What You Need to Know-Week of December 6th

In this Update:

1. Urgent Updates: COVID-19 Metrics

2. Testing Tips: How to improve the quality of an at-home COVID-19 test result

3.  Information You Need: Omicron Variant Identification

1. Urgent Updates: COVID-19 Metrics

Updated as of: 12-06-2021

Important note on hospitalizations: As of 12/06, there are less than 100 ICU beds available in hospitals across the state. Similarly, only 6% of inpatient beds are now available across the state. This leaves an incredibly small amount of hospital beds available for incoming admissions (e.g., for heart attacks, injuries, etc.).

Weekly case, death, and hospitalization counts

View all data related to covid19 in arizona state

Vaccine Information:

9,187,694 total COVID-19 vaccine doses have been administered in Arizona

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See  breakdown of vaccination by Arizona counties

See updated vaccine information and data in Arizona

2. Testing Tips: How to improve the quality of an at-home COVID-19 test result

At-home, or self tests for COVID-19 are becoming more widely available for use! There are many types of these tests, which do vary in their ability to detect the COVID-19 virus. However, you can improve the quality of your at-home test result by doing the following:

Ahead of use:

1. Follow the instructions provided on the test for how to properly store the test prior to use
2. Only open the test at the time you are planning to use it
3. If you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive for the COVID-19 virus, be sure not to take the test too early. It is a good idea to wait until at least 3 days after the exposure or when you have onset of symptoms. Testing too early might give you a false negative. 

At the time of use:

4. Always read and follow the test manufacturer’s instructions carefully
5. Check to make sure the test is not expired or that any components are broken
6. Disinfect the surface where you will be completing the test
7. Wash your hands
8. Complete the test:

• For an anterior nasal swab test, a very common type of self test, insert the soft end of the swab into your nostril ¾ of an inch and rotate the swab at least four times for a total of 15 seconds in each nostril (unless your test instructions say otherwise). It is longer than you may think and is about the time it takes to sing Happy Birthday one time through. Be sure not to touch the swab tip after taking the sample.
  • Nasal mid-turbinate tests are usually obtained from a healthcare provider or testing site. These instructions differ from the anterior nasal swab test. Follow the instructions provided on the test, or visit this link for a step by step guide.
• For a saliva specimen (or any other test type), follow the test instructions provided.
• Remember, to get an accurate test, having enough specimen is critical to detection. 

After use:

9. If your test requires the specimen to be returned for laboratory testing, follow the instructions provided
10. Throw away all remaining test components (at-home tests are single use)
11. Disinfect the surface where you completed the test
12. Wash your hands

If your test requires laboratory testing of the specimen, follow these steps while waiting for your results.

After receiving your test results:

• Learn more information on what your test results mean.
• If you test positive, stay home, contact those you may have exposed, let your doctor and health department know about your test. 
• If you are negative, stay home anyway if you are feeling ill. It could be a false negative or another disease like influenza. If you must go out, wear a high quality mask such as a KN95. 

Important information about outbreaks:

• If you learn that you and others you know have tested positive and have a shared exposure, like going to the same event or restaurant, you should notify your local health department. It is important for the local health department to know about potential outbreaks so they can work to keep others from getting sick. Self-testing is great, but it prevents public health from being able to detect and respond to outbreaks. 

Learn more about Self-Testing At Home or Anywhere

3. Information You Need: Omicron Variant Identification

What is Omicron?

The Omicron, or B.1.1.529, SARS-CoV-2 variant has received heavy attention in the news lately. The World Health Organization has labeled Omicron as a variant of concern due to the high number (n=26) of uniquely identified viral mutations. While it is too soon to understand the extent to which these mutations increase immune escape (the ability of the virus to still cause an infection even if you have been previously infected or are vaccinated), transmissibility and/or severity of the variant compared to other versions (e.g., Delta), scientists are working diligently to better understand these changes.. 

Where in the world has it been identified so far?

The variant was first identified in South Africa, but has since been discovered in other areas across the world including Canada, Germany, Australia, and Hong Kong. As of Wednesday, December 1st, the first United States Omicron case was identified in California and as of December 7th, it has been found in 17 states, including neighboring Colorado, California, Texas and Utah. It is highly possible that it is already in Arizona, but is circulating undetected. Only a small fraction of cases in Arizona are genotyped. Arizona COVIDseq Tracker (tgen.org)

What are the next steps?

It is important not to panic! New variants are going to continue to develop over time. It is normal when transmission globally is so high. Much research is still needed to understand the specifics of the Omicron variant, including how easily it can be spread, how our immune systems would respond to an infection, and how effective the current vaccines are. If booster shots become recommended for Omicron, vaccine manufacturers including Pfizer, J&J, and Moderna, have all expressed intentions of creating an updated vaccine that will aim to protect against the variant. The vaccine technology is flexible and it will take months, not years, to create boosters for new variants if needed. 

What does this mean for you? 

• Stay tuned for more information as more research on Omicron becomes available. 
• Continue safety precautions such as mask wearing and physical distancing, regardless of vaccination status. 
  • Elevate your mask by wearing KN95, KF94 or N95 if you are immunosuppressed. Delta is causing very high transmission right now and the holidays are coming up, so keep yourself and your loved ones safer. 
• Get vaccinated or get a booster shot if you are eligible. See our past Update from November 22, 2021, or visit the CDC’s Vaccination Booster website for up to date information on booster eligibility. 
  • Your booster is likely to give you even higher antibody titres than after your second dose. But remember, it still takes time for them to form. Maximum benefits will take a week or two after the booster is given. 

The next update will cover information on COVID-19 becoming endemic. If you would like to learn more about this and other topics related to COVID-19 in Arizona, please complete next week’s AZCOVIDTXT survey that you will receive via text in about a week.