infection, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">know when to isolate from others. \u003c/a>But in Year 5 of COVID-19, if you’ve been finding it increasingly hard to find a low-cost antigen test more generally, you’re not alone. Use the links below to \u003ca href=\"#COVIDtestsinsurance\">find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test near you\u003c/a>, or keep reading to find out more about these latest USPS test kits.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"USPSCOVIDtests\">\u003c/a>Order free at-home COVID tests from the US government via USPS\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Starting Sept. 26, you can once again \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps\">order four free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests from covidtests.gov.\u003c/a> No payment or credit card details will be required to place an order. You also won’t need to provide any ID or health insurance information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(This program is separate from the one that allows folks with private health insurance to get reimbursed for the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps#reimburse\">Read more about getting reimbursed by your health insurer for at-home tests.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://special.usps.com/testkits\">place your order for these four free COVID-19 tests online at USPS.com (the direct link from covidtests.gov)\u003c/a> or order from USPS by phone at 800-232-0233.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps\">covidtests.gov\u003c/a> and after placing an order, you’ll also see a message that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the expiration dates on these tests. So don’t worry if you see “expired” on any box of tests you receive — you can still use them, but check \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">the FDA’s full list of expiration date extensions\u003c/a> first to be sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11909889\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11909889 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-scaled.jpg\" alt='A woman with black hair and dark brown skin, wearing a black skirt and bright pink sweater walks across a stone plaza in the background. In the foreground is a blue sign saying \"No Cost To You\" COVID-19 Testing. A pink swirl wraps around the words: No Cost To You.' width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID-19 testing has changed hugely over the course of the pandemic. \u003ccite>(Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Every residential address (and \u003ca href=\"https://faq.usps.com/s/article/At-Home-COVID-19-Test-Kits\">residential P.O. box\u003c/a>) in the United States is eligible to receive one order of four at-home COVID-19 tests — not every person or every family. This means multiple orders to the same address under different names won’t be processed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, if you live with several roommates or in a large multigenerational household, only one person can place an order for that address. Realistically, this might mean that the tests you receive are not enough to cover everyone in your household.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsinsurance\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through your health care provider\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are insured with major Bay Area providers such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest option to secure a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through that particular provider. Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member’s login, and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that people with private insurance may experience new out-of-pocket costs for PCR tests after the end of the emergency orders last year, depending on the provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-diagnostic-tests\">Medicare will continue to cover PCR test costs.\u003c/a> And under the American Rescue Plan, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Simple-COVID-19-Coverage-Change.pdf\">people on Medicaid can continue to get free at-home tests until Sept. 30, 2024\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most people, regardless of insurance coverage, will have to pay for over-the-counter rapid at-home COVID-19 tests after the federal emergency order ends. Thanks to a state bill passed in October 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Californians can still claim reimbursement from their health insurer for rapid antigen tests\u003c/a>, although as of last year, those tests have to be obtained “in-network.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Find a COVID test through California’s statewide testing map\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">California’s map of COVID-19 testing and treatment sites\u003c/a> will still show you a list of testing sites, where you can also find locations offering tests for flu and RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since so many vaccination sites closed in 2023 with the end of the COVID-19 federal emergency orders, call ahead before making the trip for a drop-in, just in case a site closure isn’t reflected on this map.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11902349\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11902349 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A hand holds an at-home COVID test, while another person's hand points to the test.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Free COVID-19 tests are much harder to find in 2023. \u003ccite>(Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"findtests\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through the CDC’s No-Cost Testing Locator\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC still maintains\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/\"> a nationwide map of COVID-19 testing locations at testinglocator.cdc.gov,\u003c/a> and all testing facilities listed on the site “are available at no cost for people without health insurance” through the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, you’ll find that the locations returned when you \u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/Search\">search for a free COVID-19 test through testinglocator.cdc.gov\u003c/a> are primarily pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, and Quest Patient Service Centers.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestscounty\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through your Bay Area county\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The majority of the county testing sites you saw at the height of the pandemic have now shut down — but your county may have several sites still operating, often in partnership with community groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Updated testing site locations can be found at each county’s testing webpage below, although you may find some of these pages redirect you to the state or U.S. testing location finders instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://covid-19.acgov.org/testing.page\">Alameda County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/safety-health/covid-19/get-tested-covid-19\">City of Berkeley COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/covid19/testing/\">Contra Costa County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/testing\">Marin County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/2776/Testing\">Napa County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options\">San Francisco city and county COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://covid19.sccgov.org/covid-19-testing\">Santa Clara County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus_links/faq___community_testing_sites.asp\">Solano County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing/\">Sonoma County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/covid-19-testing\">San Mateo COVID-19 testing page\u003c/a> now says that “State-sponsored COVID-19 testing has ended in San Mateo County” and that PCR and antigen tests “remain widely available through health care providers and pharmacies.” \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/disease-control/covid-19\">Sonoma County’s COVID-19 testing page\u003c/a> does not offer county residents any free or low-cost testing locations or resources without insurance and instead says that you should “request a test from your health care provider or use an over-the-counter antigen test purchased at a local pharmacy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsprivate\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through private providers\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Always\u003c/em> check to see how much you might be charged for a COVID-19 test at these private testing facilities before your visit. Below are some of the private providers still offering COVID-19 testing in the Bay Area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://carbonhealth.com/covid-testing\">Carbon Health COVID testing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://care.cityhealth.com/\">CityHealth COVID testing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestspharmacy\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test at your local pharmacy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/pcrpickup\">Walgreens offers PCR tests to take home and mail in\u003c/a>, with results in about two days. If you have insurance, the pharmacist will confirm whether you can bill your test to your insurer. Walgreens says that uninsured people who meet federal eligibility criteria “may qualify for no cost testing.” Be sure to ask questions about cost and billing \u003cem>before\u003c/em> taking your test at a pharmacy to make sure you won’t get hit with an unexpected bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other pharmacies that previously offered free COVID-19 testing on-site, in a pharmacy location, have started charging for those same tests after the end of the federal emergency. Be careful to read the billing details if you are uninsured and it is marked as “free” or “no-cost.” Check the following pharmacy websites to see what’s available in your area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?ban=covid_vanity_testing\">Walgreens COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing\">CVS COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/services/covid-19-testing\">Rite Aid COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can also purchase at-home COVID-19 testing kits from a pharmacy and request reimbursement from your insurer. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Find out how to claim reimbursement from your insurer for rapid antigen tests.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsschool\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test from your school district\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many Bay Area school districts have offered COVID-19 testing for students and staff — and sometimes the families of students — during the pandemic, and some may have continued their programs into this school year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check directly with your child’s school.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidincubationtime\">\u003c/a>A reminder on \u003cem>when\u003c/em> to test for COVID\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Regardless of your vaccination status, if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you should get tested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the best time to test, if you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive — it’s true. People are testing positive for COVID-19 more quickly than in 2020 when the average incubation period was five days because the incubation period has changed with each new variant, confirms Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. In 2024, he says, it now makes sense to take a test as early as two days after a possible exposure if you’re experiencing symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s another wrinkle: Some medical experts say they’ve noticed that at this stage of the pandemic, it’s often taking much \u003cem>longer\u003c/em> for people to get a positive test result on an at-home antigen test. In other words, they’re observing that people with COVID-19 symptoms are taking an antigen test and getting a negative result — only to get a positive result on a different test several days later. This means that many people could wrongly assume they don’t have COVID-19 after that first negative test and then inadvertently spread the virus to friends and family. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972313/negative-covid-test-incubation-period\">Read more about why your COVID-19 symptoms might start earlier and what to do if you initially test negative.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>And if you do test positive for COVID-19…\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“How long am I contagious with COVID?” is a question on a lot of people’s minds in 2024. Back in spring, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines on isolating with COVID-19 \u003c/a>that de-emphasize testing in favor of people monitoring their symptoms to judge when they should leave isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, you should isolate from other people for as long as you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms that aren’t improving. Once your symptoms start improving, \u003cem>and\u003c/em> any fever you’ve had has been gone for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication, the CDC says that you can exit isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But you’ll need both of these things — symptoms improving for at least 24 hours \u003cem>and\u003c/em> the absence of fever for at least 24 hours — to happen before you can leave isolation. So if your fever has been gone more than a day but your other symptoms haven’t improved, you still need to keep isolating until they do improve, the CDC says. And if your other symptoms get better but you get a new fever, you need to keep isolating (or go back into isolation) until that fever has been gone for 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not exactly intuitive, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">read our full guide to how long you might be contagious with COVID-19 and the CDC’s new isolation guidelines.\u003c/a> And remember, if you get COVID-19, there’s nothing stopping you — if you’re able — from continuing to use at-home antigen testing and leaving isolation only when you get that negative result. (In fact, t\u003ca href=\"http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidcommunity/\">he Los Angeles County Department of Public Health still recommends that you “test negative\u003c/a> before leaving isolation.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "You can once again order free COVID-19 tests via USPS. Here's how to order yours and where to find other kinds of free COVID-19 tests near you in the Bay Area.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>You can once again order four free at-home \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">COVID-19\u003c/a> tests from the federal government through the United States Postal Service (USPS) at\u003ca href=\"https://covidtests.gov/\"> covidtests.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House program reopened Thursday in the wake of a nationwide surge in COVID-19 infections this summer. Keep reading for how to order your four new tests, or jump straight to how you can:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#USPSCOVIDtests\">Order more at-home COVID tests via USPS\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#findtests\">Find another free or low-cost COVID test near you\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidincubationtime\">Learn about current COVID-19 incubation times and the latest CDC isolation guidance\u003c/a> \u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>And remember, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">a new updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer, Moderna and now Novavax\u003c/a> is currently available across the state at pharmacies, health providers and clinics, ahead of a predicted winter rise in infections. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">Read more on how to find your 2024 COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why have these free COVID tests returned? Are infection rates that bad?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>This is the first time that these free COVID-19 tests have been made available again this year since the White House program shut down on March 8.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also marks the second time that the program has been reopened in the fall on the heels of a national rise in infections: First, in 2023 with \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the EG.5 “Eris” variant\u003c/a>, and now this year, after \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">a nationwide surge fueled by the so-called “FLiRT” variants\u003c/a> KP.1.1, KP.2 and KP.3.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a summer surge that saw COVID-19 infections soar nationwide, levels in the Bay Area have fallen, says Amanda Bidwell at Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors viral levels in human sewage locally.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_12006655\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-12006655\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"897\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424-800x374.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424-1020x477.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424-160x75.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/WWSCAN_SARS-CoV-2_BayArea_092424-1536x718.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A snapshot of the levels of COVID-19 detected in Bay Area wastewater as of Sept. 24. \u003ccite>(WastewaterSCAN, Stanford University)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>But a new omicron subvariant, XEC, has fast been spreading across Europe, and has \u003ca href=\"https://www.abc10.com/article/news/local/new-covid-variant-catches-doctors-attention/103-aa480605-d45c-417e-9b56-dac9d4000ee6\">already been detected in several U.S. states, including California\u003c/a>. And while the CDC isn’t ranking XEC among\u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\"> the top COVID-19 variants nationwide\u003c/a>, and WastewaterSCAN isn’t testing for it in the Bay just yet, each new subvariant rises because of how much more transmissible it is — meaning that \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2024-09-23/new-covid-subvariant-xec-a-potential-threat-for-winter-as-doctors-urge-vaccinations\">XEC could be poised to fuel a likely winter surge.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>WastewaterSCAN’s Bidwell says her team is already watching for signs of a rise in COVID-19 levels in Bay Area wastewater heading into the fall/winter respiratory virus season, which last year began in late October.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Back in spring, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also released new guidelines on isolating with COVID-19 \u003c/a>that de-emphasize testing in favor of people monitoring their symptoms to judge when they should leave isolation. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">Read more about how long you might be contagious with COVID-19 and the CDC’s new isolation guidelines.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">A new updated version of the COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> is now available across the state at pharmacies, health providers and clinics, ahead of this predicted winter rise. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">Read more on how to find your 2024 COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of this means having extra COVID-19 antigen tests in your household over the next few months could be a good idea, to help you swiftly identify any infection, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">know when to isolate from others. \u003c/a>But in Year 5 of COVID-19, if you’ve been finding it increasingly hard to find a low-cost antigen test more generally, you’re not alone. Use the links below to \u003ca href=\"#COVIDtestsinsurance\">find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test near you\u003c/a>, or keep reading to find out more about these latest USPS test kits.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"USPSCOVIDtests\">\u003c/a>Order free at-home COVID tests from the US government via USPS\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Starting Sept. 26, you can once again \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps\">order four free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests from covidtests.gov.\u003c/a> No payment or credit card details will be required to place an order. You also won’t need to provide any ID or health insurance information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(This program is separate from the one that allows folks with private health insurance to get reimbursed for the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps#reimburse\">Read more about getting reimbursed by your health insurer for at-home tests.\u003c/a>)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://special.usps.com/testkits\">place your order for these four free COVID-19 tests online at USPS.com (the direct link from covidtests.gov)\u003c/a> or order from USPS by phone at 800-232-0233.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps\">covidtests.gov\u003c/a> and after placing an order, you’ll also see a message that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the expiration dates on these tests. So don’t worry if you see “expired” on any box of tests you receive — you can still use them, but check \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">the FDA’s full list of expiration date extensions\u003c/a> first to be sure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11909889\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11909889 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-scaled.jpg\" alt='A woman with black hair and dark brown skin, wearing a black skirt and bright pink sweater walks across a stone plaza in the background. In the foreground is a blue sign saying \"No Cost To You\" COVID-19 Testing. A pink swirl wraps around the words: No Cost To You.' width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID-19 testing has changed hugely over the course of the pandemic. \u003ccite>(Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Every residential address (and \u003ca href=\"https://faq.usps.com/s/article/At-Home-COVID-19-Test-Kits\">residential P.O. box\u003c/a>) in the United States is eligible to receive one order of four at-home COVID-19 tests — not every person or every family. This means multiple orders to the same address under different names won’t be processed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, if you live with several roommates or in a large multigenerational household, only one person can place an order for that address. Realistically, this might mean that the tests you receive are not enough to cover everyone in your household.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsinsurance\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through your health care provider\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are insured with major Bay Area providers such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest option to secure a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through that particular provider. Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member’s login, and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that people with private insurance may experience new out-of-pocket costs for PCR tests after the end of the emergency orders last year, depending on the provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-diagnostic-tests\">Medicare will continue to cover PCR test costs.\u003c/a> And under the American Rescue Plan, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/CDPH%20Document%20Library/COVID-19/Simple-COVID-19-Coverage-Change.pdf\">people on Medicaid can continue to get free at-home tests until Sept. 30, 2024\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most people, regardless of insurance coverage, will have to pay for over-the-counter rapid at-home COVID-19 tests after the federal emergency order ends. Thanks to a state bill passed in October 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Californians can still claim reimbursement from their health insurer for rapid antigen tests\u003c/a>, although as of last year, those tests have to be obtained “in-network.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Find a COVID test through California’s statewide testing map\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">California’s map of COVID-19 testing and treatment sites\u003c/a> will still show you a list of testing sites, where you can also find locations offering tests for flu and RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since so many vaccination sites closed in 2023 with the end of the COVID-19 federal emergency orders, call ahead before making the trip for a drop-in, just in case a site closure isn’t reflected on this map.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11902349\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11902349 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A hand holds an at-home COVID test, while another person's hand points to the test.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Free COVID-19 tests are much harder to find in 2023. \u003ccite>(Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"findtests\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through the CDC’s No-Cost Testing Locator\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC still maintains\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/\"> a nationwide map of COVID-19 testing locations at testinglocator.cdc.gov,\u003c/a> and all testing facilities listed on the site “are available at no cost for people without health insurance” through the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, you’ll find that the locations returned when you \u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/Search\">search for a free COVID-19 test through testinglocator.cdc.gov\u003c/a> are primarily pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, and Quest Patient Service Centers.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestscounty\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through your Bay Area county\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The majority of the county testing sites you saw at the height of the pandemic have now shut down — but your county may have several sites still operating, often in partnership with community groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Updated testing site locations can be found at each county’s testing webpage below, although you may find some of these pages redirect you to the state or U.S. testing location finders instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://covid-19.acgov.org/testing.page\">Alameda County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/safety-health/covid-19/get-tested-covid-19\">City of Berkeley COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/covid19/testing/\">Contra Costa County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/testing\">Marin County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/2776/Testing\">Napa County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options\">San Francisco city and county COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://covid19.sccgov.org/covid-19-testing\">Santa Clara County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus_links/faq___community_testing_sites.asp\">Solano County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing/\">Sonoma County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/covid-19-testing\">San Mateo COVID-19 testing page\u003c/a> now says that “State-sponsored COVID-19 testing has ended in San Mateo County” and that PCR and antigen tests “remain widely available through health care providers and pharmacies.” \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/disease-control/covid-19\">Sonoma County’s COVID-19 testing page\u003c/a> does not offer county residents any free or low-cost testing locations or resources without insurance and instead says that you should “request a test from your health care provider or use an over-the-counter antigen test purchased at a local pharmacy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsprivate\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through private providers\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Always\u003c/em> check to see how much you might be charged for a COVID-19 test at these private testing facilities before your visit. Below are some of the private providers still offering COVID-19 testing in the Bay Area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://carbonhealth.com/covid-testing\">Carbon Health COVID testing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://care.cityhealth.com/\">CityHealth COVID testing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestspharmacy\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test at your local pharmacy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/pcrpickup\">Walgreens offers PCR tests to take home and mail in\u003c/a>, with results in about two days. If you have insurance, the pharmacist will confirm whether you can bill your test to your insurer. Walgreens says that uninsured people who meet federal eligibility criteria “may qualify for no cost testing.” Be sure to ask questions about cost and billing \u003cem>before\u003c/em> taking your test at a pharmacy to make sure you won’t get hit with an unexpected bill.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other pharmacies that previously offered free COVID-19 testing on-site, in a pharmacy location, have started charging for those same tests after the end of the federal emergency. Be careful to read the billing details if you are uninsured and it is marked as “free” or “no-cost.” Check the following pharmacy websites to see what’s available in your area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?ban=covid_vanity_testing\">Walgreens COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing\">CVS COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/services/covid-19-testing\">Rite Aid COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can also purchase at-home COVID-19 testing kits from a pharmacy and request reimbursement from your insurer. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Find out how to claim reimbursement from your insurer for rapid antigen tests.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsschool\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test from your school district\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many Bay Area school districts have offered COVID-19 testing for students and staff — and sometimes the families of students — during the pandemic, and some may have continued their programs into this school year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check directly with your child’s school.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidincubationtime\">\u003c/a>A reminder on \u003cem>when\u003c/em> to test for COVID\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Regardless of your vaccination status, if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you should get tested.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the best time to test, if you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive — it’s true. People are testing positive for COVID-19 more quickly than in 2020 when the average incubation period was five days because the incubation period has changed with each new variant, confirms Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. In 2024, he says, it now makes sense to take a test as early as two days after a possible exposure if you’re experiencing symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s another wrinkle: Some medical experts say they’ve noticed that at this stage of the pandemic, it’s often taking much \u003cem>longer\u003c/em> for people to get a positive test result on an at-home antigen test. In other words, they’re observing that people with COVID-19 symptoms are taking an antigen test and getting a negative result — only to get a positive result on a different test several days later. This means that many people could wrongly assume they don’t have COVID-19 after that first negative test and then inadvertently spread the virus to friends and family. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972313/negative-covid-test-incubation-period\">Read more about why your COVID-19 symptoms might start earlier and what to do if you initially test negative.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>And if you do test positive for COVID-19…\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“How long am I contagious with COVID?” is a question on a lot of people’s minds in 2024. Back in spring, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines on isolating with COVID-19 \u003c/a>that de-emphasize testing in favor of people monitoring their symptoms to judge when they should leave isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, you should isolate from other people for as long as you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms that aren’t improving. Once your symptoms start improving, \u003cem>and\u003c/em> any fever you’ve had has been gone for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication, the CDC says that you can exit isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But you’ll need both of these things — symptoms improving for at least 24 hours \u003cem>and\u003c/em> the absence of fever for at least 24 hours — to happen before you can leave isolation. So if your fever has been gone more than a day but your other symptoms haven’t improved, you still need to keep isolating until they do improve, the CDC says. And if your other symptoms get better but you get a new fever, you need to keep isolating (or go back into isolation) until that fever has been gone for 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s not exactly intuitive, so \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">read our full guide to how long you might be contagious with COVID-19 and the CDC’s new isolation guidelines.\u003c/a> And remember, if you get COVID-19, there’s nothing stopping you — if you’re able — from continuing to use at-home antigen testing and leaving isolation only when you get that negative result. (In fact, t\u003ca href=\"http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidcommunity/\">he Los Angeles County Department of Public Health still recommends that you “test negative\u003c/a> before leaving isolation.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024",
"title": "Where Can I Get the New 2024 COVID Vaccine Near Me?",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Looking for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055165/where-can-i-find-new-updated-2025-covid-vaccine-near-me-moderna-pfizer-cvs-walgreens-safeway-vaccinations-health-insurance-cost\">where to find your 2025 COVID-19 vaccine instead\u003c/a>? See our new \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055165/where-can-i-find-new-updated-2025-covid-vaccine-near-me-moderna-pfizer-cvs-walgreens-safeway-vaccinations-health-insurance-cost\">guide on how to get vaccinated in 2025\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\nUpdated 6:20 p.m. on Sept. 1\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Have you been wondering, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001344/when-are-new-covid-vaccines-coming-2024\">“When will the new 2024 COVID-19 vaccine be available?” \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The short answer is: It’s here. But even though the “fall vaccine” has been approved much earlier this year than the 2023 COVID-19 vaccine was, just like last year, it may take a while for these shots to become widely available to the public.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When will the new COVID vaccines become available?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On Aug. 22, \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccines-virus-pfizer-moderna-fb542f97096e9759059c0bdd82a48a74\">the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signed off on these updated COVID-19 vaccines\u003c/a> from Moderna and Pfizer (also known as Comirnaty), which should roll out across the United States in the coming weeks as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">the 2024 summer wave of infections continues around the country. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Aug. 30, \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2024/08/30/novavax-covid-vaccine-fda-authorization/\">the FDA also signed off on the updated Novavax COVID vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that the updated shots be available to everyone age 6 months and older through pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Safeway, as well as health care providers, county public health departments and community clinics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These COVID-19 vaccines usually become available at pharmacies first because pharmacies take their cue from the federal government and not the state — but with vaccines needing to be shipped, it might still be a while before vaccinations are available. For example, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS is currently offering appointments for the new COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> starting no earlier than late August, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/schedule-vaccine\">Walgreens is similarly offering appointments \u003c/a>that begin Sept. 6.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll keep updating the guide below as vaccines start to roll out, so consider bookmarking this link.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I get the new COVID vaccine near me when it’s available?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#novavax-covid-vaccine\">Is the new Novavax vaccine now available too?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">Why do COVID vaccines now involve health insurance? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Why can’t I get a new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser health insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember: Unlike previous rounds of the vaccine, the FDA and the CDC stopped calling these updated shots “boosters” in 2023 — so you won’t see that language online around appointments. Instead, they refer to these annual fall vaccines as “new” or “updated” vaccines that have been reformulated to better target a more recent strain of the coronavirus. This time around, Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines target the omicron variant known as KP.2 that was common earlier this year, and Novavax’s new vaccine targets KP.2’s parent strain, JN.1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about the new COVID-19 shots from Pfizer and Moderna — and now Novavax too —and how to find a free COVID-19 vaccine near you \u003cem>when\u003c/em> it becomes available. Or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#delay-covid-vaccine\">The vaccine is available early this year. Should I wait to get it?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">I got COVID this summer. How soon can I get the new COVID vaccine?\u003cbr>\n\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">Should I get my 2024 flu shot at the same time as my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidvaccine-no-insurance\">How do I find a COVID vaccine if I’m uninsured?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why do the new COVID vaccine rollouts seem different than they used to?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering why the new COVID-19 vaccine seems to take so long to become widely available now, why you can no longer walk into any vaccination location to get an updated shot and why health insurance matters now, it’s because of the major change that came into effect last year: The federal government has stopped footing the bill for COVID-19 vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">These shots have now transitioned into the traditional health care market, like many other kinds of vaccines\u003c/a>. So, for most people with health insurance, insurers will now cover the cost of getting the new COVID-19 vaccine directly, much like your plan might cover your flu shot. This is why you’ll hear many county public health officials urging people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider (and also why those county-run vaccination sites that were so common at the height of the pandemic now don’t exist at least on the same scale.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#delay-covid-vaccine\">The vaccine is available early this year. Should I wait to get it?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>However, COVID-19 vaccines now being purchased and distributed through the health care market also means it’s far less simple for people without health insurance to find a free shot. Jump to “\u003ca href=\"#covidvaccine-no-insurance\">How do I find a COVID vaccine if I’m uninsured?”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"novavax-covid-vaccine\">\u003c/a>Is the Novavax COVID vaccine available, as well as Moderna and Pfizer’s new vaccines?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The new Novavax vaccine was approved by the FDA on Aug. 30, so expect appointment availability for this particular shot to be a little behind Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines, which were approved over a week earlier. Right now, our guide to where to find a new vaccine appointment below reflects the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, as they’re the shots that are currently available.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s new COVID-19 shots, the Novavax vaccine is a non-mRNA, protein-based vaccine. One reason some people choose the Novavax vaccine is based on aftereffects from getting the shot — as \u003cem>Science\u003c/em> has reported,\u003ca href=\"https://www.science.org/content/article/should-you-pick-novavax-s-covid-19-shot-over-mrna-options\"> Novavax “appeared less likely than mRNA shots to cause side effects like headache and fatigue”\u003c/a> in clinical trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine near me when it’s available?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>How effective are the new COVID vaccines against the current strains?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Much like the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccines have now become annual shots offered in the fall — and their “recipe” gets updated each year in the hope of maximum efficacy against current strains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer is an updated shot that supersedes and replaces the 2023–2024 shot, which you should now consider outdated. The recipe for this new vaccine will address a newer target: The KP.2 subvariant of omicron.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>COVID-19 strains are a moving target, and as you can see from the \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">CDC’s COVID Variant Tracker\u003c/a>, KP.2 is no longer the dominant subvariant in the U.S. — that’s currently KP.3.1.1. But this family of omicron subvariants is closely enough related that the vaccines promise cross-protection. \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccines-virus-pfizer-moderna-fb542f97096e9759059c0bdd82a48a74\">A Pfizer spokesman said the company submitted data to the FDA\u003c/a> showing its updated vaccine “generates a substantially improved response” against multiple virus subtypes compared to last fall’s vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The vaccine is not intended to be perfect. It’s not going to absolutely prevent COVID-19,” said Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-organization/peter-marks\">Peter Marks\u003c/a>, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a statement announcing the approval decision. “But if we can prevent people from getting serious cases that end them up in emergency rooms, hospitals or worse — dead — that’s what we’re trying to do with these vaccines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new vaccines should cut the risk of getting COVID-19 by 60% to 70% and reduce the risk of getting seriously ill by 80% to 90%, Marks said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"eligiblebooster\">\u003c/a>Who can get the new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As of Aug. 22, anyone aged 6 months and up who got their last COVID-19 vaccine shot at least two months ago — whether that was their primary vaccination series or their last booster shot — can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna, as soon as \u003ca href=\"#where\">vaccination appointments become available. \u003c/a>As in 2023, appointments may not become immediately widespread, depending on your location. \u003ca href=\"#where\">Jump straight to where you can find a new COVID-19 vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” Marks said. “Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is no specific guidance for certain age groups, but, as with other vaccines, children under 12 will be offered a pediatric (smaller) dose of this vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11961117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11961117 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A nurse gives a little boy a shot while his mother gives him encouragement.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID-19 shots are transitioning to the traditional health care market and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"delay-covid-vaccine\">\u003c/a>This ‘fall’ vaccine is available pretty early this year. Who should get it straight away?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The FDA’s Marks said that, for his part, “when this gets into pharmacies, I will probably be online as soon as it gets rolled out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now, we’re in a wave, so you’d like to get protection against what’s going on right now,” he said. “So I would probably get vaccinated in as timely a manner as possible. Because right now, the match is reasonably close. You’re probably going to get the most benefit you’re going to get from this vaccine against what’s currently circulating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that older folks (age 65 and over) or people who are immunocompromised who have neither had a COVID-19 vaccine in the last year nor had a COVID-19 infection should seek out their new vaccine as soon as they can. These were the “folks I saw in the hospital very ill with COVID in the past few months,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, for Chin-Hong, the best vaccine is the one you actually get, so “at the end of the day, convenience trumps everything,” he said. “If you are motivated to get the updated COVID shot when it comes out sooner rather than later, just do it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Getting it in your arm when you are motivated trumps being strategic about the whole thing,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who should consider waiting a little while to get the new vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Delaying getting the updated vaccine may be right for …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Those who want the best possible immunity for a winter wave — and over the holidays\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Marks also said that even though he personally will be getting his vaccine straightaway, others might consider waiting until September or October if they’re particularly focused on having maximal protection through the anticipated winter COVID-19 wave, as well as over the holidays. “Getting vaccinated sometime in the September to early October time frame seems like a pretty reasonable thing to do to help bring you protection through the December/January time frame,” Marks said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Chin-Hong, the “sweet spot” for getting the new COVID-19 vaccine, if you’re not in that higher-risk group above, “is still some time in October so that antibodies peak in the winter when things are expected to be worse than the summer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is going to apply to most people,” he said. And while “the vaccine’s superpower is protection against serious disease, hospitalization and death,” the updated shot “does have the bonus of increasing the force field against getting infected as well,” Chin-Hong said. “Because there are so many events after October (Thanksgiving, holiday get-togethers, Christmas, New Year’s), you may also want your antibodies to peak then for that bonus of lowering infection risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"#howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">\u003c/a>People who’ve had a COVID vaccine — or a COVID infection — recently\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another reason you’d want to wait to seek the new vaccine is \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/COVID-19-immunization-schedule-ages-6months-older.pdf\">if you got your last COVID-19 shot less than two months ago or you had a COVID-19 infection less than three months ago. (PDF)\u003c/a> (If your case was asymptomatic, use the date of your positive test instead of the onset of your symptoms.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you have received a vaccine over the summer or got infected over the summer, there is no need to rush out and get the new vaccine as you will be well protected,” Chin-Hong said. “Wait until October and get both flu and COVID shots at the same time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People who are uninsured and need a free vaccine\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0914-uninsured-vaccination.html\">Bridge Access Program\u003c/a>, which was launched in September 2023 to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to uninsured people, was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000297/uninsured-experts-explain-how-to-get-your-free-covid-shot-before-the-money-runs-out\">forecast to last until December — but is instead ending this month\u003c/a>. And while a CDC spokesperson said that the agency will be making “$62 million of unused vaccine contract money” available to states to help vaccinate people without health insurance, right now, it’s still unclear how that will work practically.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Waiting for your fall COVID-19 shot, Chin-Hong said, will “give it more time for that system to be put into place so you won’t be charged if you don’t have insurance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Should I get my 2024 flu shot at the same time as my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s totally fine and safe to get your flu shot at the same time as your new COVID-19 vaccine, and when appointments roll out more widely, you’ll often find that COVID-19 vaccine appointments will prompt you to “add on” a flu shot at the same session — especially at pharmacies. Although, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advised in 2023 that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID-19 and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment, too).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, the recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that, like with your COVID-19 vaccine, it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vax-summary.htm\">The CDC said that September and October “are generally good times” to get your flu shot.\u003c/a> In 2023, UCSF’s Chin-Hong told KQED that his “optimal sweet point” for getting this shot is “sometime before Halloween” — but notes that this is based on traditional predictions of flu season starting in November and peaking around January or February. If flu cases start to rise earlier, you should seek out your flu shot sooner, he said. And ultimately, in the spirit of any vaccine being better than no vaccine, “do what is most convenient,” he advised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890214\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11890214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man sitting on a large porch lifts up his sleeve as he awaits his vaccine, beside a woman in an orange safety vest preparing the vaccine.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse prepares a first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for Jose Luis Sánchez at a clinic in Pasadena on Aug. 19, 2021. The clinic was one of the first in the city to offer ‘supplemental’ third coronavirus shots to people with immunological conditions, according to organizers. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"where\">\u003c/a>Where can I find a new COVID vaccine this fall when it becomes available?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Don’t assume you’ll be proactively contacted about getting the new COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that a certain location may only be offering a certain brand of the new vaccine, whether that’s Moderna or Pfizer (or soon, Novavax). So be sure that the location you’re walking into or making an appointment for offers the type of updated vaccine you need or want.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, make sure the appointment you schedule for your new vaccine is at least two months after your last COVID-19 vaccine shot or three months after your last COVID-19 infection. (When you’re making an appointment for a new vaccine, you’ll likely be asked for the date of your last COVID-19 vaccine dose or booster dose for this reason, to ensure you’re not getting your shot too soon.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance, jump to \u003ca href=\"#covidvaccine-no-insurance\">what we know about COVID-19 vaccination for uninsured folks.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890217\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"#mix\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11890217 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a hand gripping a vaccination card and writing on it with a pen.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1920x1278.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse marks a coronavirus vaccination card with a third booster dose of Pfizer at a vaccine clinic in Pasadena on Aug. 19, 2021. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images))\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>1. Find a new COVID vaccine through a local pharmacy, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For future reference, pharmacies are usually the first place new vaccine shots become available when announced because pharmacies take their cue from the federal government, not the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS’s COVID-19 vaccination homepage\u003c/a> says that the pharmacy chain is now “waiting on the arrival of the new 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccines” and that “you can schedule an appointment online now for a date in the near future.” \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/schedule-vaccine?ban=RI22_covidvaccine_landing_hero_scheduler&vaccineType=covid\">Walgreens is also offering appointments for the new vaccine starting Sept. 6\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that pharmacies can’t vaccinate kids under 3, except for CVS MinuteClinics, who are permitted to vaccinate kids as young as 18 months old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. One big exception to this: If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, you almost certainly \u003cem>won’t\u003c/em> be able to get your new COVID-19 vaccine for free (i.e., covered by your insurance) at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, \u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">if you are a member of a health system like Kaiser \u003c/a>and are unsure about what your health insurance covers, reach out to your provider to check if you will need to obtain your new COVID-19 vaccine through them in order to have it covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?icid=cvs-home-hero1-banner-1-link2-coronavirus-vaccine\">CVS COVID vaccine appointments. \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine_landing_schedule\">Walgreens COVID vaccine appointments\u003c/a>, or call 800-WALGREENS/800-925-4733.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier?utm_source=state&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=Covid19&utm_content=Covid19scheduler_CA_2_12_21\">Rite Aid COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt\">Safeway (Albertsons) COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2. Find a new COVID vaccine through your health care provider, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your health care provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID-19 vaccine. The San Francisco Department of Public Health stresses that “Health care providers are the first place to go for COVID-19 and flu health care.” That said, you could still be looking at a wait for supplies to reach your health care provider, even after the new shots were first authorized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to trying to talk with your health care provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it offers the ability to make appointments and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>3. Find a new COVID vaccine through vaccines.gov, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to see when appointments for the new updated COVID-19 vaccine in or near your zip code become available.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A message on the site states that the CDC is updating this tool, “including replacing the vaccine locator with a pharmacy lookup tool to help people find a pharmacy near them, and this “lookup tool will be added once 2024–25 flu and COVID-19 vaccines become widely available.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>4. Find a new Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccine through My Turn, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for all Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the new COVID-19 vaccines are now being distributed through the traditional health care market, My Turn’s services have now been geared primarily toward uninsured people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">If you visit the My Turn page\u003c/a>, select “Make an Appointment.” My Turn will ask for your information and the ZIP code or location you’d like to use to search for vaccine appointments. You can give your home location or input other locations to see which sites might be available farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can’t travel to a clinic for your new COVID-19 vaccine because of health or transportation issues, you can note this when registering on My Turn, and a representative from the CDPH is supposed to call you to arrange an in-home visit or transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My Turn will ask you to provide a cellphone number and an email address. The state says this is so you can use two-factor authentication to confirm your identity and make your appointment and to prevent bots from automatically scooping up available appointments online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have an email address or a cellphone number, or you have questions, you can call the California COVID-19 hotline at 833-422-4255 (Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PDT) and sign up over the phone. Both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Callers needing information in other languages will be connected to a translation service that offers assistance in over 250 languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11889661\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11889661\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/michigan_shot_gettyimages-1234850852-8f2a1402d5a0ab808313f55bdac52f950c8ad974-scaled-e1632414475184.jpg\" alt=\"Blue-gloved hands administer a vaccine into a shoulder.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rufus Peoples receives his booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine during an Oakland County Health Department vaccination clinic at the Southfield Pavilion on Aug. 24, 2021, in Southfield, Michigan. \u003ccite>(Emily Elconin/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>5. Find a new COVID vaccine through your county, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Visit your county’s public health website \u003c/a>to learn if your county will soon be offering the new updated COVID-19 vaccine to its residents, particularly those who are uninsured or under-insured.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Find your Bay Area county in our list.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidvaccine-no-insurance\">\u003c/a>Where can I find a new COVID vaccine near me if I’m uninsured?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0914-uninsured-vaccination.html\">Bridge Access Program\u003c/a>, which was launched in September 2023 to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to uninsured people, was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000297/uninsured-experts-explain-how-to-get-your-free-covid-shot-before-the-money-runs-out\">forecast to last until December — but is instead ending this month\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A CDC spokesperson told KQED that the agency will now supply states with “$62 million of unused vaccine contract money” to support state and local health departments this respiratory virus season “and help improve access for uninsured and underinsured Americans to COVID vaccines.” Right now, details of how this will practically work for folks without insurance in California are unclear, so we’ll keep updating this section as we find out new information relating to how people without health insurance can find a free or low-cost vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uninsured children ages 18 and under can still get free COVID-19 vaccines — and other free immunizations — as part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html\">Vaccines for Children Program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"kaisernewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why can’t I get my new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Something to watch for this fall: If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, you’ll be asked to pay out-of-pocket if you try to get your new COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why? Usually, if you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. Health systems like Kaiser are the exception to this, and so you almost certainly won’t be able to get your new COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, last year, Kaiser recommended that its members receive their updated COVID-19 shot at a Kaiser facility. The health system’s website says that \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">“when provided by Kaiser Permanente, COVID-19 vaccines are covered at no cost,”\u003c/a> but that “most California members” apart from Medi-Cal members will need to pay for the shot if obtained elsewhere. (KP.com also states that \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">you “may be able to get up to half of the cost reimbursed” from Kaiser\u003c/a> if you do.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This meant that in 2023, people with health insurance through Kaiser faced a longer wait for their new COVID-19 vaccine than folks with other types of insurance unless they were prepared to pay these large costs up-front.\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS, for example, charges $190.99 for the new COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> “if CVS is not in network with your insurance plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll keep updating this guide with information as we get it.\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/covid-19-vaccine-locations/\"> Find a Kaiser location near you that may offer the new COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2024. We’ve published everything from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19 \u003c/a>to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? What questions didn’t you have answered in this guide? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting from The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "The new 2024 COVID-19 vaccine has been approved and will roll out in the coming days and weeks. But should you get it as soon as possible or delay it until later this fall? Here's how to find a free COVID-19 vaccine near you.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003cem>Looking for \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055165/where-can-i-find-new-updated-2025-covid-vaccine-near-me-moderna-pfizer-cvs-walgreens-safeway-vaccinations-health-insurance-cost\">where to find your 2025 COVID-19 vaccine instead\u003c/a>? See our new \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12055165/where-can-i-find-new-updated-2025-covid-vaccine-near-me-moderna-pfizer-cvs-walgreens-safeway-vaccinations-health-insurance-cost\">guide on how to get vaccinated in 2025\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cbr>\nUpdated 6:20 p.m. on Sept. 1\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Have you been wondering, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001344/when-are-new-covid-vaccines-coming-2024\">“When will the new 2024 COVID-19 vaccine be available?” \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The short answer is: It’s here. But even though the “fall vaccine” has been approved much earlier this year than the 2023 COVID-19 vaccine was, just like last year, it may take a while for these shots to become widely available to the public.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>When will the new COVID vaccines become available?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>On Aug. 22, \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccines-virus-pfizer-moderna-fb542f97096e9759059c0bdd82a48a74\">the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) signed off on these updated COVID-19 vaccines\u003c/a> from Moderna and Pfizer (also known as Comirnaty), which should roll out across the United States in the coming weeks as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">the 2024 summer wave of infections continues around the country. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On Aug. 30, \u003ca href=\"https://www.statnews.com/2024/08/30/novavax-covid-vaccine-fda-authorization/\">the FDA also signed off on the updated Novavax COVID vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Earlier this year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended that the updated shots be available to everyone age 6 months and older through pharmacies like CVS, Walgreens, Rite Aid and Safeway, as well as health care providers, county public health departments and community clinics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These COVID-19 vaccines usually become available at pharmacies first because pharmacies take their cue from the federal government and not the state — but with vaccines needing to be shipped, it might still be a while before vaccinations are available. For example, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS is currently offering appointments for the new COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> starting no earlier than late August, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/schedule-vaccine\">Walgreens is similarly offering appointments \u003c/a>that begin Sept. 6.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll keep updating the guide below as vaccines start to roll out, so consider bookmarking this link.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I get the new COVID vaccine near me when it’s available?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#novavax-covid-vaccine\">Is the new Novavax vaccine now available too?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">Why do COVID vaccines now involve health insurance? \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Why can’t I get a new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser health insurance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Remember: Unlike previous rounds of the vaccine, the FDA and the CDC stopped calling these updated shots “boosters” in 2023 — so you won’t see that language online around appointments. Instead, they refer to these annual fall vaccines as “new” or “updated” vaccines that have been reformulated to better target a more recent strain of the coronavirus. This time around, Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines target the omicron variant known as KP.2 that was common earlier this year, and Novavax’s new vaccine targets KP.2’s parent strain, JN.1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about the new COVID-19 shots from Pfizer and Moderna — and now Novavax too —and how to find a free COVID-19 vaccine near you \u003cem>when\u003c/em> it becomes available. Or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#delay-covid-vaccine\">The vaccine is available early this year. Should I wait to get it?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">I got COVID this summer. How soon can I get the new COVID vaccine?\u003cbr>\n\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">Should I get my 2024 flu shot at the same time as my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidvaccine-no-insurance\">How do I find a COVID vaccine if I’m uninsured?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"doihavetopayfornewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why do the new COVID vaccine rollouts seem different than they used to?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re wondering why the new COVID-19 vaccine seems to take so long to become widely available now, why you can no longer walk into any vaccination location to get an updated shot and why health insurance matters now, it’s because of the major change that came into effect last year: The federal government has stopped footing the bill for COVID-19 vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/about/news/2023/05/09/fact-sheet-end-of-the-covid-19-public-health-emergency.html\">These shots have now transitioned into the traditional health care market, like many other kinds of vaccines\u003c/a>. So, for most people with health insurance, insurers will now cover the cost of getting the new COVID-19 vaccine directly, much like your plan might cover your flu shot. This is why you’ll hear many county public health officials urging people to first seek out the new vaccine via their health care provider (and also why those county-run vaccination sites that were so common at the height of the pandemic now don’t exist at least on the same scale.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#delay-covid-vaccine\">The vaccine is available early this year. Should I wait to get it?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>However, COVID-19 vaccines now being purchased and distributed through the health care market also means it’s far less simple for people without health insurance to find a free shot. Jump to “\u003ca href=\"#covidvaccine-no-insurance\">How do I find a COVID vaccine if I’m uninsured?”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"novavax-covid-vaccine\">\u003c/a>Is the Novavax COVID vaccine available, as well as Moderna and Pfizer’s new vaccines?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The new Novavax vaccine was approved by the FDA on Aug. 30, so expect appointment availability for this particular shot to be a little behind Moderna and Pfizer’s vaccines, which were approved over a week earlier. Right now, our guide to where to find a new vaccine appointment below reflects the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines, as they’re the shots that are currently available.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unlike Pfizer and Moderna’s new COVID-19 shots, the Novavax vaccine is a non-mRNA, protein-based vaccine. One reason some people choose the Novavax vaccine is based on aftereffects from getting the shot — as \u003cem>Science\u003c/em> has reported,\u003ca href=\"https://www.science.org/content/article/should-you-pick-novavax-s-covid-19-shot-over-mrna-options\"> Novavax “appeared less likely than mRNA shots to cause side effects like headache and fatigue”\u003c/a> in clinical trials.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump to: \u003ca href=\"#where\">Where can I find the new COVID vaccine near me when it’s available?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>How effective are the new COVID vaccines against the current strains?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Much like the flu shot, COVID-19 vaccines have now become annual shots offered in the fall — and their “recipe” gets updated each year in the hope of maximum efficacy against current strains.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer is an updated shot that supersedes and replaces the 2023–2024 shot, which you should now consider outdated. The recipe for this new vaccine will address a newer target: The KP.2 subvariant of omicron.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>COVID-19 strains are a moving target, and as you can see from the \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">CDC’s COVID Variant Tracker\u003c/a>, KP.2 is no longer the dominant subvariant in the U.S. — that’s currently KP.3.1.1. But this family of omicron subvariants is closely enough related that the vaccines promise cross-protection. \u003ca href=\"https://apnews.com/article/covid19-vaccines-virus-pfizer-moderna-fb542f97096e9759059c0bdd82a48a74\">A Pfizer spokesman said the company submitted data to the FDA\u003c/a> showing its updated vaccine “generates a substantially improved response” against multiple virus subtypes compared to last fall’s vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The vaccine is not intended to be perfect. It’s not going to absolutely prevent COVID-19,” said Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-organization/peter-marks\">Peter Marks\u003c/a>, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research, in a statement announcing the approval decision. “But if we can prevent people from getting serious cases that end them up in emergency rooms, hospitals or worse — dead — that’s what we’re trying to do with these vaccines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new vaccines should cut the risk of getting COVID-19 by 60% to 70% and reduce the risk of getting seriously ill by 80% to 90%, Marks said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"eligiblebooster\">\u003c/a>Who can get the new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>As of Aug. 22, anyone aged 6 months and up who got their last COVID-19 vaccine shot at least two months ago — whether that was their primary vaccination series or their last booster shot — can get an updated COVID-19 vaccine from Pfizer or Moderna, as soon as \u003ca href=\"#where\">vaccination appointments become available. \u003c/a>As in 2023, appointments may not become immediately widespread, depending on your location. \u003ca href=\"#where\">Jump straight to where you can find a new COVID-19 vaccine near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” Marks said. “Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There is no specific guidance for certain age groups, but, as with other vaccines, children under 12 will be offered a pediatric (smaller) dose of this vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11961117\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11961117 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A nurse gives a little boy a shot while his mother gives him encouragement.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/09/013_SanFrancisco_UnitedinHealthKidsCOVIDVaccination_11092021-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID-19 shots are transitioning to the traditional health care market and will be increasingly considered the way that other preventative vaccines, like flu shots, are. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"delay-covid-vaccine\">\u003c/a>This ‘fall’ vaccine is available pretty early this year. Who should get it straight away?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The FDA’s Marks said that, for his part, “when this gets into pharmacies, I will probably be online as soon as it gets rolled out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now, we’re in a wave, so you’d like to get protection against what’s going on right now,” he said. “So I would probably get vaccinated in as timely a manner as possible. Because right now, the match is reasonably close. You’re probably going to get the most benefit you’re going to get from this vaccine against what’s currently circulating.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that older folks (age 65 and over) or people who are immunocompromised who have neither had a COVID-19 vaccine in the last year nor had a COVID-19 infection should seek out their new vaccine as soon as they can. These were the “folks I saw in the hospital very ill with COVID in the past few months,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Additionally, for Chin-Hong, the best vaccine is the one you actually get, so “at the end of the day, convenience trumps everything,” he said. “If you are motivated to get the updated COVID shot when it comes out sooner rather than later, just do it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Getting it in your arm when you are motivated trumps being strategic about the whole thing,” Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Who should consider waiting a little while to get the new vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Delaying getting the updated vaccine may be right for …\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Those who want the best possible immunity for a winter wave — and over the holidays\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Marks also said that even though he personally will be getting his vaccine straightaway, others might consider waiting until September or October if they’re particularly focused on having maximal protection through the anticipated winter COVID-19 wave, as well as over the holidays. “Getting vaccinated sometime in the September to early October time frame seems like a pretty reasonable thing to do to help bring you protection through the December/January time frame,” Marks said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Chin-Hong, the “sweet spot” for getting the new COVID-19 vaccine, if you’re not in that higher-risk group above, “is still some time in October so that antibodies peak in the winter when things are expected to be worse than the summer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is going to apply to most people,” he said. And while “the vaccine’s superpower is protection against serious disease, hospitalization and death,” the updated shot “does have the bonus of increasing the force field against getting infected as well,” Chin-Hong said. “Because there are so many events after October (Thanksgiving, holiday get-togethers, Christmas, New Year’s), you may also want your antibodies to peak then for that bonus of lowering infection risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"#howsoonaftercovidgetvaccine\">\u003c/a>People who’ve had a COVID vaccine — or a COVID infection — recently\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Another reason you’d want to wait to seek the new vaccine is \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/covid-19/downloads/COVID-19-immunization-schedule-ages-6months-older.pdf\">if you got your last COVID-19 shot less than two months ago or you had a COVID-19 infection less than three months ago. (PDF)\u003c/a> (If your case was asymptomatic, use the date of your positive test instead of the onset of your symptoms.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If you have received a vaccine over the summer or got infected over the summer, there is no need to rush out and get the new vaccine as you will be well protected,” Chin-Hong said. “Wait until October and get both flu and COVID shots at the same time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>People who are uninsured and need a free vaccine\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0914-uninsured-vaccination.html\">Bridge Access Program\u003c/a>, which was launched in September 2023 to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to uninsured people, was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000297/uninsured-experts-explain-how-to-get-your-free-covid-shot-before-the-money-runs-out\">forecast to last until December — but is instead ending this month\u003c/a>. And while a CDC spokesperson said that the agency will be making “$62 million of unused vaccine contract money” available to states to help vaccinate people without health insurance, right now, it’s still unclear how that will work practically.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Waiting for your fall COVID-19 shot, Chin-Hong said, will “give it more time for that system to be put into place so you won’t be charged if you don’t have insurance.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"shouldigetfluandcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Should I get my 2024 flu shot at the same time as my new COVID vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s totally fine and safe to get your flu shot at the same time as your new COVID-19 vaccine, and when appointments roll out more widely, you’ll often find that COVID-19 vaccine appointments will prompt you to “add on” a flu shot at the same session — especially at pharmacies. Although, if you’re trying to schedule your kid’s vaccinations, \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2023/09/13/1198803134/covid-boosters-updated-vaccines-fda-cdc\">the CDC advised in 2023 that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID-19 and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment, too).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, the recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a flu shot are based on the fact that, like with your COVID-19 vaccine, it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/vaccination/vax-summary.htm\">The CDC said that September and October “are generally good times” to get your flu shot.\u003c/a> In 2023, UCSF’s Chin-Hong told KQED that his “optimal sweet point” for getting this shot is “sometime before Halloween” — but notes that this is based on traditional predictions of flu season starting in November and peaking around January or February. If flu cases start to rise earlier, you should seek out your flu shot sooner, he said. And ultimately, in the spirit of any vaccine being better than no vaccine, “do what is most convenient,” he advised.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890214\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11890214\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A man sitting on a large porch lifts up his sleeve as he awaits his vaccine, beside a woman in an orange safety vest preparing the vaccine.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1703\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-2048x1362.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768670-1920x1277.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse prepares a first dose of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine for Jose Luis Sánchez at a clinic in Pasadena on Aug. 19, 2021. The clinic was one of the first in the city to offer ‘supplemental’ third coronavirus shots to people with immunological conditions, according to organizers. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"where\">\u003c/a>Where can I find a new COVID vaccine this fall when it becomes available?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Don’t assume you’ll be proactively contacted about getting the new COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that a certain location may only be offering a certain brand of the new vaccine, whether that’s Moderna or Pfizer (or soon, Novavax). So be sure that the location you’re walking into or making an appointment for offers the type of updated vaccine you need or want.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Also, make sure the appointment you schedule for your new vaccine is at least two months after your last COVID-19 vaccine shot or three months after your last COVID-19 infection. (When you’re making an appointment for a new vaccine, you’ll likely be asked for the date of your last COVID-19 vaccine dose or booster dose for this reason, to ensure you’re not getting your shot too soon.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance, jump to \u003ca href=\"#covidvaccine-no-insurance\">what we know about COVID-19 vaccination for uninsured folks.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11890217\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003ca href=\"#mix\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11890217 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up of a hand gripping a vaccination card and writing on it with a pen.\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-800x532.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1020x679.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-160x106.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1536x1022.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-2048x1363.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/GettyImages-1234768450-1920x1278.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003c/a>\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A nurse marks a coronavirus vaccination card with a third booster dose of Pfizer at a vaccine clinic in Pasadena on Aug. 19, 2021. \u003ccite>(Robyn Beck/AFP via Getty Images))\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>1. Find a new COVID vaccine through a local pharmacy, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For future reference, pharmacies are usually the first place new vaccine shots become available when announced because pharmacies take their cue from the federal government, not the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS’s COVID-19 vaccination homepage\u003c/a> says that the pharmacy chain is now “waiting on the arrival of the new 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccines” and that “you can schedule an appointment online now for a date in the near future.” \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/schedule-vaccine?ban=RI22_covidvaccine_landing_hero_scheduler&vaccineType=covid\">Walgreens is also offering appointments for the new vaccine starting Sept. 6\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that pharmacies can’t vaccinate kids under 3, except for CVS MinuteClinics, who are permitted to vaccinate kids as young as 18 months old.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. One big exception to this: If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, you almost certainly \u003cem>won’t\u003c/em> be able to get your new COVID-19 vaccine for free (i.e., covered by your insurance) at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ultimately, \u003ca href=\"#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">if you are a member of a health system like Kaiser \u003c/a>and are unsure about what your health insurance covers, reach out to your provider to check if you will need to obtain your new COVID-19 vaccine through them in order to have it covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine?icid=cvs-home-hero1-banner-1-link2-coronavirus-vaccine\">CVS COVID vaccine appointments. \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/vaccination/covid-19?ban=covid_vaccine_landing_schedule\">Walgreens COVID vaccine appointments\u003c/a>, or call 800-WALGREENS/800-925-4733.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/covid-qualifier?utm_source=state&utm_medium=web&utm_campaign=Covid19&utm_content=Covid19scheduler_CA_2_12_21\">Rite Aid COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.mhealthappointments.com/covidappt\">Safeway (Albertsons) COVID vaccine appointments.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>2. Find a new COVID vaccine through your health care provider, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, check with your health care provider to see whether they can offer you an updated COVID-19 vaccine. The San Francisco Department of Public Health stresses that “Health care providers are the first place to go for COVID-19 and flu health care.” That said, you could still be looking at a wait for supplies to reach your health care provider, even after the new shots were first authorized.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have health insurance but get medical care through a city- or county-run provider, you should check with that location to see whether they can offer you the new COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to trying to talk with your health care provider directly, check the website of your provider to see whether it offers the ability to make appointments and sign up for their vaccine notifications if that’s an option.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>3. Find a new COVID vaccine through vaccines.gov, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Visit the federal government’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.vaccines.gov/\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a> website to see when appointments for the new updated COVID-19 vaccine in or near your zip code become available.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A message on the site states that the CDC is updating this tool, “including replacing the vaccine locator with a pharmacy lookup tool to help people find a pharmacy near them, and this “lookup tool will be added once 2024–25 flu and COVID-19 vaccines become widely available.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>4. Find a new Moderna or Pfizer COVID vaccine through My Turn, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Throughout the pandemic, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn has been the state’s site\u003c/a> for all Californians to schedule vaccination appointments or find walk-in locations, regardless of health insurance status.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Because the new COVID-19 vaccines are now being distributed through the traditional health care market, My Turn’s services have now been geared primarily toward uninsured people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">If you visit the My Turn page\u003c/a>, select “Make an Appointment.” My Turn will ask for your information and the ZIP code or location you’d like to use to search for vaccine appointments. You can give your home location or input other locations to see which sites might be available farther away.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you can’t travel to a clinic for your new COVID-19 vaccine because of health or transportation issues, you can note this when registering on My Turn, and a representative from the CDPH is supposed to call you to arrange an in-home visit or transportation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My Turn will ask you to provide a cellphone number and an email address. The state says this is so you can use two-factor authentication to confirm your identity and make your appointment and to prevent bots from automatically scooping up available appointments online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have an email address or a cellphone number, or you have questions, you can call the California COVID-19 hotline at 833-422-4255 (Monday–Friday 8 a.m.–8 p.m., Saturday and Sunday 8 a.m.–5 p.m. PDT) and sign up over the phone. Both English-speaking and Spanish-speaking operators are available. Callers needing information in other languages will be connected to a translation service that offers assistance in over 250 languages.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11889661\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11889661\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2021/09/michigan_shot_gettyimages-1234850852-8f2a1402d5a0ab808313f55bdac52f950c8ad974-scaled-e1632414475184.jpg\" alt=\"Blue-gloved hands administer a vaccine into a shoulder.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Rufus Peoples receives his booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine during an Oakland County Health Department vaccination clinic at the Southfield Pavilion on Aug. 24, 2021, in Southfield, Michigan. \u003ccite>(Emily Elconin/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>5. Find a new COVID vaccine through your county, when available\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Visit your county’s public health website \u003c/a>to learn if your county will soon be offering the new updated COVID-19 vaccine to its residents, particularly those who are uninsured or under-insured.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11855623/where-can-i-get-a-covid-19-vaccine-in-the-bay-area-your-questions-answered#county\">Find your Bay Area county in our list.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidvaccine-no-insurance\">\u003c/a>Where can I find a new COVID vaccine near me if I’m uninsured?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0914-uninsured-vaccination.html\">Bridge Access Program\u003c/a>, which was launched in September 2023 to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to uninsured people, was \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000297/uninsured-experts-explain-how-to-get-your-free-covid-shot-before-the-money-runs-out\">forecast to last until December — but is instead ending this month\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A CDC spokesperson told KQED that the agency will now supply states with “$62 million of unused vaccine contract money” to support state and local health departments this respiratory virus season “and help improve access for uninsured and underinsured Americans to COVID vaccines.” Right now, details of how this will practically work for folks without insurance in California are unclear, so we’ll keep updating this section as we find out new information relating to how people without health insurance can find a free or low-cost vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uninsured children ages 18 and under can still get free COVID-19 vaccines — and other free immunizations — as part of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/programs/vfc/index.html\">Vaccines for Children Program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"kaisernewcovidvaccine\">\u003c/a>Why can’t I get my new COVID vaccine at a pharmacy if I have Kaiser health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Something to watch for this fall: If you get your health care through a health system like Kaiser Permanente, you’ll be asked to pay out-of-pocket if you try to get your new COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Why? Usually, if you have health insurance, you should be able to give your insurer’s details at a pharmacy vaccination appointment to have the cost of your shot billed to them. Health systems like Kaiser are the exception to this, and so you almost certainly won’t be able to get your new COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy like CVS or Walgreens, the way you can’t get your flu shot covered by Kaiser at a pharmacy either.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Instead, last year, Kaiser recommended that its members receive their updated COVID-19 shot at a Kaiser facility. The health system’s website says that \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">“when provided by Kaiser Permanente, COVID-19 vaccines are covered at no cost,”\u003c/a> but that “most California members” apart from Medi-Cal members will need to pay for the shot if obtained elsewhere. (KP.com also states that \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">you “may be able to get up to half of the cost reimbursed” from Kaiser\u003c/a> if you do.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This meant that in 2023, people with health insurance through Kaiser faced a longer wait for their new COVID-19 vaccine than folks with other types of insurance unless they were prepared to pay these large costs up-front.\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">CVS, for example, charges $190.99 for the new COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a> “if CVS is not in network with your insurance plan.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’ll keep updating this guide with information as we get it.\u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/covid-19-vaccine-locations/\"> Find a Kaiser location near you that may offer the new COVID-19 vaccine when it’s available.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2024. We’ve published everything from \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19 \u003c/a>to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? What questions didn’t you have answered in this guide? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting from The Associated Press.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "The FDA Has Approved the New 2024 COVID Vaccines",
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"headTitle": "The FDA Has Approved the New 2024 COVID Vaccines | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The Food and Drug Administration Thursday gave the green light to two updated COVID-19 vaccines to help people protect themselves from the latest strains of the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home\">COVID\u003c/a> vaccines are designed to keep the shots up to date with the virus, which keeps evolving to evade our immune systems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” said Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-organization/peter-marks\">Peter Marks\u003c/a>, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research in a statement announcing the decision. “These updated vaccines meet the agency’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines expected to get the go-ahead this week target the \u003ca href=\"https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/covid-19-variant-update/#/+/0/publishedDate_na_dt/desc/\">KP.2 variant\u003c/a>. The Novavax vaccine, which is based on an older technology, targets an earlier strain called JN.1.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>An imperfect vaccine can still provide protection\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Both target strains have already been overtaken by even newer variants, but they’re all still part of the omicron group. The hope is the vaccines are close enough to boost immunity and protect people through the rest of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">the surprisingly big summer wave\u003c/a> and the surge expected this winter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The vaccine is not intended to be perfect. It’s not going to absolutely prevent COVID-19,” Marks says. “But if we can prevent people from getting serious cases that end them up in emergency rooms, hospitals or worse — dead — that’s what we’re trying to do with these vaccines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new vaccines should cut the risk of getting COVID by 60% to 70% and reduce the risk of getting seriously ill by 80% to 90%, Marks says. The shots are expected to become available as soon as this weekend to anyone age 6 months and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Vaccination timing could be a personal decision\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>“Right now we’re in a wave, so you’d like to get protection against what’s going on right now,” Marks says. “So I would probably get vaccinated in as timely a manner as possible. Because right now the match is reasonably close. You’re probably going to get the most benefit you’re going to get from this vaccine against what’s currently circulating. So when this gets into pharmacies I will probably be on line as soon as it gets rolled out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To maximize the chances of getting the best protection, people should wait at least two or three months since their last bout of COVID or their last shot to get one of the new vaccines, Marks says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some people could consider waiting until September or October if they’re especially concerned about maximizing protection through the winter surge and over the holidays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Getting vaccinated sometime in the September to early October time frame seems like a pretty reasonable thing to do to help bring you protection through the December/January time frame,” says Marks. “It doesn’t, like, suddenly stop. This is not like something that suddenly cuts off at three or four months. It’s just that the immunity will decrease with time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Vaccination can help slow COVID’s spread\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>“In my opinion, everyone should get one of the new vaccines,” says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.providence.org/doctors/infectious-diseases/wa/everett/george-diaz-1164523130\">George Diaz\u003c/a>, chief of medicine at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett in Everett, Wash., and a spokesperson for the Infectious Disease Society of America. “Being vaccinated yourself will prevent transmission to other people. So that will help reduce the spread of the disease in the community, especially to the most vulnerable people. So you’re not just helping yourself but also helping others.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition, getting vaccinated reduces the risk for long COVID, Diaz adds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Others question whether everyone necessarily needs another shot, arguing most younger healthy people still probably have enough immunity from all the shots and infections they’ve already gotten to protect them from getting really sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Anyone who wants to get this vaccine should get it,” says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.chop.edu/doctors/offit-paul-a\">Paul Offit\u003c/a>, a vaccine expert at the University of Pennsylvania who advises the FDA. “It certainly makes sense why someone would want to get it because it lessens your chance of getting a mild or moderate infection for about four to six months and to some extent lessens your chances of spreading the virus.” But the calculation could be different for younger people. “Were I a 35-year-old healthy adult who’d already had several doses of vaccine and one or two natural infections I wouldn’t feel compelled to get it,” Offit says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And regardless of the public health advice, it’s far from clear how many people will want one of the new shots. Only about 22% of eligible adults got one of the last ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But for anyone who does want the COVID vaccine, they can \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-t0627-vaccine-recommendations.html\">\u003cu>get the flu shot at the same time\u003c/u>\u003c/a>. In addition, federal officials are recommending anyone age 75 and older also get one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-0626-vaccination-adults.html\">new vaccines to protect against the respiratory syncytial virus\u003c/a>, or RSV. Same goes for pregnant people and those ages 65 to 74 who are at high risk of getting seriously ill from RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Older at-risk people will probably be able to get a second shot with the new COVID vaccines in the spring or early summer to help protect them against another wave next summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Insured people can get all three vaccines for free if they get their shot from an in-network provider. But \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000297/uninsured-experts-explain-how-to-get-your-free-covid-shot-before-the-money-runs-out\">a federal program that paid for the vaccines for uninsured adults expired\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In the public health community we’re very concerned about how they will access protection and looking for ways for how we’re going to solve that problem,” says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.immunize.org/about/org/bod/\">\u003cu>Kelly Moore\u003c/u>\u003c/a>, who runs \u003ca href=\"https://www.immunize.org/\">Immunize.org\u003c/a>, an advocacy group. “We know that the people who are uninsured are the least likely to be able to afford becoming ill – missing work, staying home from school.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"title": "The FDA Has Approved the New 2024 COVID Vaccines | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The Food and Drug Administration Thursday gave the green light to two updated COVID-19 vaccines to help people protect themselves from the latest strains of the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home\">COVID\u003c/a> vaccines are designed to keep the shots up to date with the virus, which keeps evolving to evade our immune systems.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Vaccination continues to be the cornerstone of COVID-19 prevention,” said Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/about-fda/fda-organization/peter-marks\">Peter Marks\u003c/a>, director of the FDA’s Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research in a statement announcing the decision. “These updated vaccines meet the agency’s rigorous, scientific standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality. Given waning immunity of the population from previous exposure to the virus and from prior vaccination, we strongly encourage those who are eligible to consider receiving an updated COVID-19 vaccine to provide better protection against currently circulating variants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna mRNA vaccines expected to get the go-ahead this week target the \u003ca href=\"https://www.idsociety.org/covid-19-real-time-learning-network/diagnostics/covid-19-variant-update/#/+/0/publishedDate_na_dt/desc/\">KP.2 variant\u003c/a>. The Novavax vaccine, which is based on an older technology, targets an earlier strain called JN.1.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>An imperfect vaccine can still provide protection\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>Both target strains have already been overtaken by even newer variants, but they’re all still part of the omicron group. The hope is the vaccines are close enough to boost immunity and protect people through the rest of \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">the surprisingly big summer wave\u003c/a> and the surge expected this winter.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The vaccine is not intended to be perfect. It’s not going to absolutely prevent COVID-19,” Marks says. “But if we can prevent people from getting serious cases that end them up in emergency rooms, hospitals or worse — dead — that’s what we’re trying to do with these vaccines.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new vaccines should cut the risk of getting COVID by 60% to 70% and reduce the risk of getting seriously ill by 80% to 90%, Marks says. The shots are expected to become available as soon as this weekend to anyone age 6 months and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Vaccination timing could be a personal decision\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>“Right now we’re in a wave, so you’d like to get protection against what’s going on right now,” Marks says. “So I would probably get vaccinated in as timely a manner as possible. Because right now the match is reasonably close. You’re probably going to get the most benefit you’re going to get from this vaccine against what’s currently circulating. So when this gets into pharmacies I will probably be on line as soon as it gets rolled out.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To maximize the chances of getting the best protection, people should wait at least two or three months since their last bout of COVID or their last shot to get one of the new vaccines, Marks says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Some people could consider waiting until September or October if they’re especially concerned about maximizing protection through the winter surge and over the holidays.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Getting vaccinated sometime in the September to early October time frame seems like a pretty reasonable thing to do to help bring you protection through the December/January time frame,” says Marks. “It doesn’t, like, suddenly stop. This is not like something that suddenly cuts off at three or four months. It’s just that the immunity will decrease with time.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch3>Vaccination can help slow COVID’s spread\u003c/h3>\n\u003cp>“In my opinion, everyone should get one of the new vaccines,” says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.providence.org/doctors/infectious-diseases/wa/everett/george-diaz-1164523130\">George Diaz\u003c/a>, chief of medicine at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett in Everett, Wash., and a spokesperson for the Infectious Disease Society of America. “Being vaccinated yourself will prevent transmission to other people. So that will help reduce the spread of the disease in the community, especially to the most vulnerable people. So you’re not just helping yourself but also helping others.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition, getting vaccinated reduces the risk for long COVID, Diaz adds.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Others question whether everyone necessarily needs another shot, arguing most younger healthy people still probably have enough immunity from all the shots and infections they’ve already gotten to protect them from getting really sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Anyone who wants to get this vaccine should get it,” says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.chop.edu/doctors/offit-paul-a\">Paul Offit\u003c/a>, a vaccine expert at the University of Pennsylvania who advises the FDA. “It certainly makes sense why someone would want to get it because it lessens your chance of getting a mild or moderate infection for about four to six months and to some extent lessens your chances of spreading the virus.” But the calculation could be different for younger people. “Were I a 35-year-old healthy adult who’d already had several doses of vaccine and one or two natural infections I wouldn’t feel compelled to get it,” Offit says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And regardless of the public health advice, it’s far from clear how many people will want one of the new shots. Only about 22% of eligible adults got one of the last ones.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But for anyone who does want the COVID vaccine, they can \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-t0627-vaccine-recommendations.html\">\u003cu>get the flu shot at the same time\u003c/u>\u003c/a>. In addition, federal officials are recommending anyone age 75 and older also get one of the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/s-0626-vaccination-adults.html\">new vaccines to protect against the respiratory syncytial virus\u003c/a>, or RSV. Same goes for pregnant people and those ages 65 to 74 who are at high risk of getting seriously ill from RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Older at-risk people will probably be able to get a second shot with the new COVID vaccines in the spring or early summer to help protect them against another wave next summer.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Insured people can get all three vaccines for free if they get their shot from an in-network provider. But \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12000297/uninsured-experts-explain-how-to-get-your-free-covid-shot-before-the-money-runs-out\">a federal program that paid for the vaccines for uninsured adults expired\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“In the public health community we’re very concerned about how they will access protection and looking for ways for how we’re going to solve that problem,” says Dr. \u003ca href=\"https://www.immunize.org/about/org/bod/\">\u003cu>Kelly Moore\u003c/u>\u003c/a>, who runs \u003ca href=\"https://www.immunize.org/\">Immunize.org\u003c/a>, an advocacy group. “We know that the people who are uninsured are the least likely to be able to afford becoming ill – missing work, staying home from school.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "uninsured-experts-explain-how-to-get-your-free-covid-shot-before-the-money-runs-out",
"title": "Uninsured? Experts Explain How to Get Your Free COVID Shot Before the Money Runs Out",
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"headTitle": "Uninsured? Experts Explain How to Get Your Free COVID Shot Before the Money Runs Out | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>The federal program that funds free COVID-19 vaccines for people without health insurance is ending several months earlier than expected — and uninsured people are now being told it could be their last chance to seek out a free shot before the money runs out for good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0914-uninsured-vaccination.html\">The Bridge Access Program was launched\u003c/a> by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in September 2023 to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to the estimated 25 million to 30 million adults in the U.S. without health insurance. The funds were previously forecast to last until December and would have made COVID-19 vaccines accessible to uninsured people through the brunt of another winter respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, after March \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/this-covid-vaccine-program-offered-a-bridge-to-uninsured-adults-and-then-the-funding-crumbled\">negotiations in Congress resulted in $4.3 billion being withdrawn from the Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 fund\u003c/a>, the program is instead ending this month, months ahead of schedule.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#location\">Jump to: Where can I still find a free COVID vaccine if I’m uninsured?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC has not given a firm deadline for the end of the program beyond “August 2024” and has yet to respond to KQED’s request for more specific details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, in a statement, the California Department of Public Health said that the program is \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/updated-covid-19-vaccines-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2024\">“scheduled to end when the new 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccines are approved by the federal government.\u003c/a>” According to drug manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna, these updated fall COVID-19 vaccines, which will be targeted to the latest variants, \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/08/05/updated-covid-vaccines-are-coming-effectiveness-whos-eligible-and-more/\">could be ready as early as this month\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding locations that offer free COVID-19 shots has also become more difficult for those without insurance, even though the Bridge Access Program funding is technically still in place. The CDC’s online vaccine locator tool, which previously offered people a way to search for nearby vaccination sites and filter by whether they were participating in the program, has now been removed from \u003ca href=\"http://vaccines.gov\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A message on that site now states that the vaccine locator will be replaced with a pharmacy lookup tool that “will be added once 2024–25 flu and COVID-19 vaccines become widely available.” However, the site does not currently appear to offer any way to find free vaccination locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about COVID-19 shots for uninsured people, or\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#location\"> jump straight to how to find a free vaccine if you don’t have health insurance.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>As funding dries up, clinics are left scrambling \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“We didn’t get any specific advance notice of exactly when it was going to be happening,” said Dr. Michael Stacey, chief medical officer at LifeLong Medical Care — one of the community clinics that’s been offering free COVID-19 shots to uninsured people through the Bridge Access Program. “Our notification came along with the rest of the rest of the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federal program launched when the commercial health care market began taking over COVID-19 vaccine distribution from the federal government, which had until then made the vaccines free to everyone, regardless of insurance. This means that, like the flu shot, a person’s COVID-19 vaccine is now either paid for under their health insurance plan if they have one or through a sizable out-of-pocket payment. At CVS, for instance, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">a COVID-19 vaccine costs $190.99 if you don’t have any insurance\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bridge Access Program was one of the few remaining sources of pandemic-era funding to offer COVID-19 care to “the most vulnerable in the community,” said Stacey, who noted that the timing is particularly unfortunate due to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">the ongoing nationwide summer surge in infections\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uninsured children, ages 18 and under, can still get free COVID-19 vaccines and other free immunizations as part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children/about/index.html\">the Vaccines for Children Program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a visit this week to the Petaluma Health Center — one of the clinics still offering free COVID-19 shots for uninsured people — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra said he “believe[d] the clinics, the community health centers will continue to have shots” after the program’s funding ends. However, he did not offer any specifics on how the clinics could continue to offer them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Locations like the Petaluma Health Center say they are now seeking grants, along with county and state funding, to make sure they can keep offering free vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Should uninsured people seek a free shot ASAP before the funding runs out?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For Stacey, of Lifelong Medical Care, the answer is simple: Yes. “For those that don’t have insurance, try to get the vaccine now before the [Bridge Access] program ends,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re plugging ahead in these last days that we have to be able to vaccinate the uninsured as much as we can before the program actually shuts off,” Stacey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, echoed that, telling KQED by email that it’s “100% true that uninsured people should try to get the vaccine now, given the uncertainty of what will happen in the fall” regarding the program’s funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside label=\"More on covid treatment\" postID=\"news_11973108,news_11987343,news_11968709\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">The COVID-19 vaccine that’s currently available\u003c/a> has been around since September 2023 (and this spring, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\">an extra shot of the vaccine formulation\u003c/a> was recommended for people age 65 and older.) The \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/updated-covid-19-vaccines-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2024\">new, updated COVID-19 vaccine targeted to the latest variants\u003c/a> is scheduled for release this fall, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/08/05/updated-covid-vaccines-are-coming-effectiveness-whos-eligible-and-more/\">Pfizer and Moderna both saying their vaccines could be ready as early as this month\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Chin-Hong said that just because a new vaccine is expected soon, uninsured people shouldn’t be dissuaded from getting the current vaccine for free now — not just because the money for free shots is about to run out, but also because it’s not necessarily the best idea to get the new shot the minute it’s released anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even though the CDC recommends waiting two months between COVID-19 shots, “you won’t want to get the vaccine when it comes out immediately anyway as it is meant for the expected onslaught of cases in the winter,” Chin-Hong said. “Get it too soon, and your maximal antibodies will peak before you need it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And amid current high infection rates, there’s data to indicate that the available COVID-19 vaccine still offers good protection against the latest variants causing this surge, even though it was originally targeted to older variants, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The superpower of the vaccine is to protect against serious disease, hospitalization and death,” he said. “And for that, even the [current] XBB.1.5 booster will perform spectacularly well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Getting the current COVID-19 vaccine now for free might also buy uninsured people some time — and extra immunity — as public health agencies work out how to continue extending access to them, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Uninsured people who get the vaccine now can rest assured that the vaccine will likely protect against serious disease for at least a year,” he said. “So even if there are problems with getting the new vaccine in the fall, I feel comfortable that many of those can take this immune system reminder to carry them through the winter reasonably well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"location\">\u003c/a>How can I find a free COVID shot ASAP if I’m uninsured?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Like many aspects of finding COVID-19 care at this stage of the pandemic, even finding a location that offers free COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured people through the Bridge Access Program has become more difficult — especially since the CDC removed its online vaccine locator tool, which showed all Bridge Access Program sites from \u003ca href=\"http://vaccines.gov\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re uninsured and want to find a free COVID-19 shot as soon as possible before the program funding runs out, here’s a selection of options. Unfortunately, a number of them now require proactive research and action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Use the state’s My Turn Vaccine Locator\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/vaccinelocator.html\">This online tool from the California Department of Public Health\u003c/a> allows you to filter by vaccine type and insurance status. However, this tool does not show every single vaccination site that may offer free shots through the Bridge Access Program for those without insurance. For example, it only returns two clinics that offer COVID-19 shots to uninsured people within 50 miles of San Francisco (in Napa and San Jose).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a community health center through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\">HHS has a map tool showing community health centers \u003c/a>that \u003cem>may \u003c/em>offer free COVID-19 shots for uninsured people. After you search for a nearby location, contact that center directly to ask if it’s offering no-insurance COVID-19 shots for free through the Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) also said that\u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-covid-19-flu-and-rsv\"> its AITC Immunization and Travel Clinic provides the COVID-19 vaccine to uninsured people\u003c/a>, although the agency notes that “people outside of San Francisco are encouraged to contact their local health department to find a vaccine near them.” The clinic is located at 101 Grove Street, Room 102, and appointments are required: call 415-554-2625 for hours and availability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SFDPH also recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-covid-19-flu-and-rsv\">uninsured people visit the appointment-only San Francisco Free Clinic \u003c/a>(4900 California St.; call 415-750-9894 for hours and availability). But when you call, check if you need to be an SF resident to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Reach out to your local pharmacy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both the California Department of Public Health and SFDPH recommend you directly contact pharmacies near you to ask if they have COVID-19 vaccines in stock and whether they’re offering those shots for free through the Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember to be \u003cem>really \u003c/em>careful and confirm repeatedly that any shot will actually be free, as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">out-of-pocket cost can be steep. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Reach out to your local health department\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contact your city or county’s public health department to ask if they’re still offering free COVID-19 vaccines to people without insurance through the Bridge Access Program or otherwise. The following links may also provide information on community clinics offering vaccines — just be sure to stress you don’t have insurance and are looking for free shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://covid-19.acgov.org/vaccines\">Alameda County COVID-19 vaccination \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofberkeley.info/covid19-vaccine/\">City of Berkeley COVID-19 vaccination \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cchealth.org/health-and-safety-information/communicable-disease-program/covid-19/covid-vaccine\">Contra Costa COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccinefinder\">Marin County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/3096/Vaccination\">Napa County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-covid-19-flu-and-rsv\">San Francisco COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smchealth.org/coronavirus\">San Mateo County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.santaclaracounty.gov/programs-and-services/pharmacy-and-vaccination-services/covid-testing-vaccines-and-treatment\">Santa Clara County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://solanocounty.com/depts/ph/default.asp\">Solano County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/disease-control/covid-19/vaccines\">Sonoma County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What will happen with free COVID vaccinations for uninsured people in the long run?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s still unclear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a recent statement, the California Department of Public Health said they are “exploring options to continue to support COVID-19 vaccine access after the end of the BAP program for uninsured and underinsured adults, including limited federal and state funding sources,” and that vaccine manufacturers “may also develop patient assistance programs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency, it said, “remains committed to monitoring vaccine access options for vulnerable populations, including uninsured adults and will share relevant information as it becomes available.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stacey, of Lifelong Medical Care, said that in the absence of official guidance, clinics like his are “going to work on seeing what we can do to get funding and get resources to be able to continue, hopefully in the near future, to be able to provide the vaccines to the uninsured again.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are trying to figure out how we can get funding or be able to purchase at least a limited supply of vaccines that we can use for those who are experiencing homelessness,” he said. “We don’t have a solution to that right now. Not only are the vaccines not being provided to us through this program, but the cost of the vaccines has also gone up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong, of UCSF, is optimistic that in the fall, Bay Area and statewide public health officials “will likely find a way to get the new COVID vaccine into uninsured arms” since he’s found those agencies “generally more forward-thinking” and willing to “provide more safety net programs than many other areas in the country.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“However,” he said, “it will take some time for these programs to roll out smoothly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s Spencer Whitney and Danielle Venton. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "The federal program that funds free COVID-19 vaccines for those without health insurance is ending several months earlier than expected — and medical experts are advising uninsured people to get their shots before the money runs out for good.",
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"title": "Uninsured? Experts Explain How to Get Your Free COVID Shot Before the Money Runs Out | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The federal program that funds free COVID-19 vaccines for people without health insurance is ending several months earlier than expected — and uninsured people are now being told it could be their last chance to seek out a free shot before the money runs out for good.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2023/p0914-uninsured-vaccination.html\">The Bridge Access Program was launched\u003c/a> by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in September 2023 to provide free COVID-19 vaccinations to the estimated 25 million to 30 million adults in the U.S. without health insurance. The funds were previously forecast to last until December and would have made COVID-19 vaccines accessible to uninsured people through the brunt of another winter respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, after March \u003ca href=\"https://www.pbs.org/newshour/health/this-covid-vaccine-program-offered-a-bridge-to-uninsured-adults-and-then-the-funding-crumbled\">negotiations in Congress resulted in $4.3 billion being withdrawn from the Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 fund\u003c/a>, the program is instead ending this month, months ahead of schedule.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#location\">Jump to: Where can I still find a free COVID vaccine if I’m uninsured?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC has not given a firm deadline for the end of the program beyond “August 2024” and has yet to respond to KQED’s request for more specific details.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, in a statement, the California Department of Public Health said that the program is \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/updated-covid-19-vaccines-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2024\">“scheduled to end when the new 2024–25 COVID-19 vaccines are approved by the federal government.\u003c/a>” According to drug manufacturers Pfizer and Moderna, these updated fall COVID-19 vaccines, which will be targeted to the latest variants, \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/08/05/updated-covid-vaccines-are-coming-effectiveness-whos-eligible-and-more/\">could be ready as early as this month\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Finding locations that offer free COVID-19 shots has also become more difficult for those without insurance, even though the Bridge Access Program funding is technically still in place. The CDC’s online vaccine locator tool, which previously offered people a way to search for nearby vaccination sites and filter by whether they were participating in the program, has now been removed from \u003ca href=\"http://vaccines.gov\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A message on that site now states that the vaccine locator will be replaced with a pharmacy lookup tool that “will be added once 2024–25 flu and COVID-19 vaccines become widely available.” However, the site does not currently appear to offer any way to find free vaccination locations.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about COVID-19 shots for uninsured people, or\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#location\"> jump straight to how to find a free vaccine if you don’t have health insurance.\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>As funding dries up, clinics are left scrambling \u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“We didn’t get any specific advance notice of exactly when it was going to be happening,” said Dr. Michael Stacey, chief medical officer at LifeLong Medical Care — one of the community clinics that’s been offering free COVID-19 shots to uninsured people through the Bridge Access Program. “Our notification came along with the rest of the rest of the world.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The federal program launched when the commercial health care market began taking over COVID-19 vaccine distribution from the federal government, which had until then made the vaccines free to everyone, regardless of insurance. This means that, like the flu shot, a person’s COVID-19 vaccine is now either paid for under their health insurance plan if they have one or through a sizable out-of-pocket payment. At CVS, for instance, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">a COVID-19 vaccine costs $190.99 if you don’t have any insurance\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bridge Access Program was one of the few remaining sources of pandemic-era funding to offer COVID-19 care to “the most vulnerable in the community,” said Stacey, who noted that the timing is particularly unfortunate due to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">the ongoing nationwide summer surge in infections\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Uninsured children, ages 18 and under, can still get free COVID-19 vaccines and other free immunizations as part of \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines-for-children/about/index.html\">the Vaccines for Children Program\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During a visit this week to the Petaluma Health Center — one of the clinics still offering free COVID-19 shots for uninsured people — U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Xavier Becerra said he “believe[d] the clinics, the community health centers will continue to have shots” after the program’s funding ends. However, he did not offer any specifics on how the clinics could continue to offer them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Locations like the Petaluma Health Center say they are now seeking grants, along with county and state funding, to make sure they can keep offering free vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>Should uninsured people seek a free shot ASAP before the funding runs out?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For Stacey, of Lifelong Medical Care, the answer is simple: Yes. “For those that don’t have insurance, try to get the vaccine now before the [Bridge Access] program ends,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’re plugging ahead in these last days that we have to be able to vaccinate the uninsured as much as we can before the program actually shuts off,” Stacey said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF, echoed that, telling KQED by email that it’s “100% true that uninsured people should try to get the vaccine now, given the uncertainty of what will happen in the fall” regarding the program’s funding.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">The COVID-19 vaccine that’s currently available\u003c/a> has been around since September 2023 (and this spring, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\">an extra shot of the vaccine formulation\u003c/a> was recommended for people age 65 and older.) The \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/updated-covid-19-vaccines-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2024\">new, updated COVID-19 vaccine targeted to the latest variants\u003c/a> is scheduled for release this fall, with \u003ca href=\"https://www.forbes.com/sites/ariannajohnson/2024/08/05/updated-covid-vaccines-are-coming-effectiveness-whos-eligible-and-more/\">Pfizer and Moderna both saying their vaccines could be ready as early as this month\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But Chin-Hong said that just because a new vaccine is expected soon, uninsured people shouldn’t be dissuaded from getting the current vaccine for free now — not just because the money for free shots is about to run out, but also because it’s not necessarily the best idea to get the new shot the minute it’s released anyway.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even though the CDC recommends waiting two months between COVID-19 shots, “you won’t want to get the vaccine when it comes out immediately anyway as it is meant for the expected onslaught of cases in the winter,” Chin-Hong said. “Get it too soon, and your maximal antibodies will peak before you need it.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And amid current high infection rates, there’s data to indicate that the available COVID-19 vaccine still offers good protection against the latest variants causing this surge, even though it was originally targeted to older variants, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The superpower of the vaccine is to protect against serious disease, hospitalization and death,” he said. “And for that, even the [current] XBB.1.5 booster will perform spectacularly well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Getting the current COVID-19 vaccine now for free might also buy uninsured people some time — and extra immunity — as public health agencies work out how to continue extending access to them, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Uninsured people who get the vaccine now can rest assured that the vaccine will likely protect against serious disease for at least a year,” he said. “So even if there are problems with getting the new vaccine in the fall, I feel comfortable that many of those can take this immune system reminder to carry them through the winter reasonably well.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cstrong>\u003ca id=\"location\">\u003c/a>How can I find a free COVID shot ASAP if I’m uninsured?\u003c/strong>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Like many aspects of finding COVID-19 care at this stage of the pandemic, even finding a location that offers free COVID-19 vaccines to uninsured people through the Bridge Access Program has become more difficult — especially since the CDC removed its online vaccine locator tool, which showed all Bridge Access Program sites from \u003ca href=\"http://vaccines.gov\">vaccines.gov\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re uninsured and want to find a free COVID-19 shot as soon as possible before the program funding runs out, here’s a selection of options. Unfortunately, a number of them now require proactive research and action.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Use the state’s My Turn Vaccine Locator\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/vaccinelocator.html\">This online tool from the California Department of Public Health\u003c/a> allows you to filter by vaccine type and insurance status. However, this tool does not show every single vaccination site that may offer free shots through the Bridge Access Program for those without insurance. For example, it only returns two clinics that offer COVID-19 shots to uninsured people within 50 miles of San Francisco (in Napa and San Jose).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Find a community health center through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/\">HHS has a map tool showing community health centers \u003c/a>that \u003cem>may \u003c/em>offer free COVID-19 shots for uninsured people. After you search for a nearby location, contact that center directly to ask if it’s offering no-insurance COVID-19 shots for free through the Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Public Health (SFDPH) also said that\u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-covid-19-flu-and-rsv\"> its AITC Immunization and Travel Clinic provides the COVID-19 vaccine to uninsured people\u003c/a>, although the agency notes that “people outside of San Francisco are encouraged to contact their local health department to find a vaccine near them.” The clinic is located at 101 Grove Street, Room 102, and appointments are required: call 415-554-2625 for hours and availability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>SFDPH also recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-covid-19-flu-and-rsv\">uninsured people visit the appointment-only San Francisco Free Clinic \u003c/a>(4900 California St.; call 415-750-9894 for hours and availability). But when you call, check if you need to be an SF resident to receive a free COVID-19 vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Reach out to your local pharmacy\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Both the California Department of Public Health and SFDPH recommend you directly contact pharmacies near you to ask if they have COVID-19 vaccines in stock and whether they’re offering those shots for free through the Bridge Access Program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember to be \u003cem>really \u003c/em>careful and confirm repeatedly that any shot will actually be free, as the \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">out-of-pocket cost can be steep. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Reach out to your local health department\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Contact your city or county’s public health department to ask if they’re still offering free COVID-19 vaccines to people without insurance through the Bridge Access Program or otherwise. The following links may also provide information on community clinics offering vaccines — just be sure to stress you don’t have insurance and are looking for free shots.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://covid-19.acgov.org/vaccines\">Alameda County COVID-19 vaccination \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cityofberkeley.info/covid19-vaccine/\">City of Berkeley COVID-19 vaccination \u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cchealth.org/health-and-safety-information/communicable-disease-program/covid-19/covid-vaccine\">Contra Costa COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/vaccinefinder\">Marin County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/3096/Vaccination\">Napa County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/get-vaccinated-against-covid-19-flu-and-rsv\">San Francisco COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smchealth.org/coronavirus\">San Mateo County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://publichealth.santaclaracounty.gov/programs-and-services/pharmacy-and-vaccination-services/covid-testing-vaccines-and-treatment\">Santa Clara County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://solanocounty.com/depts/ph/default.asp\">Solano County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/disease-control/covid-19/vaccines\">Sonoma County COVID-19 vaccination\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What will happen with free COVID vaccinations for uninsured people in the long run?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>It’s still unclear.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a recent statement, the California Department of Public Health said they are “exploring options to continue to support COVID-19 vaccine access after the end of the BAP program for uninsured and underinsured adults, including limited federal and state funding sources,” and that vaccine manufacturers “may also develop patient assistance programs.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency, it said, “remains committed to monitoring vaccine access options for vulnerable populations, including uninsured adults and will share relevant information as it becomes available.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Stacey, of Lifelong Medical Care, said that in the absence of official guidance, clinics like his are “going to work on seeing what we can do to get funding and get resources to be able to continue, hopefully in the near future, to be able to provide the vaccines to the uninsured again.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We are trying to figure out how we can get funding or be able to purchase at least a limited supply of vaccines that we can use for those who are experiencing homelessness,” he said. “We don’t have a solution to that right now. Not only are the vaccines not being provided to us through this program, but the cost of the vaccines has also gone up.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong, of UCSF, is optimistic that in the fall, Bay Area and statewide public health officials “will likely find a way to get the new COVID vaccine into uninsured arms” since he’s found those agencies “generally more forward-thinking” and willing to “provide more safety net programs than many other areas in the country.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“However,” he said, “it will take some time for these programs to roll out smoothly.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story includes reporting from KQED’s Spencer Whitney and Danielle Venton. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’re now in the fifth year of the COVID-19 pandemic and still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">the virus continues to spread,\u003c/a> with \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-currentlevels.html\">California currently in the “Very High” category\u003c/a> for levels of the virus in wastewater. And after several years of evolving guidelines and best practices from public health officials, if you’re unclear on the current recommendations on what anyone with COVID-19 should actually \u003cem>do\u003c/em> when it comes to what we all used to call “quarantine,” you’re definitely not alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially revised their national guidance for how long people with COVID-19 should isolate from others — saying that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html\">COVID-positive people can now return to work or regular activities\u003c/a> once their symptoms are “improving overall,” and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication. The CDC’s new isolation guidelines have been in effect since March 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previously, the CDC advised that people who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from other people for at least five days, regardless of the severity of their symptoms — or whether they had symptoms at all. Now, the CDC says that the number of days you isolate for instead depends on how long you have symptoms, which could be longer (or shorter) than five days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#covidguidelines\">\u003cstrong>I tested positive. How do the CDC’s latest COVID isolation guidelines work?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#asymptomaticcovid\">\u003cstrong>Why do officials think it’s safe for asymptomatic COVID-positive folks to be in public?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for a breakdown of the CDC’s 2024 COVID-19 isolation guidelines, how they’re different to the recommendations you may have become used to over the past few years and how to think about the risk your positive COVID-19 test still poses to others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, if you get COVID-19 there’s nothing stopping you — if you’re able — from continuing to use at-home antigen testing and leaving isolation only when you get that negative result. (In fact, t\u003ca href=\"http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidcommunity/\">he Los Angeles County Department of Public Health still recommends that you “test negative\u003c/a> before leaving isolation.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, this option has become a lot more difficult for many people in 2024, due to limited sick days and how it’s become far harder to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">find free COVID-19 tests\u003c/a> to do that repeat testing. Remember, you can still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">get your health insurer to reimburse you\u003c/a> for the costs of up to eight antigen tests per month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidguidelines\">\u003c/a>I just tested positive. How do the CDC’s latest COVID isolation guidelines work?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, you should isolate from other people for as long as you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms that aren’t improving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When can I start to consider leaving isolation, according to the CDC?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once your symptoms start improving, \u003cem>and\u003c/em> any fever you’ve had has been gone for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication, the CDC says that you can exit isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But you’ll need both of these things — symptoms improving for at least 24 hours \u003cem>and\u003c/em> the absence of fever for at least 24 hours — to happen before you can leave isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if your fever has been gone more than a day but your other symptoms haven’t improved, you still need to keep isolating until they do improve, says the CDC. And if your other symptoms get better but you get a new fever, you need to keep isolating (or go back into isolation) until that fever has been gone for 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Remember, there’s growing evidence that\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972313/negative-covid-test-incubation-period\"> some people take longer to get a positive test on an at-home antigen test.\u003c/a> If you have symptoms but have tested negative, don’t assume it means you’re COVID-free. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html\">The CDC recommends that you take another antigen test 48 hours later\u003c/a> and then test again after another 48 hours. (You can also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\">seek out a PCR test\u003c/a>, which is more sensitive.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11993742\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11993742\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1912\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation-800x797.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation-1020x1016.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation-160x159.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation-1536x1530.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A visualization of the CDC’s 2024 guidelines around isolating with COVID \u003ccite>(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What should I do when I leave isolation, according to the CDC?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once your COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving for at least 24 hours, and any fever has been gone without the aid of medication for that period of time, the CDC says that you should still take “added precaution over the next 5 days.” These precautions include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Wearing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/masks.html\">a mask around others.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Taking additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/air-quality.html\">steps for cleaner air.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/hygiene.html\">Taking additional steps for hygiene.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Maintaining \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/physical-distancing.html\">physical distance \u003c/a>around others.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/testing.html\">Testing \u003c/a>when you will be around other people indoors.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that you “keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better.” How much less contagious you actually are during this time “depend[s] on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were,” says the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html\">See the CDC’s visualizations of different isolation timelines for people who test positive for COVID.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What if I test positive but don’t have any symptoms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You may be contagious,” says the CDC, so assume that you are, for the safety of those around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that for five days after you test positive without symptoms, you should take those same added precautions they advise for symptomatic people once they leave isolation: masking, creating cleaner air, enhanced hygiene and physical distancing. This is, the agency says, “especially important to protect people with factors that increase their risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Are California’s isolation guidelines any different from the CDC’s?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Respiratory-Viruses/Home.aspx\">California’s own online resources around COVID-19\u003c/a> and other respiratory viruses now recommend that Californians with COVID-19 refer directly to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html\">the CDC’s guidelines around isolation\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you feel like the state’s quarantine guidance used to be different to the CDC’s, you’re not imagining it — they were. Back in January, when the CDC was still recommending that people who test positive should stay away from other people for at least five days regardless of whether or not they had symptoms, the California Department of Public Health announced it was softening those guidelines for Californians — and was instead advising a move away from the five-day rule in favor of “instead focus[ing] on clinical symptoms to determine when to end isolation.” Then in March, the CDC’s own update isolation guidance almost exactly resembled the policy California had adopted a few months earlier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The biggest difference between \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Isolation-Guidance.aspx#\">California’s January guidelines\u003c/a> and the CDC’s revised advice was what people who test positive for COVID but do \u003cem>not\u003c/em> have symptoms — known as asymptomatic infections — should do when it comes to isolation and avoiding infecting others. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Isolation-Guidance.aspx#\">The state said that asymptomatic people with COVID should wear a mask indoors around others for 10 days\u003c/a> and avoid higher-risk people for the same duration. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html\">The CDC’s update noted that asymptomatic people “may be contagious”\u003c/a> and should only take “added precautions[s],” including possible masking, for five days — advice that California’s public health officials have now also adopted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s January guidelines also recommended that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Isolation-Guidance.aspx#\">COVID-positive people with symptoms should mask \u003c/a>around other people indoors for a full 10 days after their positive test or symptom onset. Now that California public health officials are directing state residents to the CDC’s own advice, this 10-day requirement is no longer mentioned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The March 1 update represented the first time during the pandemic that the CDC had moved away from set periods of isolation for people with COVID. At the outset of the pandemic in 2020, the CDC stipulated a 10-day period of isolation for COVID-positive patients —\u003ca href=\"https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html\"> a period shortened to five days in December 2021\u003c/a>. This update was still accompanied by guidance to wear a well-fitted mask for another five days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why did public health officials make this change to COVID isolation guidelines?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC says that this latest guidance “brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses,” bundling guidance on COVID into that for other viruses like flu and RSV as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/respiratory-virus-guidance.html\">one set of Respiratory Virus Guidance\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doing this, said the agency, “makes recommendations easier to follow and thus more likely to be adopted and does not rely on individuals to test for illness, a practice that data indicates is uneven.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CDPH says that in 2024, the agency’s “policies and priorities for intervention are now \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Isolation-Guidance.aspx#\">focused on protecting those most at risk for serious illness while reducing social disruption \u003c/a>that is disproportionate to recommendations for the prevention of other endemic respiratory viral infections.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"asymptomaticcovid\">\u003c/a>Why does the state now think it’s safe for asymptomatic COVID-positive folks to be in public?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After over four years of public health policy at the federal and state levels that’s emphasized “If you’re COVID-positive, stay the heck away from other people,” the 2024 update might seem jarring to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also the fact that since 2020, we’ve been told that not only can asymptomatic people be contagious with COVID-19, they might be responsible for fueling a lot of the spread of COVID-19 — because those folks are so often unaware they even have the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We know that you can be contagious without symptoms,” said Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Stanford University. “We also know that symptomatology can increase the risk of transmission. So if you’re coughing and sneezing, you’re probably emitting more viral particles.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11968709 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/11/GettyImages-1447896208-1020x680.jpg']This latest guidance focuses on symptomatic people as posing the \u003ci>most \u003c/i>risk to others, noted Karan — hence the continuing recommendation that those people stay home until those symptoms get milder.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What are the concerns over this latest guidance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Karan says he’d have liked to have seen California public health officials give the public more information about “the rationale behind why they were doing it,” so that the public could understand that this guidance wasn’t a green light to go out into the world with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they’d said, ‘People that are not symptomatic can be contagious, but it’s less likely, and people without symptoms are likely going to be shedding less virus, so if you wear a high filtration mask, your risk of infecting others is quite low, and that’s why we’re doing it’? I think that would have made a lot of sense,” Karan says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2024/01/california-covid-rule-isolation/\">Calmatters has reported that disability and equity advocates particularly criticized the latest guidelines when they were first announced by California health officials\u003c/a>, saying the guidance could increase the risk of infection for Californians most vulnerable to severe illness or death from the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This policy is not based in science, equity or public health,” Lisa McCorkell, cofounder of the Patient-Led Research Collaborative that studies the impacts of long COVID, told CalMatters. “It devalues the lives of immunocompromised and disabled people and completely ignores \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11950643/screaming-into-a-void-long-covid-patients-have-waited-in-vain-for-years-for-treatments\">the risk of long COVID\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michelle Gutierrez Vo, a registered nurse with Kaiser Permanente and a president of the California Nurses Association, echoed these concerns back when CDPH announced their guidelines relaxing isolation requirements, calling them “a step backwards from protecting public health” and “very dangerous.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“High risk people do not walk around with a flag saying ‘I am high risk,’ so then the people that are COVID-positive can identify them and stay away from them,” said Gutierrez Vo. “It doesn’t work that way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So therefore, if you cannot be selective of who you need to be getting away from, then there just has to be a general understanding or a mandate — which is what we had — to make sure to protect the general public. It is the Department of Public Health’s responsibility to uphold public health, and they are not doing that with this new guidance,” said Gutierrez Vo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the risks of long COVID, Gutierrez Vo said that California’s relaxing of isolation protocol\u003cem> “\u003c/em>puts everyone in danger.” COVID, she said, “is not like any other respiratory illness. When you have flu and you get over it, it doesn’t have long term effects. When you have RSV, or any other respiratory illness like a viral syndrome, it doesn’t damage your kidney or it doesn’t damage your heart.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Lesley McClurg. An earlier version of this story originally published on March 4.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2024. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 1:20 p.m. on Tuesday, July 30\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>We’re now in the fifth year of the COVID-19 pandemic and still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">the virus continues to spread,\u003c/a> with \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-currentlevels.html\">California currently in the “Very High” category\u003c/a> for levels of the virus in wastewater. And after several years of evolving guidelines and best practices from public health officials, if you’re unclear on the current recommendations on what anyone with COVID-19 should actually \u003cem>do\u003c/em> when it comes to what we all used to call “quarantine,” you’re definitely not alone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This spring, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially revised their national guidance for how long people with COVID-19 should isolate from others — saying that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html\">COVID-positive people can now return to work or regular activities\u003c/a> once their symptoms are “improving overall,” and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication. The CDC’s new isolation guidelines have been in effect since March 1.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previously, the CDC advised that people who test positive for COVID-19 should stay home and isolate from other people for at least five days, regardless of the severity of their symptoms — or whether they had symptoms at all. Now, the CDC says that the number of days you isolate for instead depends on how long you have symptoms, which could be longer (or shorter) than five days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#covidguidelines\">\u003cstrong>I tested positive. How do the CDC’s latest COVID isolation guidelines work?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#asymptomaticcovid\">\u003cstrong>Why do officials think it’s safe for asymptomatic COVID-positive folks to be in public?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for a breakdown of the CDC’s 2024 COVID-19 isolation guidelines, how they’re different to the recommendations you may have become used to over the past few years and how to think about the risk your positive COVID-19 test still poses to others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember, if you get COVID-19 there’s nothing stopping you — if you’re able — from continuing to use at-home antigen testing and leaving isolation only when you get that negative result. (In fact, t\u003ca href=\"http://publichealth.lacounty.gov/acd/ncorona2019/covidcommunity/\">he Los Angeles County Department of Public Health still recommends that you “test negative\u003c/a> before leaving isolation.”)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Unfortunately, this option has become a lot more difficult for many people in 2024, due to limited sick days and how it’s become far harder to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">find free COVID-19 tests\u003c/a> to do that repeat testing. Remember, you can still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">get your health insurer to reimburse you\u003c/a> for the costs of up to eight antigen tests per month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidguidelines\">\u003c/a>I just tested positive. How do the CDC’s latest COVID isolation guidelines work?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, you should isolate from other people for as long as you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms that aren’t improving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>When can I start to consider leaving isolation, according to the CDC?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once your symptoms start improving, \u003cem>and\u003c/em> any fever you’ve had has been gone for 24 hours without the aid of fever-reducing medication, the CDC says that you can exit isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But you’ll need both of these things — symptoms improving for at least 24 hours \u003cem>and\u003c/em> the absence of fever for at least 24 hours — to happen before you can leave isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So if your fever has been gone more than a day but your other symptoms haven’t improved, you still need to keep isolating until they do improve, says the CDC. And if your other symptoms get better but you get a new fever, you need to keep isolating (or go back into isolation) until that fever has been gone for 24 hours.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>(Remember, there’s growing evidence that\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972313/negative-covid-test-incubation-period\"> some people take longer to get a positive test on an at-home antigen test.\u003c/a> If you have symptoms but have tested negative, don’t assume it means you’re COVID-free. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/testing.html\">The CDC recommends that you take another antigen test 48 hours later\u003c/a> and then test again after another 48 hours. (You can also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\">seek out a PCR test\u003c/a>, which is more sensitive.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11993742\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11993742\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1912\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation-800x797.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation-1020x1016.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation-160x159.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/03/covid-isolation-1536x1530.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A visualization of the CDC’s 2024 guidelines around isolating with COVID \u003ccite>(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What should I do when I leave isolation, according to the CDC?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once your COVID-19 symptoms are mild and improving for at least 24 hours, and any fever has been gone without the aid of medication for that period of time, the CDC says that you should still take “added precaution over the next 5 days.” These precautions include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Wearing \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/masks.html\">a mask around others.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Taking additional \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/air-quality.html\">steps for cleaner air.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/hygiene.html\">Taking additional steps for hygiene.\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Maintaining \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/physical-distancing.html\">physical distance \u003c/a>around others.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/testing.html\">Testing \u003c/a>when you will be around other people indoors.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that you “keep in mind that you may still be able to spread the virus that made you sick, even if you are feeling better.” How much less contagious you actually are during this time “depend[s] on factors like how long you were sick or how sick you were,” says the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html\">See the CDC’s visualizations of different isolation timelines for people who test positive for COVID.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>What if I test positive but don’t have any symptoms?\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You may be contagious,” says the CDC, so assume that you are, for the safety of those around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that for five days after you test positive without symptoms, you should take those same added precautions they advise for symptomatic people once they leave isolation: masking, creating cleaner air, enhanced hygiene and physical distancing. This is, the agency says, “especially important to protect people with factors that increase their risk of severe illness from respiratory viruses.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Are California’s isolation guidelines any different from the CDC’s?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>No. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Respiratory-Viruses/Home.aspx\">California’s own online resources around COVID-19\u003c/a> and other respiratory viruses now recommend that Californians with COVID-19 refer directly to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html\">the CDC’s guidelines around isolation\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if you feel like the state’s quarantine guidance used to be different to the CDC’s, you’re not imagining it — they were. Back in January, when the CDC was still recommending that people who test positive should stay away from other people for at least five days regardless of whether or not they had symptoms, the California Department of Public Health announced it was softening those guidelines for Californians — and was instead advising a move away from the five-day rule in favor of “instead focus[ing] on clinical symptoms to determine when to end isolation.” Then in March, the CDC’s own update isolation guidance almost exactly resembled the policy California had adopted a few months earlier.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The biggest difference between \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Isolation-Guidance.aspx#\">California’s January guidelines\u003c/a> and the CDC’s revised advice was what people who test positive for COVID but do \u003cem>not\u003c/em> have symptoms — known as asymptomatic infections — should do when it comes to isolation and avoiding infecting others. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Isolation-Guidance.aspx#\">The state said that asymptomatic people with COVID should wear a mask indoors around others for 10 days\u003c/a> and avoid higher-risk people for the same duration. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/prevention/precautions-when-sick.html\">The CDC’s update noted that asymptomatic people “may be contagious”\u003c/a> and should only take “added precautions[s],” including possible masking, for five days — advice that California’s public health officials have now also adopted.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California’s January guidelines also recommended that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Isolation-Guidance.aspx#\">COVID-positive people with symptoms should mask \u003c/a>around other people indoors for a full 10 days after their positive test or symptom onset. Now that California public health officials are directing state residents to the CDC’s own advice, this 10-day requirement is no longer mentioned.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The March 1 update represented the first time during the pandemic that the CDC had moved away from set periods of isolation for people with COVID. At the outset of the pandemic in 2020, the CDC stipulated a 10-day period of isolation for COVID-positive patients —\u003ca href=\"https://archive.cdc.gov/www_cdc_gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html\"> a period shortened to five days in December 2021\u003c/a>. This update was still accompanied by guidance to wear a well-fitted mask for another five days.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need information about right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Why did public health officials make this change to COVID isolation guidelines?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC says that this latest guidance “brings a unified approach to addressing risks from a range of common respiratory viral illnesses,” bundling guidance on COVID into that for other viruses like flu and RSV as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/guidance/respiratory-virus-guidance.html\">one set of Respiratory Virus Guidance\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Doing this, said the agency, “makes recommendations easier to follow and thus more likely to be adopted and does not rely on individuals to test for illness, a practice that data indicates is uneven.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>CDPH says that in 2024, the agency’s “policies and priorities for intervention are now \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-19/COVID-19-Isolation-Guidance.aspx#\">focused on protecting those most at risk for serious illness while reducing social disruption \u003c/a>that is disproportionate to recommendations for the prevention of other endemic respiratory viral infections.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"asymptomaticcovid\">\u003c/a>Why does the state now think it’s safe for asymptomatic COVID-positive folks to be in public?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>After over four years of public health policy at the federal and state levels that’s emphasized “If you’re COVID-positive, stay the heck away from other people,” the 2024 update might seem jarring to you.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There’s also the fact that since 2020, we’ve been told that not only can asymptomatic people be contagious with COVID-19, they might be responsible for fueling a lot of the spread of COVID-19 — because those folks are so often unaware they even have the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We know that you can be contagious without symptoms,” said Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician and researcher at Stanford University. “We also know that symptomatology can increase the risk of transmission. So if you’re coughing and sneezing, you’re probably emitting more viral particles.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>This latest guidance focuses on symptomatic people as posing the \u003ci>most \u003c/i>risk to others, noted Karan — hence the continuing recommendation that those people stay home until those symptoms get milder.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What are the concerns over this latest guidance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Karan says he’d have liked to have seen California public health officials give the public more information about “the rationale behind why they were doing it,” so that the public could understand that this guidance wasn’t a green light to go out into the world with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“If they’d said, ‘People that are not symptomatic can be contagious, but it’s less likely, and people without symptoms are likely going to be shedding less virus, so if you wear a high filtration mask, your risk of infecting others is quite low, and that’s why we’re doing it’? I think that would have made a lot of sense,” Karan says.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://calmatters.org/health/2024/01/california-covid-rule-isolation/\">Calmatters has reported that disability and equity advocates particularly criticized the latest guidelines when they were first announced by California health officials\u003c/a>, saying the guidance could increase the risk of infection for Californians most vulnerable to severe illness or death from the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This policy is not based in science, equity or public health,” Lisa McCorkell, cofounder of the Patient-Led Research Collaborative that studies the impacts of long COVID, told CalMatters. “It devalues the lives of immunocompromised and disabled people and completely ignores \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11950643/screaming-into-a-void-long-covid-patients-have-waited-in-vain-for-years-for-treatments\">the risk of long COVID\u003c/a>.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Michelle Gutierrez Vo, a registered nurse with Kaiser Permanente and a president of the California Nurses Association, echoed these concerns back when CDPH announced their guidelines relaxing isolation requirements, calling them “a step backwards from protecting public health” and “very dangerous.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“High risk people do not walk around with a flag saying ‘I am high risk,’ so then the people that are COVID-positive can identify them and stay away from them,” said Gutierrez Vo. “It doesn’t work that way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“So therefore, if you cannot be selective of who you need to be getting away from, then there just has to be a general understanding or a mandate — which is what we had — to make sure to protect the general public. It is the Department of Public Health’s responsibility to uphold public health, and they are not doing that with this new guidance,” said Gutierrez Vo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On the risks of long COVID, Gutierrez Vo said that California’s relaxing of isolation protocol\u003cem> “\u003c/em>puts everyone in danger.” COVID, she said, “is not like any other respiratory illness. When you have flu and you get over it, it doesn’t have long term effects. When you have RSV, or any other respiratory illness like a viral syndrome, it doesn’t damage your kidney or it doesn’t damage your heart.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>This story contains reporting by KQED’s Lesley McClurg. An earlier version of this story originally published on March 4.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need information about?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2024. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID-19\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a>, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger and help us decide what to cover here on our site and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "COVID Levels in Bay Area Wastewater Are Now as High as the Winter Peak",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 2:25 p.m., July 23\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Levels of COVID-19 in the Bay Area’s wastewater are continuing to rise — and now, those numbers are as high as they were during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the last winter surge of infections\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Data from Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN project, which monitors the presence of COVID-19 and other viruses in human sewage across the U.S., indicates that COVID-19 levels are still on the rise across 61% of the sites monitored around the Bay Area. Statewide, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-currentlevels.html\">California is currently in the “Very High” category\u003c/a> for levels of the virus in wastewater, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>WastewaterSCAN’s Amanda Bidwell told KQED by email that COVID-19 has been detected in 100% of Bay Area sewage samples they’ve collected over the last three weeks. (If you have COVID-19, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1963120/one-way-to-monitor-a-communitys-coronavirus-infections-raw-sewage\">the virus will show up in your feces \u003c/a>soon after you’re infected.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11996997\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11996997\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22-800x388.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22-1020x495.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22-160x78.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22-1536x746.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A graph showing WastewaterSCAN data from July 22 on COVID-19 levels in Bay Area wastewater, aggregated from across the region’s wastewater sites. \u003ccite>(WastewaterSCAN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about this rise in Bay Area COVID-19 levels, or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidcontagiousperiodisolation\">What’s the current COVID contagion and isolation guidance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#latestcovidvariants\">How much are new COVID variants driving this rise?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidsymptoms2024\">Are there any new 2024 COVID symptoms?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidrisksmasks\">Who is the most at risk for COVID right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What’s going on with COVID in the Bay Area’s wastewater right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area’s own COVID-19 wastewater levels are “higher than where they were this time last year and on average as high as we saw during the winter peak earlier this year,” said WastewaterSCAN’s Bidwell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the last weeks, the Stanford team has observed \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkIQACABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgZOIEdlbmVyCjIwMjQtMDQtMDJyCjIwMjQtMDUtMTSKAQY4MzNmYjDAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=833fb0\">a particularly pronounced rise in San Francisco’s wastewater.\u003c/a> Bidwell told KQED that the data shows “some of the highest wastewater levels we’ve observed at these 2 SF sites to date.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11996998\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11996998\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22-800x388.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22-1020x495.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22-160x78.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22-1536x746.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A graph showing WastewaterSCAN data from July 19 illustrating COVID-19 levels in San Francisco wastewater, aggregated from the city’s two wastewater sites. \u003ccite>(WastewaterSCAN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Public Health told KQED in a June 11 email that it’s “difficult to determine an exact cause of why COVID-19 detections have increased” locally, noting that “it can be the result of various factors, including waning immunity, the increase in travel and gatherings associated with the summer season, and the emergence of new subvariants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency also pointed to the seasonal behavior of the virus in previous years, notably the “increase in COVID-19 activity around late spring to late summer, followed by another increase during the winter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nationally, \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker?charts=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%2FAQ%3D%3D&selectedChartId=806084\">COVID-19 wastewater levels have kept rising across the country, \u003c/a>and \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/?selectedLocation=%7B%22label%22%3A%22National%22,%22level%22%3A%22national%22,%22value%22%3A%22national%22%7D&locationExpanded=true&charts=CjIQACABSABaBk4gR2VuZXIKMjAyNC0wNS0wMXIKMjAyNC0wNi0xMooBBjEwYTE3NsABAQ%3D%3D&selectedChartId=10a176\">levels of the virus are currently classified as “High” on WastewaterSCAN’s dashboard \u003c/a>of all its sites around the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check the COVID-19 levels in your own county’s wastewater according to WastewaterSCAN’s monitoring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgZOIEdlbmV41AGKAQZiNDYyMGHAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=b4620a\">San Francisco \u003c/a>| \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkUQACABSABSBjVhYTY5OVIGMDJkMjQyUgZkZDM2ZmJSBjY3YzJlYlIGMjkzYjI1WgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQY1OTRlYzPAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=594ec3\">Alameda\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Cj0QACABSABSBjA3Y2VkN1IGN2NhOTA1UgY3NGIzOWFSBmM5NWU2NFoGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGMjc3MmU4wAEB&selectedChartId=2772e8\">San Mateo\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Cj0QACABSABSBjI1NDgxOVIGOGE5YjRiUgY1NzlkYTNSBmM4ZDM1N1oGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGZDVjZjMzwAEB&selectedChartId=d5cf33\">Santa Clara\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBjc0ZDAyNlIGNTc1NzM4WgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQY1MDg4Y2XAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=5088ce\">Contra Costa\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmZhMmQ2M1IGMGM4MDkxWgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQYwMzU3N2bAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=03577f\">Solano\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkQQACABSABSBjI0ZDAzMFIGNjQ3M2MwUgZiOTI1ZTdSBmRkZTg4ZlIGODRkNDg5WgZOIEdlbmV4dYoBBmZhZGM0ZsABAQ%3D%3D&selectedChartId=fadc4f\">Marin\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CjIQACABSABSBjMwMzJjOFIGNzFhMmY0UgZiYzc5ZjlaBk4gR2VuZXjSAYoBBmQ1NjA5Yw%3D%3D&selectedChartId=d5609c\">Sonoma\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CiUQACABSABSBmI3MjNhZVoGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGZDU1MTZkwAEB&selectedChartId=d5516d\">Napa\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#covidrisksmasks\">How should I be altering my behavior during a rise in COVID?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>COVID swelled earlier this summer than it did in 2023. Why?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In 2023, “late June is when we started to see a summer increase,” said WastewaterSCAN’s Bidwell — but this 2024 swell started several weeks earlier than that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s undoubtedly become harder in 2024 to materially track COVID-19 levels in a certain area. As of May 1, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/california-stop-posting-covid-hospitalization-19408893.php\">the CDC no longer requires hospitals nationwide to report the number of patients admitted with COVID-19\u003c/a>. This had been one of the remaining indicators of rising COVID-19 levels in an area, along with PCR tests. Now, health officials must rely on a combination of wastewater data and hospital deaths of patients with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Respiratory-Viruses/RespiratoryDashboard.aspx\">the state’s seven-day test positivity rate\u003c/a> — the average percentage of people each week who get a positive diagnostic test result from a lab after taking a PCR test — has kept rising since April 27 (from 1.9% to 12.8%, with the last available data from July 15).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, since this data doesn’t include at-home antigen testing, it doesn’t represent the full picture of COVID-19 positivity around the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11987440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11987440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A registered nurse prepares a dose of the Moderna vaccine at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, Alameda County, on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. \u003ccite>(Jessica Christian/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Of course, it’s hard to use wastewater to tell you how many people that represents,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), of the recent observed rise in sewage. “But nevertheless, the trend is important.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for \u003cem>why \u003c/em>the Bay Area could now be seeing a summer rise in COVID-19 wastewater levels over a month earlier than it did in 2023, Chin-Hong said a big factor is our collective waning immunity against the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need to know about COVID right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“One year ago, last year, many more people had gotten additional vaccines,” he said. “They had additional immunity that was more recent.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in 2024, “we only have about 22% or so of Americans vaccinated” nationally, Chin-Hong said. In California, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-Vaccine-Data.aspx\">only 14.9% of people statewide are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines\u003c/a>. So if someone hasn’t been infected with COVID-19 recently and they haven’t gotten the latest vaccine, they’re left extra-vulnerable to rising COVID-19 levels in their community.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"latestcovidvariants\">\u003c/a>How much are new COVID variants driving this rise?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You might hear about \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/flirt-variants-summer-covid-wave-19445209.php\">new COVID-19 variants informally called “FLiRT”\u003c/a>: KP.1.1, KP.2 and KP.3.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These latest omicron descendants, nicknamed for the letters used for their mutations, have risen in prominence recently around the country, overtaking \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the previous leading variant, JN.1\u003c/a> — the one that “was ruling the roost for a lot of the winter and spring,” Chin-Hong said. Now, \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">KP.3 has become the most dominant strain nationwide\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, WastewaterSCAN’s Bidwell said that KP.2 is still the dominant variant in the three Bay Area wastewater sites where the Stanford team sequenced this data on specific variants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new variants matter because each new one brought increased transmissibility during the pandemic. This means that although much of the general population will not get particularly sick with these new COVID-19 variants when they become dominant, there will still be higher-risk groups that will get seriously ill, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Maybe that’s the fact of life, but my point is: It \u003cem>shouldn’t \u003c/em>be the fact of life because we have so many tools” to reduce COVID-19 spread and treat infectious people, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC has also stated that based on current data, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flirt-covid-variants-us-cases/\">“there are no indicators that KP.2 would cause more severe illness than other strains.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the reformulated seasonal COVID-19 vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended on June 5 that \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/updated-covid-19-vaccines-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2024\">the new, updated COVID-19 vaccine that will be offered in the fall should in fact be based on the JN.1 variant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidrisksmasks\">\u003c/a>Who is the most at risk for COVID right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“I’m not worried about the general population because people have seen it so many times already,” Chin-Hong said. “The majority of folks [are] going to be OK.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But “I’m worried about the most vulnerable,” he said, pointing to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-Vaccine-Data.aspx\">low vaccination rates among people age 65 and older\u003c/a> — despite\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\"> an extra COVID-19 vaccine dose being made available to this age group back in February \u003c/a>because of their heightened risk levels.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\"> Read more about finding an additional COVID-19 vaccine if you’re 65 or older.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While it may feel confusing and frustrating — or like a personal step backward — to still think about COVID-19 precautions in 2024, that’s understandable. But there are actions you can take in response to a rise in COVID-19 numbers to protect the health of you and your loved ones, stop community spread among the most high-risk people and reduce the disruption that a COVID-19 infection in your household can bring to your lives, your work and much-anticipated summer travel plans.[aside postID=news_11973108 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/GettyImages-1361590305-1-1020x680.jpg']During a rise in COVID-19 levels locally, this might include bringing a well-fitting N95 mask along to indoor spaces that you know could be crowded, like the grocery store or BART during rush hour. Or, if you’re hosting people indoors in your home,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967946/covid-ventilation-guide-indoors-windows\"> ensure the space has good ventilation by taking measures like opening windows\u003c/a>. If the weather allows, you might also consider favoring outdoor hangouts and meetups with friends and family at this current time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re at higher risk for serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19, it’s an especially good idea to take extra precautions against the virus during a rise in COVID-19 locally. These groups can include older people, immunocompromised and disabled folks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also includes people who aren’t up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines, so if you haven’t already gotten the latest vaccine, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">you can still find a free COVID-19 shot near you.\u003c/a> Remember,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\"> people 65 and older are also eligible for an extra COVID-19 vaccine dose\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One more reason you might consider being extra cautious about COVID-19 right now is if you’ve got upcoming travel plans. Even if your symptoms are mild, a COVID-19 infection can require isolation from other people for well over a week. And you can double that timeline if you get a rebound (i.e., second) infection, which is surprisingly common even in people who don’t take the antiviral treatment Paxlovid.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidsymptoms2024\">\u003c/a>I’m worried I might have COVID. What should I do?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know the 2024 symptoms of COVID-19 \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong confirms that there don’t appear to be any surprising “wild card” symptoms expected for a COVID-19 infection in 2024, either for JN.1 or the FLiRT variants. Rather, they seem to largely be the same COVID-19 symptoms you’re used to hearing about from previous variants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, possible symptoms of COVID-19 include, but aren’t limited to, fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat and congestion or runny nose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/well/covid-flirt-variants-symptoms.html\"> They can also include gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea\u003c/a>, which Chin-Hong told the \u003cem>New York Times\u003c/em> can often confuse people experiencing them, who initially assume they have a condition like norovirus rather than COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11987436\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11987436\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1287\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut-1020x684.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut-1536x1030.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">During a rise in COVID-19 levels locally, protect the health of yourself and your loved ones by bringing a well-fitting N95 mask to spaces that could be crowded, like the ballpark, grocery store or BART during rush hour. \u003ccite>(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"covidcontagiousperiodisolation\">\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>Find a reliable test (and keep testing)\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Incubation periods for COVID-19 — the time between exposure and testing positive — have shortened during the pandemic. It went from a five-day average in 2020 to as soon as a few days in 2024. So, if you’re having symptoms even two days after an exposure, it makes sense to test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if your first test is negative, you should absolutely test again in the next 48 hours if symptoms persist — and again after that if you’re still negative. It’s been suggested that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972313/negative-covid-test-incubation-period\">COVID-19 symptoms can start much earlier in 2024\u003c/a>. This is due to the average immune system being more primed to detect and react to a COVID-19 infection as we navigate the fifth year of this pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So don’t assume a negative result means you don’t actually have COVID-19: If you’re feeling sick, play it safe, stay home as much as you can and wear a well-fitted mask if you can’t. Also, be sure to take another antigen test soon. You could also seek out a more sensitive PCR test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve been stockpiling COVID-19 tests in the last year, make sure the one you’re using hasn’t expired. And if it has, you can still \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">check the list of manufacturers who’ve had their test expiration dates extended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">request reimbursement from your health insurer for up to eight at-home tests per month\u003c/a>. You can also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\">read more about how to find free COVID-19 tests near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>And if you test positive for COVID …\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In March, the CDC officially revised their national COVID-19 isolation guidance, saying that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html\">COVID-positive people could now return to work or regular activities\u003c/a> once “symptoms are improving overall” and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">Read more about current isolation guidance for COVID-19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been infected, consider asking your health provider for the COVID-19 medication \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment in pill form that is still available free by prescription in California. \u003c/a>Read more on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">requesting a prescription for Paxlovid, with or without health insurance.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need to know about COVID right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2024. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, but also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about when it comes to COVID — or anything else? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[hearken id=\"10483\" src=\"https://modules.wearehearken.com/kqed/embed/10483.js\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Earlier versions of this story were originally published on June 12, June 5 and May 23.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"title": "COVID Levels in Bay Area Wastewater Are Now as High as the Winter Peak | KQED",
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"headline": "COVID Levels in Bay Area Wastewater Are Now as High as the Winter Peak",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 2:25 p.m., July 23\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Levels of COVID-19 in the Bay Area’s wastewater are continuing to rise — and now, those numbers are as high as they were during \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the last winter surge of infections\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Data from Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN project, which monitors the presence of COVID-19 and other viruses in human sewage across the U.S., indicates that COVID-19 levels are still on the rise across 61% of the sites monitored around the Bay Area. Statewide, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-currentlevels.html\">California is currently in the “Very High” category\u003c/a> for levels of the virus in wastewater, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>WastewaterSCAN’s Amanda Bidwell told KQED by email that COVID-19 has been detected in 100% of Bay Area sewage samples they’ve collected over the last three weeks. (If you have COVID-19, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1963120/one-way-to-monitor-a-communitys-coronavirus-infections-raw-sewage\">the virus will show up in your feces \u003c/a>soon after you’re infected.)\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11996997\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11996997\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22-800x388.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22-1020x495.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22-160x78.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/WastewaterSCAN-Bay-Area-July-22-1536x746.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A graph showing WastewaterSCAN data from July 22 on COVID-19 levels in Bay Area wastewater, aggregated from across the region’s wastewater sites. \u003ccite>(WastewaterSCAN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about this rise in Bay Area COVID-19 levels, or jump straight to:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidcontagiousperiodisolation\">What’s the current COVID contagion and isolation guidance?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#latestcovidvariants\">How much are new COVID variants driving this rise?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidsymptoms2024\">Are there any new 2024 COVID symptoms?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#covidrisksmasks\">Who is the most at risk for COVID right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>What’s going on with COVID in the Bay Area’s wastewater right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area’s own COVID-19 wastewater levels are “higher than where they were this time last year and on average as high as we saw during the winter peak earlier this year,” said WastewaterSCAN’s Bidwell.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the last weeks, the Stanford team has observed \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkIQACABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgZOIEdlbmVyCjIwMjQtMDQtMDJyCjIwMjQtMDUtMTSKAQY4MzNmYjDAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=833fb0\">a particularly pronounced rise in San Francisco’s wastewater.\u003c/a> Bidwell told KQED that the data shows “some of the highest wastewater levels we’ve observed at these 2 SF sites to date.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11996998\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11996998\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"932\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22.png 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22-800x388.png 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22-1020x495.png 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22-160x78.png 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/07/sf-covid-wastewater-7-22-1536x746.png 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A graph showing WastewaterSCAN data from July 19 illustrating COVID-19 levels in San Francisco wastewater, aggregated from the city’s two wastewater sites. \u003ccite>(WastewaterSCAN)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco Department of Public Health told KQED in a June 11 email that it’s “difficult to determine an exact cause of why COVID-19 detections have increased” locally, noting that “it can be the result of various factors, including waning immunity, the increase in travel and gatherings associated with the summer season, and the emergence of new subvariants.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The agency also pointed to the seasonal behavior of the virus in previous years, notably the “increase in COVID-19 activity around late spring to late summer, followed by another increase during the winter.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nationally, \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker?charts=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%2FAQ%3D%3D&selectedChartId=806084\">COVID-19 wastewater levels have kept rising across the country, \u003c/a>and \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/?selectedLocation=%7B%22label%22%3A%22National%22,%22level%22%3A%22national%22,%22value%22%3A%22national%22%7D&locationExpanded=true&charts=CjIQACABSABaBk4gR2VuZXIKMjAyNC0wNS0wMXIKMjAyNC0wNi0xMooBBjEwYTE3NsABAQ%3D%3D&selectedChartId=10a176\">levels of the virus are currently classified as “High” on WastewaterSCAN’s dashboard \u003c/a>of all its sites around the United States.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can check the COVID-19 levels in your own county’s wastewater according to WastewaterSCAN’s monitoring:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmU5ZTg3ZVIGMzc0MzBhWgZOIEdlbmV41AGKAQZiNDYyMGHAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=b4620a\">San Francisco \u003c/a>| \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkUQACABSABSBjVhYTY5OVIGMDJkMjQyUgZkZDM2ZmJSBjY3YzJlYlIGMjkzYjI1WgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQY1OTRlYzPAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=594ec3\">Alameda\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Cj0QACABSABSBjA3Y2VkN1IGN2NhOTA1UgY3NGIzOWFSBmM5NWU2NFoGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGMjc3MmU4wAEB&selectedChartId=2772e8\">San Mateo\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Cj0QACABSABSBjI1NDgxOVIGOGE5YjRiUgY1NzlkYTNSBmM4ZDM1N1oGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGZDVjZjMzwAEB&selectedChartId=d5cf33\">Santa Clara\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBjc0ZDAyNlIGNTc1NzM4WgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQY1MDg4Y2XAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=5088ce\">Contra Costa\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=Ci0QACABSABSBmZhMmQ2M1IGMGM4MDkxWgZOIEdlbmV40gGKAQYwMzU3N2bAAQE%3D&selectedChartId=03577f\">Solano\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CkQQACABSABSBjI0ZDAzMFIGNjQ3M2MwUgZiOTI1ZTdSBmRkZTg4ZlIGODRkNDg5WgZOIEdlbmV4dYoBBmZhZGM0ZsABAQ%3D%3D&selectedChartId=fadc4f\">Marin\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CjIQACABSABSBjMwMzJjOFIGNzFhMmY0UgZiYzc5ZjlaBk4gR2VuZXjSAYoBBmQ1NjA5Yw%3D%3D&selectedChartId=d5609c\">Sonoma\u003c/a> | \u003ca href=\"https://data.wastewaterscan.org/tracker/?charts=CiUQACABSABSBmI3MjNhZVoGTiBHZW5leNIBigEGZDU1MTZkwAEB&selectedChartId=d5516d\">Napa\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#covidrisksmasks\">How should I be altering my behavior during a rise in COVID?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>COVID swelled earlier this summer than it did in 2023. Why?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In 2023, “late June is when we started to see a summer increase,” said WastewaterSCAN’s Bidwell — but this 2024 swell started several weeks earlier than that.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It’s undoubtedly become harder in 2024 to materially track COVID-19 levels in a certain area. As of May 1, \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/california-stop-posting-covid-hospitalization-19408893.php\">the CDC no longer requires hospitals nationwide to report the number of patients admitted with COVID-19\u003c/a>. This had been one of the remaining indicators of rising COVID-19 levels in an area, along with PCR tests. Now, health officials must rely on a combination of wastewater data and hospital deaths of patients with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Respiratory-Viruses/RespiratoryDashboard.aspx\">the state’s seven-day test positivity rate\u003c/a> — the average percentage of people each week who get a positive diagnostic test result from a lab after taking a PCR test — has kept rising since April 27 (from 1.9% to 12.8%, with the last available data from July 15).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>However, since this data doesn’t include at-home antigen testing, it doesn’t represent the full picture of COVID-19 positivity around the state.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11987440\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11987440\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1297701066_qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">A registered nurse prepares a dose of the Moderna vaccine at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, Alameda County, on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021. \u003ccite>(Jessica Christian/The San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>“Of course, it’s hard to use wastewater to tell you how many people that represents,” said Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), of the recent observed rise in sewage. “But nevertheless, the trend is important.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for \u003cem>why \u003c/em>the Bay Area could now be seeing a summer rise in COVID-19 wastewater levels over a month earlier than it did in 2023, Chin-Hong said a big factor is our collective waning immunity against the virus.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#tellus\">Tell us: What else do you need to know about COVID right now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>“One year ago, last year, many more people had gotten additional vaccines,” he said. “They had additional immunity that was more recent.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But in 2024, “we only have about 22% or so of Americans vaccinated” nationally, Chin-Hong said. In California, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-Vaccine-Data.aspx\">only 14.9% of people statewide are up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines\u003c/a>. So if someone hasn’t been infected with COVID-19 recently and they haven’t gotten the latest vaccine, they’re left extra-vulnerable to rising COVID-19 levels in their community.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"latestcovidvariants\">\u003c/a>How much are new COVID variants driving this rise?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>You might hear about \u003ca href=\"https://www.sfchronicle.com/health/article/flirt-variants-summer-covid-wave-19445209.php\">new COVID-19 variants informally called “FLiRT”\u003c/a>: KP.1.1, KP.2 and KP.3.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These latest omicron descendants, nicknamed for the letters used for their mutations, have risen in prominence recently around the country, overtaking \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the previous leading variant, JN.1\u003c/a> — the one that “was ruling the roost for a lot of the winter and spring,” Chin-Hong said. Now, \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#variant-proportions\">KP.3 has become the most dominant strain nationwide\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, WastewaterSCAN’s Bidwell said that KP.2 is still the dominant variant in the three Bay Area wastewater sites where the Stanford team sequenced this data on specific variants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The new variants matter because each new one brought increased transmissibility during the pandemic. This means that although much of the general population will not get particularly sick with these new COVID-19 variants when they become dominant, there will still be higher-risk groups that will get seriously ill, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Maybe that’s the fact of life, but my point is: It \u003cem>shouldn’t \u003c/em>be the fact of life because we have so many tools” to reduce COVID-19 spread and treat infectious people, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC has also stated that based on current data, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cbsnews.com/news/flirt-covid-variants-us-cases/\">“there are no indicators that KP.2 would cause more severe illness than other strains.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the reformulated seasonal COVID-19 vaccine, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommended on June 5 that \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/vaccines-blood-biologics/updated-covid-19-vaccines-use-united-states-beginning-fall-2024\">the new, updated COVID-19 vaccine that will be offered in the fall should in fact be based on the JN.1 variant.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidrisksmasks\">\u003c/a>Who is the most at risk for COVID right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“I’m not worried about the general population because people have seen it so many times already,” Chin-Hong said. “The majority of folks [are] going to be OK.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But “I’m worried about the most vulnerable,” he said, pointing to \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/COVID-Vaccine-Data.aspx\">low vaccination rates among people age 65 and older\u003c/a> — despite\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\"> an extra COVID-19 vaccine dose being made available to this age group back in February \u003c/a>because of their heightened risk levels.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\"> Read more about finding an additional COVID-19 vaccine if you’re 65 or older.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While it may feel confusing and frustrating — or like a personal step backward — to still think about COVID-19 precautions in 2024, that’s understandable. But there are actions you can take in response to a rise in COVID-19 numbers to protect the health of you and your loved ones, stop community spread among the most high-risk people and reduce the disruption that a COVID-19 infection in your household can bring to your lives, your work and much-anticipated summer travel plans.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>During a rise in COVID-19 levels locally, this might include bringing a well-fitting N95 mask along to indoor spaces that you know could be crowded, like the grocery store or BART during rush hour. Or, if you’re hosting people indoors in your home,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11967946/covid-ventilation-guide-indoors-windows\"> ensure the space has good ventilation by taking measures like opening windows\u003c/a>. If the weather allows, you might also consider favoring outdoor hangouts and meetups with friends and family at this current time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And if you’re at higher risk for serious illness or hospitalization from COVID-19, it’s an especially good idea to take extra precautions against the virus during a rise in COVID-19 locally. These groups can include older people, immunocompromised and disabled folks.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>It also includes people who aren’t up-to-date on their COVID-19 vaccines, so if you haven’t already gotten the latest vaccine, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">you can still find a free COVID-19 shot near you.\u003c/a> Remember,\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\"> people 65 and older are also eligible for an extra COVID-19 vaccine dose\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One more reason you might consider being extra cautious about COVID-19 right now is if you’ve got upcoming travel plans. Even if your symptoms are mild, a COVID-19 infection can require isolation from other people for well over a week. And you can double that timeline if you get a rebound (i.e., second) infection, which is surprisingly common even in people who don’t take the antiviral treatment Paxlovid.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidsymptoms2024\">\u003c/a>I’m worried I might have COVID. What should I do?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Know the 2024 symptoms of COVID-19 \u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong confirms that there don’t appear to be any surprising “wild card” symptoms expected for a COVID-19 infection in 2024, either for JN.1 or the FLiRT variants. Rather, they seem to largely be the same COVID-19 symptoms you’re used to hearing about from previous variants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC, possible symptoms of COVID-19 include, but aren’t limited to, fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, fatigue, muscle or body aches, headache, new loss of taste or smell, sore throat and congestion or runny nose.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/10/well/covid-flirt-variants-symptoms.html\"> They can also include gastrointestinal symptoms like nausea, vomiting and diarrhea\u003c/a>, which Chin-Hong told the \u003cem>New York Times\u003c/em> can often confuse people experiencing them, who initially assume they have a condition like norovirus rather than COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11987436\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11987436\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1287\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut-800x536.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut-1020x684.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/05/GettyImages-1311844306_qut-1536x1030.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">During a rise in COVID-19 levels locally, protect the health of yourself and your loved ones by bringing a well-fitting N95 mask to spaces that could be crowded, like the ballpark, grocery store or BART during rush hour. \u003ccite>(Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>\u003ca id=\"covidcontagiousperiodisolation\">\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>Find a reliable test (and keep testing)\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Incubation periods for COVID-19 — the time between exposure and testing positive — have shortened during the pandemic. It went from a five-day average in 2020 to as soon as a few days in 2024. So, if you’re having symptoms even two days after an exposure, it makes sense to test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But if your first test is negative, you should absolutely test again in the next 48 hours if symptoms persist — and again after that if you’re still negative. It’s been suggested that \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972313/negative-covid-test-incubation-period\">COVID-19 symptoms can start much earlier in 2024\u003c/a>. This is due to the average immune system being more primed to detect and react to a COVID-19 infection as we navigate the fifth year of this pandemic.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So don’t assume a negative result means you don’t actually have COVID-19: If you’re feeling sick, play it safe, stay home as much as you can and wear a well-fitted mask if you can’t. Also, be sure to take another antigen test soon. You could also seek out a more sensitive PCR test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, if you’ve been stockpiling COVID-19 tests in the last year, make sure the one you’re using hasn’t expired. And if it has, you can still \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">check the list of manufacturers who’ve had their test expiration dates extended by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11969300/how-to-get-reimbursed-for-at-home-covid-tests-in-2023\">request reimbursement from your health insurer for up to eight at-home tests per month\u003c/a>. You can also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#freecovidtests\">read more about how to find free COVID-19 tests near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>And if you test positive for COVID …\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In March, the CDC officially revised their national COVID-19 isolation guidance, saying that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html\">COVID-positive people could now return to work or regular activities\u003c/a> once “symptoms are improving overall” and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without use of a fever-reducing medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">Read more about current isolation guidance for COVID-19.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you’ve been infected, consider asking your health provider for the COVID-19 medication \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">Paxlovid, an antiviral treatment in pill form that is still available free by prescription in California. \u003c/a>Read more on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11914514/if-you-get-covid-should-you-try-to-get-paxlovid-heres-how-with-or-without-health-insurance\">requesting a prescription for Paxlovid, with or without health insurance.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"tellus\">\u003c/a>Tell us: What else do you need to know about COVID right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At KQED News, we know that it can sometimes be hard to track down the answers to navigate life in the Bay Area in 2024. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, practical explainers and guides about COVID\u003c/a>, but also \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11936674/how-to-prepare-for-this-weeks-atmospheric-river-storm-sandbags-emergency-kits-and-more\">how to cope with intense winter weather\u003c/a> and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11821950/how-to-safely-attend-a-protest-in-the-bay-area\">how to exercise your right to protest safely\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So tell us: What do you need to know more about when it comes to COVID — or anything else? Tell us, and you could see your question answered online or on social media. What you submit will make our reporting stronger, and help us decide what to cover here on our site, and on KQED Public Radio, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Earlier versions of this story were originally published on June 12, June 5 and May 23.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "masks-for-smoke-and-covid-19-what-kind-is-best",
"title": "When Air Quality's Bad, Which Mask Should I Wear for Wildfire Smoke?",
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"headTitle": "When Air Quality’s Bad, Which Mask Should I Wear for Wildfire Smoke? | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 8 a.m. on January 9, 2025\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11834866/cubrebocas-para-el-humo-y-covid-19-que-tipo-es-mejor\">Leer en español\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Californians have become familiar with masks in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First we learned about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11706160/how-particulate-respirator-masks-work\">the power of N95 and N100 masks to protect ourselves from wildfire smoke\u003c/a>. And during the COVID pandemic, masks of all kinds became a part of our daily wardrobe.[aside postID=news_12020872 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2025/01/GettyImages-2193000280-1020x653.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">When COVID levels rise in Bay Area wastewater\u003c/a>, many people choose to put those masks back on in crowded indoor spaces like the grocery store or rush-hour BART. But as wildfires continue to threaten California — most recently with \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/01/09/nx-s1-5253785/los-angeles-pasadena-california-fires\">the devastating fires in Los Angeles County\u003c/a> that have claimed at least five lives, prompted mass evacuations and destroyed homes and landmarks across the region —just what should you cover your nose and mouth with if wildfire smoke and COVID collide again?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The short answer is: \u003cstrong>That collection of N95 or KN95 masks you may still have in your home is the best choice for protecting yourself against both COVID and wildfire smoke.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about masking for different reasons in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Wearing N95 masks for COVID and smoke\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“The best mask for protecting oneself from wildfire smoke is an N95. That’s also the best mask for protecting oneself from coronavirus,” UCSF pulmonologist and professor of medicine Dr. John Balmes said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that well-fitting respirators that are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), like \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html\">N95s, offer you the “best” kind of protection against hazards in the air, including the droplets that spread COVID. \u003c/a>(A note that \u003ca href=\"https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2023/06/29/wildfire-smoke/\">you’ll usually see the CDC officially using the word “respirator” to refer to these kinds of face coverings\u003c/a> that are highly effective against particles, and “masks” to refer to the types of face coverings that are less effective, like cloth masks and surgical masks — more on those below.)[aside postID=science_1926793 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/35/2020/08/RS58543_GettyImages-1334977490-qut-1020x654.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The “95” in N95 also indicates that these respirators “achieve a minimum of 95% filtration efficiency” against dangerous particles, according to the CDC. Read more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11706160/how-particulate-respirator-masks-work\">how N95 masks work and why they’re so effective.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A caveat: Some public health officials say N95s aren’t for everyone, because of the potential for user error when it comes to fit — and for causing the kind of discomfort that makes some folks less likely to wear them consistently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Veronica Vien, a public information officer for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, said masks like N95 can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time and must “provide a tight seal around the wearer’s mouth and nose” to work effectively. “If an N95 respirator makes you feel better, wear it. If you feel worse, please don’t,” Vien said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>UCSF’s Balmes also said some types of KN95 masks, which are similar to N95 masks, but made in China, are also good. The CDC calls these kinds of masks “International filtering facepiece respirator,” because \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/publicppe/community-ppe.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprevent-getting-sick%2Ftypes-of-masks.html#anchor_5146932324\">they are tested to international standards and not NIOSH standards\u003c/a>, meaning they “may not have the rigorous quality assurance requirements meeting those [masks] that are NIOSH Approved.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11834382\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11834382\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wildfire smoke hangs in the air off Pleasant Valley Road in Vacaville, Solano County, on Aug. 20, 2020. \u003ccite>(Peter Arcuni/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>What about N95 masks with exhalation valves?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>These types of face coverings work well for wildfire smoke, but are less effective at stopping the spread of diseases like COVID — even with tape over the valve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because while these valves stop particles from reaching \u003cem>your\u003c/em> mouth, they can allow you to breathe air out of your mask without filtering it. So if you have COVID, you’ll be breathing infectious particles out at others through those valves in a way that a no-valves N95 doesn’t permit.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Wearing a surgical mask for COVID and smoke\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Surgical masks are “actually somewhat protective with regard to wildfire smoke because they’re standardized,” Balmes said. He estimated surgical masks can reduce exposure to wildfire smoke by roughly 20%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for COVID, the CDC says that “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html\">well-fitting disposable surgical masks” are only the second-best mask\u003c/a> to protect yourself from the virus, along with KN95s — behind N95 masks.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Wearing a cloth mask for COVID and smoke\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Wearing a cloth mask was one of the primary ways people tried to limit the spread of the virus in the earliest days of the pandemic. But at this stage, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/publicppe/community-ppe.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprevent-getting-sick%2Ftypes-of-masks.html#anchor_5146932324\">the CDC has advised that while these kinds of masks “may block droplets,” they don’t protect against small particles \u003c/a>— so they’re not a good choice to protect against COVID.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And a cloth mask doesn’t filter out wildfire smoke. As the CDC notes, \u003ca href=\"https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2023/06/29/wildfire-smoke/\">neither cloth masks nor surgical masks “have the type of filter media that will filter out the smoke particle”\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The best way to protect yourself from wildfire smoke? Stay inside\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While masks are a good option, public health officials say \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1926793/protecting-your-health-from-toxic-wildfire-smoke\">the most effective way to keep yourself safe from wildfire smoke is to stay inside as much as you can\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Below is an interactive, crowdsourced air quality map from the private company PurpleAir. Read more \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1930023/map-heres-your-daily-air-quality-report-for-the-bay-area\">information on air quality and how it’s measured\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.purpleair.com/map?#9.33/37.7482/-122.4927\" width=\"100%\" height=\"500\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This advice to stay indoors may not feel particularly helpful or possible during a heat wave, or with impending evacuation orders if you live in an area directly affected by wildfires. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District recommends that “when wildfires are affecting air quality, staying indoors with windows and doors shut is the best way to protect your health”, if heat allows:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>https://twitter.com/AirDistrict/status/1704288547967218052\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>On June 17, 2024, the Air District launched an air quality incident notification system. You can now \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/contact-us/sign-up-for-information/air-quality-incident-notifications\">sign up to receive notifications about incidents impacting air quality for any (or all) of the Bay Area’s nine counties\u003c/a>. You can choose to receive notifications via email, SMS text or both.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Air Resources Board (CARB) also recommends mechanical air cleaners with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that collects very small particles and does not emit harmful substances. These air cleaners can dramatically reduce indoor particle levels, in some cases by more than 90%. \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/air-cleaners-ozone-products/california-certified-air-cleaning-devices\">See a list of CARB-certified air cleaning devices.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have air conditioning — which makes closing doors and windows especially difficult during a heat wave — consider getting some battery-operated fans and reducing activities that increase indoor air pollution, like burning candles, cooking on gas stoves or vacuuming. We also have\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1976551/how-to-get-or-make-a-free-low-cost-air-purifier-for-your-home\"> instructions on how to make your own low-cost air purifier.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story was originally published on Aug. 21, 2020. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 8 a.m. on January 9, 2025\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11834866/cubrebocas-para-el-humo-y-covid-19-que-tipo-es-mejor\">Leer en español\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Californians have become familiar with masks in recent years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>First we learned about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11706160/how-particulate-respirator-masks-work\">the power of N95 and N100 masks to protect ourselves from wildfire smoke\u003c/a>. And during the COVID pandemic, masks of all kinds became a part of our daily wardrobe.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11987343/covid-bay-area-wastewater-variant-symptoms-isolation-guidance\">When COVID levels rise in Bay Area wastewater\u003c/a>, many people choose to put those masks back on in crowded indoor spaces like the grocery store or rush-hour BART. But as wildfires continue to threaten California — most recently with \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2025/01/09/nx-s1-5253785/los-angeles-pasadena-california-fires\">the devastating fires in Los Angeles County\u003c/a> that have claimed at least five lives, prompted mass evacuations and destroyed homes and landmarks across the region —just what should you cover your nose and mouth with if wildfire smoke and COVID collide again?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The short answer is: \u003cstrong>That collection of N95 or KN95 masks you may still have in your home is the best choice for protecting yourself against both COVID and wildfire smoke.\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what you need to know about masking for different reasons in 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Wearing N95 masks for COVID and smoke\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>“The best mask for protecting oneself from wildfire smoke is an N95. That’s also the best mask for protecting oneself from coronavirus,” UCSF pulmonologist and professor of medicine Dr. John Balmes said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) say that well-fitting respirators that are approved by the National Institute for Occupational Safety & Health (NIOSH), like \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html\">N95s, offer you the “best” kind of protection against hazards in the air, including the droplets that spread COVID. \u003c/a>(A note that \u003ca href=\"https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2023/06/29/wildfire-smoke/\">you’ll usually see the CDC officially using the word “respirator” to refer to these kinds of face coverings\u003c/a> that are highly effective against particles, and “masks” to refer to the types of face coverings that are less effective, like cloth masks and surgical masks — more on those below.)\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The “95” in N95 also indicates that these respirators “achieve a minimum of 95% filtration efficiency” against dangerous particles, according to the CDC. Read more about \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11706160/how-particulate-respirator-masks-work\">how N95 masks work and why they’re so effective.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A caveat: Some public health officials say N95s aren’t for everyone, because of the potential for user error when it comes to fit — and for causing the kind of discomfort that makes some folks less likely to wear them consistently.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Veronica Vien, a public information officer for the San Francisco Department of Public Health, said masks like N95 can be uncomfortable to wear for long periods of time and must “provide a tight seal around the wearer’s mouth and nose” to work effectively. “If an N95 respirator makes you feel better, wear it. If you feel worse, please don’t,” Vien said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>UCSF’s Balmes also said some types of KN95 masks, which are similar to N95 masks, but made in China, are also good. The CDC calls these kinds of masks “International filtering facepiece respirator,” because \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/publicppe/community-ppe.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprevent-getting-sick%2Ftypes-of-masks.html#anchor_5146932324\">they are tested to international standards and not NIOSH standards\u003c/a>, meaning they “may not have the rigorous quality assurance requirements meeting those [masks] that are NIOSH Approved.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11834382\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 800px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-11834382\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-2048x1365.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2020/08/DSCF5517-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Wildfire smoke hangs in the air off Pleasant Valley Road in Vacaville, Solano County, on Aug. 20, 2020. \u003ccite>(Peter Arcuni/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>What about N95 masks with exhalation valves?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>These types of face coverings work well for wildfire smoke, but are less effective at stopping the spread of diseases like COVID — even with tape over the valve.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because while these valves stop particles from reaching \u003cem>your\u003c/em> mouth, they can allow you to breathe air out of your mask without filtering it. So if you have COVID, you’ll be breathing infectious particles out at others through those valves in a way that a no-valves N95 doesn’t permit.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Wearing a surgical mask for COVID and smoke\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Surgical masks are “actually somewhat protective with regard to wildfire smoke because they’re standardized,” Balmes said. He estimated surgical masks can reduce exposure to wildfire smoke by roughly 20%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for COVID, the CDC says that “\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/types-of-masks.html\">well-fitting disposable surgical masks” are only the second-best mask\u003c/a> to protect yourself from the virus, along with KN95s — behind N95 masks.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Wearing a cloth mask for COVID and smoke\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Wearing a cloth mask was one of the primary ways people tried to limit the spread of the virus in the earliest days of the pandemic. But at this stage, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/topics/publicppe/community-ppe.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fprevent-getting-sick%2Ftypes-of-masks.html#anchor_5146932324\">the CDC has advised that while these kinds of masks “may block droplets,” they don’t protect against small particles \u003c/a>— so they’re not a good choice to protect against COVID.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And a cloth mask doesn’t filter out wildfire smoke. As the CDC notes, \u003ca href=\"https://blogs.cdc.gov/niosh-science-blog/2023/06/29/wildfire-smoke/\">neither cloth masks nor surgical masks “have the type of filter media that will filter out the smoke particle”\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The best way to protect yourself from wildfire smoke? Stay inside\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>While masks are a good option, public health officials say \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1926793/protecting-your-health-from-toxic-wildfire-smoke\">the most effective way to keep yourself safe from wildfire smoke is to stay inside as much as you can\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Below is an interactive, crowdsourced air quality map from the private company PurpleAir. Read more \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1930023/map-heres-your-daily-air-quality-report-for-the-bay-area\">information on air quality and how it’s measured\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c!-- iframe plugin v.4.3 wordpress.org/plugins/iframe/ -->\u003cbr>\n\u003ciframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https://www.purpleair.com/map?#9.33/37.7482/-122.4927\" width=\"100%\" height=\"500\" scrolling=\"yes\" class=\"iframe-class\" frameborder=\"0\">\u003c/iframe>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>This advice to stay indoors may not feel particularly helpful or possible during a heat wave, or with impending evacuation orders if you live in an area directly affected by wildfires. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District recommends that “when wildfires are affecting air quality, staying indoors with windows and doors shut is the best way to protect your health”, if heat allows:\u003c/p>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\n\u003cp>On June 17, 2024, the Air District launched an air quality incident notification system. You can now \u003ca href=\"https://www.baaqmd.gov/contact-us/sign-up-for-information/air-quality-incident-notifications\">sign up to receive notifications about incidents impacting air quality for any (or all) of the Bay Area’s nine counties\u003c/a>. You can choose to receive notifications via email, SMS text or both.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The California Air Resources Board (CARB) also recommends mechanical air cleaners with a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter that collects very small particles and does not emit harmful substances. These air cleaners can dramatically reduce indoor particle levels, in some cases by more than 90%. \u003ca href=\"https://ww2.arb.ca.gov/our-work/programs/air-cleaners-ozone-products/california-certified-air-cleaning-devices\">See a list of CARB-certified air cleaning devices.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you don’t have air conditioning — which makes closing doors and windows especially difficult during a heat wave — consider getting some battery-operated fans and reducing activities that increase indoor air pollution, like burning candles, cooking on gas stoves or vacuuming. We also have\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1976551/how-to-get-or-make-a-free-low-cost-air-purifier-for-your-home\"> instructions on how to make your own low-cost air purifier.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story was originally published on Aug. 21, 2020. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Today — Friday, March 8 — is your last chance to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps\">order four free at-home COVID-19 tests \u003c/a>from the federal government through the United States Postal Service (USPS).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A message on the \u003ca href=\"https://covidtests.gov/\">covidtests.gov\u003c/a> site states, “Ordering four free COVID-19 tests via this website will be suspended after Friday, March 8, 2024,” and that “All orders placed on or before March 8 will be delivered.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be extra safe you don’t miss this deadline, place an order for your free COVID-19 tests (if you’re eligible) before midnight Eastern time on Friday, which is 9 p.m. Pacific time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House’s free COVID-19 test program, which first launched in 2022, was originally shuttered back in the summer of 2023, only to be reopened in September amid \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">a national rise in coronavirus rates and hospitalizations \u003c/a>in part fueled by the emergence of the EG.5 “Eris” variant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11972313 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/240111-AT-HOME-COVID-TEST-GETTY-MB-KQED-1020x680.jpg']\u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4507266-free-covid-19-test-program-to-be-suspended-for-now/\">\u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em> reports that the free COVID-19 test program “may be brought back\u003c/a> again in the future as needed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The announcement of the free COVID-19 test program’s suspension comes as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines on isolating with COVID-19 \u003c/a>that de-emphasize testing in favor of people monitoring their symptoms to judge when they should leave isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previously, the CDC advised that people who have tested positive should stay home for at least five days, regardless of symptoms — but now the agency recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html\">COVID-positive people can return to work or regular activities\u003c/a> once “symptoms are improving overall,” and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a rise in COVID-19 numbers earlier this winter — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">fueled in part by the new JN.1 variant\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_new-admissions-rate-county\">hospitalizations of people with COVID-19 fell nationally\u003c/a> by over 10% in the last week. \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_percent-covid-deaths\">Deaths due to COVID-19 across the United States also fell\u003c/a> by 8.7% in the same period. Last week, the CDC also approved \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\">an extra dose of the updated vaccine for older adults aged 65 and older\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, as we approach year five of the pandemic, COVID-19 remains with us. And this announcement about the closing of the federal government’s free COVID-19 test program aside, if you’ve been finding it increasingly hard to find a low-cost COVID-19 test more generally, you’re not alone. Use the links below to \u003ca href=\"#COVIDtestsinsurance\">find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test near you\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>or keep reading to find out more about these USPS test kits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to how to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#USPSCOVIDtests\">Order COVID more at-home tests via USPS before March 8\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#findtests\">Find a free or low-cost COVID test near you \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can also \u003ca href=\"#covidincubationtime\">jump straight to the latest information about current COVID-19 incubation times\u003c/a> and the best time to take a COVID-19 test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11957645\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11957645\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person with long hair inserts a long cottonswab in her nostril while standing in the doorway of her home.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Janet Franco-Orona swabs her nose for a COVID-19 test at her home in San José on Feb. 3, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>How the end of the public health emergency affected free COVID testing\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11929285/newsom-to-end-californias-covid-state-of-emergency-in-february\">California’s pandemic state of emergency ended over a year ago on Feb. 28, 2023\u003c/a>, ahead of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2023/01/31/1152903841/covids-emergency-status-ends-in-may-heres-how-it-will-impact-funding-and-policie\">the end of the U.S.’s wider emergency status on May 11, 2023. \u003c/a>These states of emergency gave government officials more flexibility to act faster and bypass certain bureaucratic barriers to respond to the health crisis that’s now well into its third year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ending those executive orders meant a large portion of funding for free COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics then ended — and costs for individuals have now crept up accordingly. For example, after May 11, 2023, the federal government stopped requiring insurance companies in the United States to reimburse families for eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Californians have a little more wiggle room on that front. Thanks to a state bill passed in October 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Californians can still claim reimbursement from their health insurer for rapid antigen tests\u003c/a>, although as of November 2023, those tests have to be obtained “in-network.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11973108 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/01/GettyImages-1361590305-1-1020x680.jpg']To be sure, the virus by no means vanished after the emergency orders ended. In 2024, COVID-19 continues to affect lives every day and testing can still be a key tool for reducing your risks of infecting others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are some pointers on how to secure a COVID-19 test.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"USPSCOVIDtests\">\u003c/a>Order free at-home COVID tests from the US government via USPS\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Friday, March 8, is your last chance to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps\">order four free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests from covidtests.gov.\u003c/a> No payment or credit card details will be required to place an order. You also won’t need to provide any ID or health insurance information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://special.usps.com/testkits\">place your order for these four free COVID-19 tests online at USPS.com (the direct link from covidtests.gov)\u003c/a> or order from USPS by phone at 800-232-0233.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After placing an order, you’ll also see a message that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the expiration dates on these tests. So don’t worry if you see “expired” on any box of tests you receive — you can still use them.\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\"> See the FDA’s full list of expiration date extensions.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every residential address (and \u003ca href=\"https://faq.usps.com/s/article/At-Home-COVID-19-Test-Kits\">residential P.O. box\u003c/a>) in the United States is eligible to receive one order of four at-home COVID-19 tests — not every person or every family. This means multiple orders to the same address under different names won’t be processed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, if you live with several roommates or in a large multigenerational household, only one person can place an order for that address. Realistically, this might mean that the tests you receive are not enough to cover everyone in your household.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11909889\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11909889 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-scaled.jpg\" alt='A woman with black hair and dark brown skin, wearing a black skirt and bright pink sweater walks across a stone plaza in the background. In the foreground is a blue sign saying \"No Cost To You\" COVID-19 Testing. A pink swirl wraps around the words: No Cost To You.' width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID-19 testing has changed hugely over the course of the pandemic. \u003ccite>(Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This program is separate from the one that allows folks with private health insurance to get reimbursed for the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps#reimburse\">Read more about getting reimbursed by your health insurer for at-home tests.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsinsurance\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through your health care provider\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are insured with major Bay Area providers such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest option to secure a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through that particular provider. Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member’s login, and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that people with private insurance may experience new out-of-pocket costs for PCR tests after the end of the emergency orders in 2023, depending on the provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-diagnostic-tests\">Medicare will continue to cover PCR test costs.\u003c/a> And under the American Rescue Plan, people on Medicaid can continue to get free at-home tests until September 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most people, regardless of insurance coverage, will have to pay for over-the-counter rapid at-home COVID-19 tests after the federal emergency order ends. Thanks to a state bill passed in October 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Californians can still claim reimbursement from their health insurer for rapid antigen tests\u003c/a>, although as of November 2023, those tests have to be obtained “in-network.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Find a COVID test through California’s statewide testing map\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">California’s map of COVID-19 testing and treatment sites\u003c/a> will remain up and running after the state of emergency ends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since so many vaccination sites have closed in 2023 with the end of the emergency orders, call ahead before making the trip for a drop-in, just in case a site closure isn’t reflected on this map.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11902349\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11902349 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A hand holds an at-home COVID test, while another person's hand points to the test.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Free COVID-19 tests are much harder to find in 2023. \u003ccite>(Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"findtests\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through the CDC’s No-Cost Testing Locator\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC still maintains\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/\"> a nationwide map of COVID-19 testing locations at testinglocator.cdc.gov,\u003c/a> and all testing facilities listed on the site “are available at no cost for people without health insurance” through the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, you’ll find that the locations returned when you \u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/Search\">search for a free COVID-19 test through testinglocator.cdc.gov\u003c/a> are primarily pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, and Quest Patient Service Centers.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestscounty\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through your Bay Area county\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The majority of the county testing sites you saw at the height of the pandemic have now shut down — but your county may have several sites still operating, often in partnership with community groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Updated testing site locations can be found at each county’s testing webpage below, although you may find some of these pages redirect you to the state or U.S. testing location finders instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://covid-19.acgov.org/testing.page\">Alameda County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/safety-health/covid-19/get-tested-covid-19\">City of Berkeley COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/covid19/testing/\">Contra Costa County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/testing\">Marin County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/2776/Testing\">Napa County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options\">San Francisco city and county COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://covid19.sccgov.org/covid-19-testing\">Santa Clara County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus_links/faq___community_testing_sites.asp\">Solano County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing/\">Sonoma County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/covid-19-testing\">San Mateo COVID-19 testing page\u003c/a> now says that “State-sponsored COVID-19 testing has ended in San Mateo County” and that PCR and antigen tests “remain widely available through health care providers and pharmacies.” \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/disease-control/covid-19\">Sonoma County’s COVID-19 testing page\u003c/a> does not offer county residents any free or low-cost testing locations or resources without insurance and instead says that you should “request a test from your health care provider or use an over-the-counter antigen test purchased at a local pharmacy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html\">a list of community-based testing sites around the country\u003c/a>. Select California in the “Find Testing Resources” dropdown.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Find a COVID test through your local public library\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">Many libraries around the Bay Area began giving out antigen tests earlier this winter\u003c/a> to anyone who wanted one — with no proof of library card or county residency required. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11970001/free-covid-tests-near-me-public-library\">Your local public library may still be offering free COVID-19 tests.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsprivate\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through private providers\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Always\u003c/em> check to see how much you might be charged for a COVID-19 test at these private testing facilities before your visit. Below are some of the private providers still offering COVID-19 testing in the Bay Area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.covidclinic.org/testing-sites\">COVID Clinic COVID testing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://carbonhealth.com/covid-testing\">Carbon Health COVID testing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://care.cityhealth.com/\">CityHealth COVID testing\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestspharmacy\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test at your local pharmacy\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/pcrpickup\">Walgreens offers free PCR tests to take home and mail in\u003c/a>, with results in about two days. Walgreens says that no insurance is required, but you must register your collection kit with Labcorp to receive results.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_11914514 hero='https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/06/RS56314_GettyImages-1387450683-qut-1020x680.jpg']Other pharmacies that previously offered free COVID-19 testing on-site, in a pharmacy location, have started charging for those same tests after the end of the federal emergency. Be careful to read the billing details if you are uninsured and it is marked as “free” or “no-cost.” Check the following pharmacy websites to see what’s available in your area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?ban=covid_vanity_testing\">Walgreens COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing\">CVS COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/services/covid-19-testing\">Rite Aid COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can also purchase at-home COVID-19 testing kits from a pharmacy and request reimbursement from your insurer. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Find out how to claim reimbursement from your insurer for rapid antigen tests.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsschool\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test from your school district\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many Bay Area school districts have offered COVID-19 testing for students and staff — and sometimes the families of students — during the pandemic, and some may have continued their programs into this school year. For example, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ousd.org/covid-19updates\">Oakland Unified still offers at-home COVID-19 tests for students to take home. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check directly with your child’s school.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidincubationtime\">\u003c/a>A reminder on \u003cem>when\u003c/em> to test for COVID\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Regardless of your vaccination status, if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you should get tested. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#eriscovidsymptoms\">Remind yourself of the COVID-19 symptoms to watch for\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the best time to test, if you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive — it’s true. People are testing positive for COVID-19 more quickly than in 2020, when the average incubation period was five days because the incubation period has changed with each new variant, confirms Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. In 2024, he says, it now makes sense to take a test as early as two days after a possible exposure if you’re experiencing symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s another wrinkle: Some medical experts say they’ve noticed that at this stage of the pandemic, it’s often taking much \u003cem>longer\u003c/em> for people to get a positive test result on an at-home antigen test. In other words, they’re observing that people with COVID-19 symptoms are taking an antigen test and getting a negative result — only to get a positive result on a different test several days later. This means that many people could wrongly assume they don’t have COVID-19 after that first negative test and then inadvertently spread the virus to friends and family. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972313/negative-covid-test-incubation-period\">Read more about why your COVID-19 symptoms might be starting earlier and what to do if you initially test negative.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story originally published on Sept. 28, 2023.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Free COVID tests will no longer be available through USPS after Friday, March 8. Here's how to order yours, and where to find free COVID tests near you in the Bay Area.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Today — Friday, March 8 — is your last chance to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps\">order four free at-home COVID-19 tests \u003c/a>from the federal government through the United States Postal Service (USPS).\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A message on the \u003ca href=\"https://covidtests.gov/\">covidtests.gov\u003c/a> site states, “Ordering four free COVID-19 tests via this website will be suspended after Friday, March 8, 2024,” and that “All orders placed on or before March 8 will be delivered.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To be extra safe you don’t miss this deadline, place an order for your free COVID-19 tests (if you’re eligible) before midnight Eastern time on Friday, which is 9 p.m. Pacific time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The White House’s free COVID-19 test program, which first launched in 2022, was originally shuttered back in the summer of 2023, only to be reopened in September amid \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">a national rise in coronavirus rates and hospitalizations \u003c/a>in part fueled by the emergence of the EG.5 “Eris” variant.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4507266-free-covid-19-test-program-to-be-suspended-for-now/\">\u003cem>The Hill\u003c/em> reports that the free COVID-19 test program “may be brought back\u003c/a> again in the future as needed.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The announcement of the free COVID-19 test program’s suspension comes as \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973108/how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms\">the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released new guidelines on isolating with COVID-19 \u003c/a>that de-emphasize testing in favor of people monitoring their symptoms to judge when they should leave isolation.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previously, the CDC advised that people who have tested positive should stay home for at least five days, regardless of symptoms — but now the agency recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2024/p0301-respiratory-virus.html\">COVID-positive people can return to work or regular activities\u003c/a> once “symptoms are improving overall,” and they’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours without the use of a fever-reducing medication.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After a rise in COVID-19 numbers earlier this winter — \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">fueled in part by the new JN.1 variant\u003c/a> — \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_new-admissions-rate-county\">hospitalizations of people with COVID-19 fell nationally\u003c/a> by over 10% in the last week. \u003ca href=\"https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#maps_percent-covid-deaths\">Deaths due to COVID-19 across the United States also fell\u003c/a> by 8.7% in the same period. Last week, the CDC also approved \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11977786/a-new-covid-vaccine-dose-is-now-available-for-people-age-65-and-older-where-can-you-find-a-shot-near-you\">an extra dose of the updated vaccine for older adults aged 65 and older\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Still, as we approach year five of the pandemic, COVID-19 remains with us. And this announcement about the closing of the federal government’s free COVID-19 test program aside, if you’ve been finding it increasingly hard to find a low-cost COVID-19 test more generally, you’re not alone. Use the links below to \u003ca href=\"#COVIDtestsinsurance\">find a free or low-cost COVID-19 test near you\u003c/a>\u003cstrong>, \u003c/strong>or keep reading to find out more about these USPS test kits.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to how to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#USPSCOVIDtests\">Order COVID more at-home tests via USPS before March 8\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#findtests\">Find a free or low-cost COVID test near you \u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>You can also \u003ca href=\"#covidincubationtime\">jump straight to the latest information about current COVID-19 incubation times\u003c/a> and the best time to take a COVID-19 test.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11957645\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2000px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-11957645\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg\" alt=\"A person with long hair inserts a long cottonswab in her nostril while standing in the doorway of her home.\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1333\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED.jpg 2000w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2023/08/RS47065_033_SanJose_COVIDTesting_02032021-KQED-1920x1280.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Janet Franco-Orona swabs her nose for a COVID-19 test at her home in San José on Feb. 3, 2021. \u003ccite>(Beth LaBerge/KQED)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>How the end of the public health emergency affected free COVID testing\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11929285/newsom-to-end-californias-covid-state-of-emergency-in-february\">California’s pandemic state of emergency ended over a year ago on Feb. 28, 2023\u003c/a>, ahead of \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/2023/01/31/1152903841/covids-emergency-status-ends-in-may-heres-how-it-will-impact-funding-and-policie\">the end of the U.S.’s wider emergency status on May 11, 2023. \u003c/a>These states of emergency gave government officials more flexibility to act faster and bypass certain bureaucratic barriers to respond to the health crisis that’s now well into its third year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Ending those executive orders meant a large portion of funding for free COVID-19 testing and vaccination clinics then ended — and costs for individuals have now crept up accordingly. For example, after May 11, 2023, the federal government stopped requiring insurance companies in the United States to reimburse families for eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Californians have a little more wiggle room on that front. Thanks to a state bill passed in October 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Californians can still claim reimbursement from their health insurer for rapid antigen tests\u003c/a>, although as of November 2023, those tests have to be obtained “in-network.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>To be sure, the virus by no means vanished after the emergency orders ended. In 2024, COVID-19 continues to affect lives every day and testing can still be a key tool for reducing your risks of infecting others.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Here are some pointers on how to secure a COVID-19 test.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"USPSCOVIDtests\">\u003c/a>Order free at-home COVID tests from the US government via USPS\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Friday, March 8, is your last chance to \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps\">order four free at-home COVID-19 antigen tests from covidtests.gov.\u003c/a> No payment or credit card details will be required to place an order. You also won’t need to provide any ID or health insurance information.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>You can \u003ca href=\"https://special.usps.com/testkits\">place your order for these four free COVID-19 tests online at USPS.com (the direct link from covidtests.gov)\u003c/a> or order from USPS by phone at 800-232-0233.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>After placing an order, you’ll also see a message that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has extended the expiration dates on these tests. So don’t worry if you see “expired” on any box of tests you receive — you can still use them.\u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\"> See the FDA’s full list of expiration date extensions.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every residential address (and \u003ca href=\"https://faq.usps.com/s/article/At-Home-COVID-19-Test-Kits\">residential P.O. box\u003c/a>) in the United States is eligible to receive one order of four at-home COVID-19 tests — not every person or every family. This means multiple orders to the same address under different names won’t be processed.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, if you live with several roommates or in a large multigenerational household, only one person can place an order for that address. Realistically, this might mean that the tests you receive are not enough to cover everyone in your household.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11909889\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 2560px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11909889 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-scaled.jpg\" alt='A woman with black hair and dark brown skin, wearing a black skirt and bright pink sweater walks across a stone plaza in the background. In the foreground is a blue sign saying \"No Cost To You\" COVID-19 Testing. A pink swirl wraps around the words: No Cost To You.' width=\"2560\" height=\"1920\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-scaled.jpg 2560w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-800x600.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1020x765.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-160x120.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-2048x1536.jpg 2048w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/03/gettyimages-1239245283-17cffb6eec48649d7f7d32a186d471e0213b6ffa-1920x1440.jpg 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2560px) 100vw, 2560px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">COVID-19 testing has changed hugely over the course of the pandemic. \u003ccite>(Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>This program is separate from the one that allows folks with private health insurance to get reimbursed for the cost of at-home COVID-19 tests. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11901928/you-can-now-order-free-covid-at-home-tests-via-usps#reimburse\">Read more about getting reimbursed by your health insurer for at-home tests.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsinsurance\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through your health care provider\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you are insured with major Bay Area providers such as Kaiser Permanente or Sutter Health, the easiest option to secure a COVID-19 test may be to make an appointment through that particular provider. Most providers offer sign-ups online through a member’s login, and appointments can also be made by phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that people with private insurance may experience new out-of-pocket costs for PCR tests after the end of the emergency orders in 2023, depending on the provider.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.medicare.gov/coverage/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19-diagnostic-tests\">Medicare will continue to cover PCR test costs.\u003c/a> And under the American Rescue Plan, people on Medicaid can continue to get free at-home tests until September 2024.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Most people, regardless of insurance coverage, will have to pay for over-the-counter rapid at-home COVID-19 tests after the federal emergency order ends. Thanks to a state bill passed in October 2021, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Californians can still claim reimbursement from their health insurer for rapid antigen tests\u003c/a>, although as of November 2023, those tests have to be obtained “in-network.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Find a COVID test through California’s statewide testing map\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/testing.html\">California’s map of COVID-19 testing and treatment sites\u003c/a> will remain up and running after the state of emergency ends.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Since so many vaccination sites have closed in 2023 with the end of the emergency orders, call ahead before making the trip for a drop-in, just in case a site closure isn’t reflected on this map.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_11902349\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 1920px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-11902349 size-full\" src=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg\" alt=\"A hand holds an at-home COVID test, while another person's hand points to the test.\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut.jpg 1920w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-800x533.jpg 800w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1020x680.jpg 1020w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-160x107.jpg 160w, https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2022/01/RS53252_GettyImages-1237291550-qut-1536x1024.jpg 1536w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Free COVID-19 tests are much harder to find in 2023. \u003ccite>(Joseph Prezioso/AFP via Getty Images)\u003c/cite>\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"findtests\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through the CDC’s No-Cost Testing Locator\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC still maintains\u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/\"> a nationwide map of COVID-19 testing locations at testinglocator.cdc.gov,\u003c/a> and all testing facilities listed on the site “are available at no cost for people without health insurance” through the Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In the Bay Area, you’ll find that the locations returned when you \u003ca href=\"https://testinglocator.cdc.gov/Search\">search for a free COVID-19 test through testinglocator.cdc.gov\u003c/a> are primarily pharmacies like CVS and Walgreens, and Quest Patient Service Centers.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestscounty\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test through your Bay Area county\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The majority of the county testing sites you saw at the height of the pandemic have now shut down — but your county may have several sites still operating, often in partnership with community groups.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Updated testing site locations can be found at each county’s testing webpage below, although you may find some of these pages redirect you to the state or U.S. testing location finders instead.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://covid-19.acgov.org/testing.page\">Alameda County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://berkeleyca.gov/safety-health/covid-19/get-tested-covid-19\">City of Berkeley COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://cchealth.org/covid19/testing/\">Contra Costa County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://coronavirus.marinhhs.org/testing\">Marin County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.countyofnapa.org/2776/Testing\">Napa County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/find-out-about-your-covid-19-testing-options\">San Francisco city and county COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://covid19.sccgov.org/covid-19-testing\">Santa Clara County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://www.solanocounty.com/depts/ph/coronavirus_links/faq___community_testing_sites.asp\">Solano County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"https://socoemergency.org/emergency/novel-coronavirus/testing-and-tracing/\">Sonoma County COVID-19 tests\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.smcgov.org/covid-19-testing\">San Mateo COVID-19 testing page\u003c/a> now says that “State-sponsored COVID-19 testing has ended in San Mateo County” and that PCR and antigen tests “remain widely available through health care providers and pharmacies.” \u003ca href=\"https://sonomacounty.ca.gov/health-and-human-services/health-services/divisions/public-health/disease-control/covid-19\">Sonoma County’s COVID-19 testing page\u003c/a> does not offer county residents any free or low-cost testing locations or resources without insurance and instead says that you should “request a test from your health care provider or use an over-the-counter antigen test purchased at a local pharmacy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also has \u003ca href=\"https://www.hhs.gov/coronavirus/community-based-testing-sites/index.html\">a list of community-based testing sites around the country\u003c/a>. 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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Other pharmacies that previously offered free COVID-19 testing on-site, in a pharmacy location, have started charging for those same tests after the end of the federal emergency. Be careful to read the billing details if you are uninsured and it is marked as “free” or “no-cost.” Check the following pharmacy websites to see what’s available in your area:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/findcare/covid19/testing?ban=covid_vanity_testing\">Walgreens COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing\">CVS COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/services/covid-19-testing\">Rite Aid COVID-19 testing\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>If you have health insurance, you can also purchase at-home COVID-19 testing kits from a pharmacy and request reimbursement from your insurer. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11902122/at-home-covid-test-reimbursement-from-blue-shield-to-kaiser-how-to-get-your-health-insurance-to-pay-you-back\">Find out how to claim reimbursement from your insurer for rapid antigen tests.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVIDtestsschool\">\u003c/a>Find a COVID test from your school district\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Many Bay Area school districts have offered COVID-19 testing for students and staff — and sometimes the families of students — during the pandemic, and some may have continued their programs into this school year. For example, \u003ca href=\"https://www.ousd.org/covid-19updates\">Oakland Unified still offers at-home COVID-19 tests for students to take home. \u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Check directly with your child’s school.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidincubationtime\">\u003c/a>A reminder on \u003cem>when\u003c/em> to test for COVID\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Regardless of your vaccination status, if you’re experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, you should get tested. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know#eriscovidsymptoms\">Remind yourself of the COVID-19 symptoms to watch for\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>As for the best time to test, if you’ve heard that incubation times for the virus are getting shorter — that is, the amount of time between getting exposed to COVID-19 and testing positive — it’s true. People are testing positive for COVID-19 more quickly than in 2020, when the average incubation period was five days because the incubation period has changed with each new variant, confirms Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease expert at UCSF. In 2024, he says, it now makes sense to take a test as early as two days after a possible exposure if you’re experiencing symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>But there’s another wrinkle: Some medical experts say they’ve noticed that at this stage of the pandemic, it’s often taking much \u003cem>longer\u003c/em> for people to get a positive test result on an at-home antigen test. In other words, they’re observing that people with COVID-19 symptoms are taking an antigen test and getting a negative result — only to get a positive result on a different test several days later. This means that many people could wrongly assume they don’t have COVID-19 after that first negative test and then inadvertently spread the virus to friends and family. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11972313/negative-covid-test-incubation-period\">Read more about why your COVID-19 symptoms might be starting earlier and what to do if you initially test negative.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>An earlier version of this story originally published on Sept. 28, 2023.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "Our flagship program, helmed by Kai Ryssdal, examines what the day in money delivered, through stories, conversations, newsworthy numbers and more. Updated Monday through Friday at about 3:30 p.m. PT.",
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"info": "The MindShift podcast explores the innovations in education that are shaping how kids learn. Hosts Ki Sung and Katrina Schwartz introduce listeners to educators, researchers, parents and students who are developing effective ways to improve how kids learn. We cover topics like how fed-up administrators are developing surprising tactics to deal with classroom disruptions; how listening to podcasts are helping kids develop reading skills; the consequences of overparenting; and why interdisciplinary learning can engage students on all ends of the traditional achievement spectrum. This podcast is part of the MindShift education site, a division of KQED News. KQED is an NPR/PBS member station based in San Francisco. You can also visit the MindShift website for episodes and supplemental blog posts or tweet us \u003ca href=\"https://twitter.com/MindShiftKQED\">@MindShiftKQED\u003c/a> or visit us at \u003ca href=\"/mindshift\">MindShift.KQED.org\u003c/a>",
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"info": "For decades, the process for how police police themselves has been inconsistent – if not opaque. In some states, like California, these proceedings were completely hidden. After a new police transparency law unsealed scores of internal affairs files, our reporters set out to examine these cases and the shadow world of police discipline. On Our Watch brings listeners into the rooms where officers are questioned and witnesses are interrogated to find out who this system is really protecting. Is it the officers, or the public they've sworn to serve?",
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"info": "Our weekly podcast explores how the media 'sausage' is made, casts an incisive eye on fluctuations in the marketplace of ideas, and examines threats to the freedom of information and expression in America and abroad. For one hour a week, the show tries to lift the veil from the process of \"making media,\" especially news media, because it's through that lens that we see the world and the world sees us",
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"tagline": "Politics from a personal perspective",
"info": "Political Breakdown is a new series that explores the political intersection of California and the nation. Each week hosts Scott Shafer and Marisa Lagos are joined with a new special guest to unpack politics -- with personality — and offer an insider’s glimpse at how politics happens.",
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"possible": {
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"info": "Possible is hosted by entrepreneur Reid Hoffman and writer Aria Finger. Together in Possible, Hoffman and Finger lead enlightening discussions about building a brighter collective future. The show features interviews with visionary guests like Trevor Noah, Sam Altman and Janette Sadik-Khan. Possible paints an optimistic portrait of the world we can create through science, policy, business, art and our shared humanity. It asks: What if everything goes right for once? How can we get there? Each episode also includes a short fiction story generated by advanced AI GPT-4, serving as a thought-provoking springboard to speculate how humanity could leverage technology for good.",
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"pri-the-world": {
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"info": "Each weekday, host Marco Werman and his team of producers bring you the world's most interesting stories in an hour of radio that reminds us just how small our planet really is.",
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"imageSrc": "https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/The-World-Podcast-Tile-360x360-1.jpg",
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},
"radiolab": {
"id": "radiolab",
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"info": "A two-time Peabody Award-winner, Radiolab is an investigation told through sounds and stories, and centered around one big idea. In the Radiolab world, information sounds like music and science and culture collide. Hosted by Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwich, the show is designed for listeners who demand skepticism, but appreciate wonder. WNYC Studios is the producer of other leading podcasts including Freakonomics Radio, Death, Sex & Money, On the Media and many more.",
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"reveal": {
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"info": "Created by The Center for Investigative Reporting and PRX, Reveal is public radios first one-hour weekly radio show and podcast dedicated to investigative reporting. Credible, fact based and without a partisan agenda, Reveal combines the power and artistry of driveway moment storytelling with data-rich reporting on critically important issues. The result is stories that inform and inspire, arming our listeners with information to right injustices, hold the powerful accountable and improve lives.Reveal is hosted by Al Letson and showcases the award-winning work of CIR and newsrooms large and small across the nation. In a radio and podcast market crowded with choices, Reveal focuses on important and often surprising stories that illuminate the world for our listeners.",
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"officialWebsiteLink": "https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/",
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},
"rightnowish": {
"id": "rightnowish",
"title": "Rightnowish",
"tagline": "Art is where you find it",
"info": "Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.",
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"order": 16
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},
"science-friday": {
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