Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice| Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information| Ad Choices Earlier studies showed that the fewer cases of outdoor transmission almost always occurred during prolonged, close contact. Although it makes sense that people would worry about getting a more contagious variant outdoors, it's likely that the current surge in cases doesn't have anything to do with outdoor spread. All Rights Reserved. That, combined with the sheer volume of cases, could mean that there could be more cases of outdoor transmission, says Dr. Jill Weatherhead, assistant professor of adult and pediatric infectious diseases at Baylor College of Medicine. On smooth surfaces, Omicron lasted more than a week, while infectious amounts of the original virus were recovered up to just four days on polypropylene plastic and stainless and up to seven days on glass. Views equals page views plus PDF downloads. If one person was wearing a mask, the risk of transmission isdecreased, and if both people were wearing masks, the risk issubstantially decreased. References to non-CDC sites on the Internet are But being outside is still much, much safer than being indoors. After three years, most people know how to do that: vaccines, masks, physical distancing, handwashing and lets not forget ventilation. Though the BA.5 wave hasnt caused a significant spike in hospitalizations or deaths in South Africa, certain locations hit by BA.5, like Portugal, have seen an uptick in hospitalizations. Studies conducted prior to omicron show that being outside greatly reduces your risk of infection with the coronavirus. Having a prior infection with another Omicron subvariant does provide some immunity against BA.4 and BA.5 but it's not absolute. Index patients were defined as the first person within each household to recently experience COVID-19compatible symptoms or have a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result. Right now were waiting on additional data to confirm that COVID transmission is occurring outdoors.. Risk is also lower if the mask or respirator is a type that offers greater protection. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2020;69:131923. Cookies used to track the effectiveness of CDC public health campaigns through clickthrough data. Finally, this investigation occurred during a period when testing and sequencing capacity was strained and when many persons traveled and attended gatherings, increasing the possibility that household contacts had unknown SARS-CoV-2 exposures outside the home (6). Part of HuffPost Wellness. When an . Omicron transmission occurred in 124 (67.8%) of 183 households. We have two little kids who are too young to be vaccinated, but we also recognize that its going to be very difficult to keep them from getting the coronavirus given how transmissible this new variant is. "That doesn't mean [transmission is] impossible if you're packed together in a place that's only sort of open air and if people are sharing food or kissing or drinking. Of course, omicron is the most transmissible variant yet. Second, the investigation relied primarily on self-reported data. Persons without symptoms and who did not have a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result were not considered to have a case of COVID-19. For the most cautious, a park or a hiking trail is the only truly outdoor space. Linsey Marr, a researcher on the airborne transmission of viruses like SARS-CoV-2 and a professor at Virginia Tech, agreed that the results show Omicron seems to survive better, which could be contributing to its heightened transmissibility. Index dates occurred during November 21, 2021February 3, 2022. Among index patients, 172 (94.0%) had a positive SARS-CoV-2 test result (confirmed COVID-19) and 11 (6.0%) had COVID-19compatible symptoms but without SARS-CoV-2 test confirmation (probable COVID-19). This German snowman wears a protective mask over its banana nose and mouth, but experts say the risk of catching COVID outdoors is slim. Research suggests that outdoor transmission, when it does occur, typically results from prolonged close contact. Events, dining, and even entire classrooms were moved outside, when feasible. Your Next COVID Vaccination Could Be a Nasal Spray: Here's Why, What You Should Know About BA.2, a SARS-CoV-2 Omicron Variant. Wen: Absolutely. A SARS-CoV-2 Omicron subvariant, BA.2, became the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States. Cookies used to make website functionality more relevant to you. / CBS Boston. Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be addressed to 241(d); 5 U.S.C. However, if you live in a cold locale as she does, you may want to leave your mask on for warmth. Being around people who are symptomatic increases the risk of transmission. So some people may want to mask up in certain outdoor situations. I do not think that people need to mask outdoors, but there may be situations where someone is extremely vulnerable for example, a cancer patient on chemotherapy and wants to be extra careful. When Should You Test (and Possibly Retest) After Being Exposed to COVID-19? CNN: What should people consider when deciding what precautions they want to bring back, like canceling restaurant reservations or masking up indoors? Household contacts were defined as any persons who spent one or more overnights in the residence with the index patient during their potentially infectious period. However, some of these children may have been hospitalized with Covid but not for Covid. In fact, it "could likely be more risky than an indoor setting under different circumstances with proper social distancing and other preventive measures," he added. These cookies allow us to count visits and traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site. We also have more tools at our disposal than we did in 2020. Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. These newer subvariants have additional mutations in the spike protein allowing them to evade immunity, so even if you had COVID earlier this year, don't assume you're in the clear from getting it again. Overall, spending time outside is "a safer mechanism of prevention against COVID" because of the unlimited ventilation. By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you're agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. Here, experts discuss just how contagious BA.5 isand how you can go the extra step to protect yourself, even during outdoor activities this summer. Of the 562 households successfully contacted, 175 (31.1%) declined to participate, and 204 (36.3%) were excluded; 183 (32.6%) were enrolled. Enrolled households included 183 index patients and 439 household contacts (Table). Department of Health and Human Services. The findings from this investigation reinforce the importance of multi-component prevention strategies, including up-to-date vaccination, isolation of infected persons, and mask use at home, to reduce Omicron transmission in household settings. Here's what you need to know. Without sequencing results for all household contact cases, it was not possible to confirm that transmission occurred from index patients to household contacts or that household contacts were infected with the same variant. Omicron Subvariants Mean Outdoor Covid Risk Is Different Now Media outlets report on the rise of omicron BA.5, and how subvariants like this are leading to new covid surges and have. On February 25, 2022, this report was posted online as an MMWR Early Release. Five studies described influenza transmission outdoors and 2 adenovirus transmission outdoors. According to Drs. Upping the ante is the fact that recent subvariants like BA.4 and BA.5 are the most immune-evasive yet, with the ability to dodge antibodies from both vaccines and prior infection. This, to me, is no different from a decision to go back to the gym, resume travel or dine indoors in restaurants. "Our findings imply that (Omicron) has an increased likelihood to be transmitted by the fomite route," the researchers concluded. At this point, the definition of outdoors isnt exactly agreed upon, Roberts noted. A Warner Bros. Thats different if you are immunocompromised or live with someone who is elderly with multiple medical conditions. People believe their friends will protect them from Covid -- but the opposite is true. "Most people that get it outdoors are still getting into groups with friends, neighbors and family when outdoors and that is a good way to spread infection when it is present," he said. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images), A young woman and man stand next to each other. In addition, surfaces may play a greater role in Omicron transmission. Saving Lives, Protecting People, Given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant, CDC has updated the, The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021. What if you have to go back to the office, and others arent masking? Forbes: "Outdoor Wedding: 6 Fully Vaccinated Infected With Covid-19 Delta Variant.". Transmission can occur within a household setting on the first day an index patient is infected or on any subsequent day during which they are still shedding viable virus. Different modes of transportation pose varying risks of COVID-19 depending on the quality of ventilation in the enclosed space. The Omicron variant of the coronavirus appears to have spread between two fully vaccinated people who were staying in separate rooms across the hall from each other in a Hong Kong quarantine. That being said, not all outdoor spaces are created equal. Greater transmissibility means greater transmissibility in any setting, indoors or outdoorseven if outside is still safer, Maimuna Majumder, an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School and a computational epidemiologist at Boston Childrens Hospital, recently told NPR. For this investigation, a confirmed case in a household contact was defined as a positive SARS-CoV-2 nucleic acid amplification test result or antigen test result (through local or home testing)** 14 days after the index date. BA.5the omicron subvariant that emerged in South Africa in February before sweeping across the worldis now the dominant coronavirus variant in the United States. All rights reserved. Like previous variants, its spread through direct contact and is airborne. The original Wuhan strain of COVID-19 had a reproductive ratealso known as an R0 or R-naught valueof around 3.3, meaning that each infected person infected another 3.3 people, on average. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Applying that to real life is an entirely different thing," he said. Persons with sequence-confirmed Omicron infection and their household contacts were interviewed. If you are attending an outdoor gatheringeven when community levels are medium or lowyou should still be cautious about masking and social distancing, especially in large crowds. There are several ways this can happen: Droplets or aerosols. You could get COVID even if you have a brief encounter with someone who is infected. All rights reserved. A new study out of Hong Kong suggests Omicron might be surviving longer on everyday objects than its early predecessor raising questions about which basic precautions to prevent surface-based. ARs were consistently high across household contact and index patient age groups, including those aged 04 years. These cookies may also be used for advertising purposes by these third parties. The New York Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA), which oversees subways and buses and lost billions of dollars in passenger revenue in 2020, spent $484 million last year in its response to. But there is increased risk as we continue to deal with a more transmissible virus strain. Outdoor activities are inherently safer than indoor gatherings, Dr. Marr says. A total of 3,558 persons were considered potentially eligible for participation in the investigation, among whom jurisdictions attempted to contact 1,461 (41.1%). These findings further highlight young childrens potential contribution to household transmission of SARS-CoV-2, as well as their ongoing susceptibility to infection when SARS-CoV-2 is introduced in the home (5). Dr. Beaulieu explains, "Omicron can also spread by shaking an infected person's hands and by touching your nose, mouth or eyes with unwashed hands. This age group is currently not eligible for vaccination and is a population in which some prevention strategies, such as isolation and mask use, might be difficult or impractical to implement. What exactly does a small group mean? Partially vaccinated was defined as having only 1 dose of a 2-dose series or completing the primary vaccination series <2 weeks before the index date. Wind is typically good because it will lead to more rapid dilution [of particles], but you should pay attention to wind direction and avoid being close and directly downwind of others, Dr. Marr says. It appears to be even more contagious than Omicron. Some persons who were fully vaccinated had unknown dates for completion of their primary vaccination series. Even if you cant take time off, you can still take care of yourself. Updated So if you find yourself worrying about not being able to distance yourself in a crowded outdoor situation with people of unknown vaccination status, slip a mask on. But Omicron was a game changer, in more ways than one. The study authors themselves did note the limitations at play, including the controlled, lab-based setting and differences in the droplets used in the research compared to respiratory droplets, which may all impact the stability of the virus. Sect. How can I reduce my risk of getting COVID-19? To Patel, for small group settings to be safe, people cant be shouting (COVID spreads more when people are singing or yelling), you must be able to maintain some distance from others, and everyone should be following public health measures like hand-washing. For example, if you work in an office that has pretty good ventilation and is well-spaced, and requires proof of vaccination, you may consider not masking in that setting. But Marr stressed the study's conditions don't reflect real-world scenarios. But others, such as the genetic changes in the delta variant, can make the coronavirus . Beta, Delta, and Omicron, to name a few. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cannot attest to the accuracy of a non-federal website. Testing prior to getting together with others tells people if they are infectious and need to avoid the gathering. If you do not allow these cookies we will not know when you have visited our site, and will not be able to monitor its performance. Fresh air disperses and dilutes the virus. Terms & Conditions. Omicron subvariant BA.5 may be the most contagious version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus that we've seen yetand even situations that have seemed relatively low-risk as of late, like outdoor gatherings, may now pose a greater threat. Upon taking a closer look at the new subvariant, scientists discovered that BA.5 has mutations in the spike protein that may allow it to evade the immune systems first line of defenseantibodiesraising the likelihood that itll cause a new wave of infections and reinfections, especially in people with low or waning immunity. P-values comparing differences in stratum-specific ARs were calculated using a generalized estimating equation approach to account for clustering by household (2). You can bring back some things that are lower risk or higher value but still take some precautions. Multicomponent COVID-19 prevention strategies, including up-to-date vaccination, isolation of infected persons, and mask use at home, are important to reduce Omicron transmission in household settings. . Everything to Know About the Health Screening That Can Save Pregnant Peoples Lives. Among 431 household contacts, 227 were classified as having a case of COVID-19 (attack rate [AR] = 52.7%). As statistics show, the highest rate of COVID-19 transmission occurs in indoor settings. In a study of household transmission in four U.S. jurisdictions, Omicron infection resulted in high transmission among household contacts, particularly among those who lived with index patients who were not vaccinated or who did not take measures to reduce the risk of transmission to household contacts. But that shouldn't cause you to lose sight of the advantages of socializing outdoors, she adds. Fully vaccinated was defined as completion of the primary vaccination series 2 weeks before the index date and stratified into completion <5 months or 5 months before the index date. CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. 2023 Fortune Media IP Limited. Getty Images; Muge Cevik The CDC based its outdoor transmission figure on research largely pulled. CNN: Can you give us a quick refresher what protective measures are effective against this very contagious BA.2 variant? A preprint study from Qatar also suggests that natural infection remains up to roughly 97% protective against severe disease caused by the subvariants. See an archive of our FAQs here. Thus, whether someone was tested and how many times they were tested depended on individual and social factors. And, if you dont feel well, stay home. If your own risk tolerance is low, certain outdoor situations could call for masking up. After conducting lab-based research, the team found Omicron "is more stable than the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 on different surfaces.". Fully vaccinated was defined as completion of the primary vaccination series 2 weeks before the index date and stratified into completion <5 months or 5 months before the index date. Transmission occurred within 67.8% (124 of 183) of households, and the overall AR among household contacts with known status was 52.7% (227 of 431) (Figure 2). "Hand hygiene and frequent disinfection of common touch surfaces in public areas are highly recommended.". URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as of CDC is not responsible for Section 508 compliance (accessibility) on other federal or private website. Viral particles disperse more quickly outside, thanks to wind speed and air currents. And the omicron variant acquires a more effective coating than the delta variant, meaning it could stay infectious outside the body for longer. 2023 Cable News Network. ** Analysis for attack rates by combined vaccination status combined persons who were fully vaccinated or had received a booster dose into one category (full/booster) and persons who were partially vaccinated or unvaccinated into another category (partial/unvacc). "From a virus standpoint, there's no indication that omicron is behaving differently [in outdoor settings]," says Dr. Preeti Malani, an infectious disease professor at the University of Michigan who co-authored an editorial on the research on football teams. BA.5's increased transmission and our diminished immune defenses mean that COVID-19 transmission outdoors has become more likely. Thats a personal decision that will differ from person to person. To help us with these questions, I spoke with CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and professor of health policy and management at the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health. "I think we shouldn't drop our guard against SARS-CoV-2, period.". Its no surprise, then, that more and more stories have emerged of people speculating that they caught COVID-19 outside, which can be a bit unsettling to hear as cases continue to rise in many parts of the country. She cautions that outdoor tents that dont have flaps that let air in are not that different from being indoors, as far as COVID transmission risk goes. One review of studies concluded that the odds of indoor transmission is almost 19 times higher than outdoor transmission. Wind speeds of less than 5.5 miles per hour (mph) seemed to . But if it's a casual interaction outside, even if it's relatively crowded, I'm comfortable not having a mask on. She is also author of Lifelines: A Doctors Journey in the Fight for Public Health.. New research is pointing to the answer, 2 years into the pandemic, burning questions remain about COVID-19 and how we fight it, scientific consensus began to crystallize, CBC's Journalistic Standards and Practices. First, this investigation used a convenience sample of persons with sequence-confirmed Omicron infections, and participation in this investigation was voluntary. Thank you for taking the time to confirm your preferences. Outdoor settings remain safer than indoor gatherings, from a Covid transmission standpoint. New studies suggest that BA.4 and BA.5, currently sweeping the U.S. and countries around the globe, have a growth advantage over BA.2 similar to the growth advantage BA.2 had over BA.1. The outdoors were originally believed to be the safest setting for social gatherings at the height of the pandemic, but you may be wondering if thats still the case with BA.5. Has an increased likelihood to be even more contagious than Omicron times higher than outdoor transmission figure on research pulled... If you have to go back to the accuracy of a non-federal website seemed to purposes only ) seemed.. And traffic sources so we can measure and improve the performance of our site for Section compliance! United States safer mechanism of prevention against Covid & quot ; because of unlimited. Risk as we continue to deal with a more transmissible virus strain of prevention against &... 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X27 ; s what you need to know About the health Screening that can Save Peoples., Dr. Marr says `` Hand hygiene and frequent disinfection of common touch surfaces in public areas are recommended. Surfaces. `` concluded that the odds of indoor transmission is almost 19 times higher than outdoor transmission when... Canceling restaurant reservations or masking up encounter with someone who is Infected has become likely! Is elderly with multiple medical conditions the accuracy of a non-federal website such as the person... Ba.5The Omicron subvariant that emerged in South Africa in February covid transmission outdoors omicron sweeping across worldis! Results from prolonged close contact even more contagious than Omicron the Internet are but being greatly! Was posted online as an MMWR Early Release deciding what precautions they want to bring,... They are infectious and need to know About the health Screening that can Save Peoples... 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On February 25, 2022 team found Omicron `` is more stable than the SARS-CoV-2.
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