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"slug": "donde-consigo-la-nueva-vacuna-contra-covid-19-california-2025-2026",
"title": "En 2025, ¿dónde consigo la nueva vacuna contra COVID-19?",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>\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#covid-vaccine-near-me\">Read in English\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No lo está imaginando: el proceso para recibir la vacuna contra COVID-19 este año en California no ha sido como en años anteriores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pero lo importante es saber que, a pesar de \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">las restricciones iniciales\u003c/a>, las autoridades de salud permiten que todas las personas mayores de 6 meses puedan recibir esta vacuna.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previamente, la Administración de alimentos y medicamentos de los Estados Unidos (o FDA por sus siglas en inglés) \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">había anunciado\u003c/a> que la agencia limitaría por primera vez quienes califican para recibir la versión más reciente de la vacuna. La FDA dijo que las vacunas recién aprobadas este año de Pfizer, Moderna y Novavax solo estarán disponibles para personas de 65 años o más y para cualquier persona con una condición médica que la ponga en mayor riesgo de contraer COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Al principio, las vacunas se administraron en las farmacias de California solo a estos grupos. El 15 de septiembre, Kaiser Permanente se convirtió en el primer proveedor de California en romper con las restricciones de la FDA, poniendo \u003ca href=\"https://espanol.kaiserpermanente.org/es/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">la nueva vacuna contra el COVID-19 a disposición de todos sus miembros\u003c/a> mayores de 6 meses sin limitaciones.\u003cbr>\n[ad fullwidth]\u003cbr>\nEl 17 de septiembre, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">las autoridades de California publicaron sus propias recomendaciones sobre quiénes pueden recibir la nueva vacuna contra COVID-19\u003c/a>, rompiendo con los límites de elegibilidad de la FDA y ampliando el acceso a las vacunas a todas las personas del estado mayores de 6 meses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ir directamente a:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#CaliforniaR\">\u003cstrong>¿Quiénes pueden recibir la vacuna contra COVID-19 según las nuevas reglas de California?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#COVID-19\">\u003cstrong>¿Dónde puedo encontrar la vacuna contra COVID-19 si antes no era elegible?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#WalgreensR\">\u003cstrong>¿Dónde puedo encontrar la vacuna contra COVID-19 en una farmacia como Walgreens o CVS?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#Kaiser\">\u003cstrong>¿Cómo pueden los miembros de Kaiser obtener su vacuna contra el COVID-19 en este momento?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Siga leyendo para saber dónde obtener las nuevas vacunas, cómo se ha abierto el acceso en California y cómo funciona la cobertura del seguro este año.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1998670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1998670\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/NURSE-WITH-VACCINE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tracy Gage, enfermera vocacional licenciada, prepara una jeringa en una clínica de vacunación contra la gripe y COVID-19 en Kaiser Permanente, en Pasadena, el 12 de octubre de 2023.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"California\">\u003c/a>¿Quién puede recibir ahora la nueva vacuna contra COVID-19 en California?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Según las nuevas recomendaciones de las autoridades sanitarias de California sobre quién puede recibir la nueva vacuna contra el COVID-19, todas las personas mayores de 6 meses pueden recibir la vacuna actualizada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Las autoridades a nivel estatal están rompiendo con los límites de elegibilidad de la FDA y abriendo las vacunas a “todos los que elijan protegerse”, al tiempo que especifica ciertos grupos entre los niños y adultos que se beneficiarán especialmente de recibir la vacuna contra COVID-19. Entre ellos se incluyen:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Todos los niños de 2 a 18 años con factores de riesgo o que nunca hayan sido vacunados contra COVID-19.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Todos los niños y adultos que tengan contacto cercano con otras personas con factores de riesgo.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Todos los adultos de entre 18 y 64 años con factores de riesgo.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Todas las personas que estén planeando un embarazo, embarazadas, en posparto o en periodo de lactancia.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>El Departamento de salud pública de California afirma que \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR25-011.aspx\">estas vacunas recomendadas “estarán cubiertas por las aseguradoras de salud\u003c/a> reguladas por el estado de California y se podrán recibir en la farmacia local, a través del proveedor de atención médica o de otros proveedores de vacunas autorizados sin costo alguno”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Es posible que las vacunas tarden un poco en llegar a todos los proveedores, pero puede consultar directamente nuestra información sobre:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#Walgreens\">\u003cstrong>Cómo obtener su nueva vacuna en una farmacia como Walgreens o CVS\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#COVID-19\">\u003cstrong>Otros lugares donde podría encontrar pronto la vacuna contra COVID-19\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Si ha visto las noticias de que el \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056934/rfk-jr-s-vaccine-panel-backs-away-from-plan-to-require-an-rx-for-a-covid-shot\">Comité asesor sobre prácticas de inmunización de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (o CDC por sus siglas en inglés)\u003c/a> votó el 19 de septiembre a favor de cambiar el acceso a las vacunas contra el COVID-19, pidiendo a los pacientes que hablen con un médico sobre los riesgos y beneficios antes de vacunarse, debe saber que un portavoz del CDPH confirmó a KQED que las directrices del comité “no afectarían a las recomendaciones, directrices o acceso a las vacunas contra el COVID en California”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Como siempre, animamos a las personas a que consulten con su plan de salud o su aseguradora médica si tienen preguntas específicas”, afirmó el CDPH.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>¿Cómo fue que California rompió con el gobierno federal con respecto a las vacunas contra COVID-19?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A principios de septiembre, el gobernador de California, Gavin Newsom, anunció que el estado se uniría a Oregón y Washington para \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">lanzar una nueva “alianza de salud de la Costa Oeste”\u003c/a>, una coalición que ahora ha emitido sus propias recomendaciones sobre vacunas específicas para cada estado.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>En una declaración conjunta, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">los gobernadores afirmaron que los CDC se habían “convertido en una herramienta política\u003c/a> que cada vez más promueve la ideología en lugar de la ciencia, una ideología que encabezará graves consecuencias para la salud”, y añadieron que “California, Oregón y Washington no permitirán que se ponga en riesgo a la población de nuestros estados, con respecto a la política”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>En junio, el secretario de Salud, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., disolvió el Comité Asesor sobre Prácticas de Inmunización de los CDC y \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-health-chief-kennedy-names-new-members-vaccine-advisory-committee-2025-06-11/\">sustituyó a sus miembros por varios médicos e investigadores\u003c/a> que han cuestionado repetidamente la seguridad de las vacunas y los ingredientes de uso común. El \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/acip/meetings/index.html\">nuevo panel no se reunió hasta el 18 de septiembre\u003c/a>, y votó \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056934/rfk-jr-s-vaccine-panel-backs-away-from-plan-to-require-an-rx-for-a-covid-shot\">a favor de cambiar el acceso a las vacunas contra la COVID-19 con respecto a la fecha del 19 de septiembre\u003c/a>, pidiendo a los pacientes que hablaran con un médico sobre los riesgos y beneficios antes de vacunarse. El CDPH confirma que esta decisión sigue sin afectar al acceso a las vacunas en California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">Newsom también ha firmado una ley\u003c/a> que permite al estado actuar de forma independiente de los CDC en lo que respecta a la recomendación de vacunas, “empoderando a California para trazar su propio camino y rechazar las directrices federales corruptas”, según un comunicado de la oficina del gobernador.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>En cuanto a cómo California puede ampliar las restricciones de elegibilidad de la FDA, la decisión de la FDA afecta a lo que se denomina la “etiqueta” de la vacuna. Básicamente, California está poniendo ahora la vacuna a disposición de personas que no entran dentro de las limitaciones de la FDA, “fuera de lo indicado en la etiqueta”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Para nosotros, como médicos, clínicos y proveedores, está perfectamente bien utilizar vacunas y medicamentos” fuera de lo indicado en la etiqueta de esta manera, dijo el Dr. Brad Hare, experto en enfermedades infecciosas de Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. “Es algo que se hace muy comúnmente y es muy seguro”.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Walgreens\">\u003c/a>¿Puedo recibir mi nueva vacuna contra el COVID-19 en una farmacia como Walgreens o CVS ahora mismo?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Antes del 17 de septiembre, ya se podían programar citas para las vacunas actualizadas contra el COVID-19 para 2025-2026 en farmacias como \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/scheduling/patient-lookup?lob=rximz&flow=vaccine&icid=global-nav\">CVS\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp?ban=immhub_covidinfo\">Walgreens\u003c/a> y Safeway en California, pero solo para personas que, durante el proceso de registro en línea, indicaron que tenían 65 años o más o que padecían una afección médica que los hacía más vulnerables al COVID-19. Las farmacias siguen las indicaciones del gobierno federal, no de los estados, por lo que siempre han pedido ser los primeros lugares en los que se han distribuido las vacunas contra el COVID-19, antes de que las vacunas estuvieran más ampliamente disponibles a través de los proveedores y las autoridades de salud pública.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pero ahora, las autoridades sanitarias estatales afirman que \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR25-011.aspx\">cualquier persona mayor de 6 meses puede vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en su farmacia local\u003c/a>, y que la vacuna estará cubierta por su seguro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1998675\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1998675\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/CVS-PHARMACY.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1079\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Una tienda CVS en Huntington Park el agosto 28 de 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Con respecto a las aplicaciones de citas en línea para la vacuna contra el COVID-19 en \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/get-vaccinated\">CVS\u003c/a> y \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp?ban=immhub_covidinfo\">Walgreens\u003c/a>, se ha eliminado el mensaje anterior que solicitaba a los pacientes confirmar que tenían más de 65 años o que padecían \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html\">condiciones de salud de alto riesgo\u003c/a>, según las restricciones de elegibilidad de la FDA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>En su lugar, solo se pregunta a los pacientes si desean vacunarse contra la COVID-19 y si son “elegibles”. Aunque las páginas de citas en línea de las farmacias suelen seguir incluyendo un enlace a la lista del CDC de \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html\">afecciones que pueden aumentar el riesgo de contraer la COVID-19\u003c/a>, no se especifican criterios reales de elegibilidad y Walgreens ha confirmado que ser “elegible” en California significa que el paciente desea vacunarse y tiene 6 meses o más.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/get-vaccinated\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en CVS\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp?ban=immhub_covidinfo\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en Walgreens\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en Safeway\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en Costco\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html\">Albertsons\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walmart.com/cp/covid-19-vaccine/4289766?povid=OMNISRV_D_Cp_HW_AllVaccines_1228302_HW_4289766_TileCardsService_Covid-19Vaccines_LearnMore_1332399668\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en Walmart\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ralphs.com/health/schedule-appointment\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra la COVID-19 en Ralph’s\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>¿Quiénes siguen sin poder vacunarse contra la COVID-19 en una farmacia?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Si recibe atención médica a través de un sistema sanitario como Kaiser Permanente o Sutter Health\u003c/a>, normalmente no podrá vacunarse contra la COVID-19 en una farmacia con la cobertura total de su seguro, sino que tendrá que acudir directamente a su proveedor. Vaya directamente a \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#kaiser-permanente-covid-vaccines\">cómo pueden vacunarse contra la COVID-19 los miembros de Kaiser\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>El estado también dice que las farmacias no están autorizadas a vacunar a niños menores de 2 años. Esto significa que, a menos que su hijo tenga 3 años o más, no podrá vacunarlo contra el COVID-19 en una farmacia y deberá hablar con el pediatra de su hijo sobre la mejor manera de vacunarlo. La excepción a esto son las MinuteClinics de CVS, que cuentan con proveedores autorizados para administrar la vacuna contra el COVID-19 a niños de 18 meses o más.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html\">La lista actual del CDC de afecciones de salud\u003c/a> que aumentan el riesgo de enfermedad grave, hospitalización o muerte por COVID-19 incluye cáncer, enfermedades crónicas de pulmón, riñón e hígado, así como ciertas discapacidades. También incluye factores como afecciones de salud mental, incluida la depresión, la obesidad y ser fumador actual o ex fumador.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Al concertar una cita en línea, solo se pedía a los pacientes que “autodeclararan” cualquier afección médica que los pusiera en mayor riesgo y, por lo tanto, los hiciera elegibles para la vacuna, lo que significa que no se les pedía ninguna prueba que lo acreditara. Tampoco se exigía ninguna prueba de ninguna afección en las citas para vacunarse en las farmacias, lo que sigue siendo así.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1998679\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1998679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/ARM-AND-BANDAGE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">La FDA ha anunciado quiénes están autorizados a recibir la vacuna contra la COVID-19 en 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVID-19\">\u003c/a>¿Dónde puedo vacunarme contra el COVID-19 ahora que California ha ampliado los requisitos para recibir la vacuna?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Aunque cualquier persona mayor de 6 meses en California puede ahora \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#covid-vaccine-pharmacy-near-me-walgreens-cvs-safeway\">encontrar la vacuna contra el COVID-19 en farmacias como Walgreens o CVS\u003c/a>, es posible que las citas para vacunarse con proveedores y clínicas tarden un poco en estar disponibles en todo el estado.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Además de las farmacias, existen otros lugares donde pronto podrá encontrar la vacuna contra el COVID-19, en alguno de ellos:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch5>A través de su proveedor de atención médica, cuando esté disponible\u003c/h5>\n\u003cp>Si tiene seguro médico, consulte con su proveedor de atención médica para ver si pueden ofrecerle la vacuna actualizada contra el COVID-19 y cuándo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Si no tiene seguro médico pero recibe atención médica a través de un proveedor municipal o del condado, debe consultar con ese centro para ver si pueden ofrecerle la nueva vacuna contra el COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Además de intentar hablar directamente con su proveedor de atención médica, consulte el sitio web de su proveedor para ver si ofrece la posibilidad de concertar citas y registrarse para recibir notificaciones sobre la vacuna, si esa es una opción.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch5>A través de My Turn, cuando esté disponible\u003c/h5>\n\u003cp>A lo largo de la pandemia, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn ha sido el sitio web del estado\u003c/a> para que los californianos programen citas para vacunarse o encuentren lugares sin cita previa, independientemente de su situación en cuanto al seguro médico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">Si visita la página de My Turn\u003c/a>, seleccione “Hacer una cita”. My Turn le pedirá su información y el código postal o la ubicación que desea utilizar para buscar citas para vacunarse. Puede indicar la ubicación de su domicilio o introducir otras ubicaciones para ver qué centros hay disponibles más lejos.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My Turn le pedirá que proporcione un número de teléfono celular y una dirección de correo electrónico. El estado afirma que esto es para que pueda utilizar la autenticación de dos factores para confirmar su identidad y concertar su cita, así como para evitar que los bots acaparen automáticamente las citas disponibles en línea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Si no tiene una dirección de correo electrónico o un número de teléfono celular, o si tiene preguntas, puede llamar a la línea directa de COVID-19 de California al 833-422-4255 (de lunes a viernes de 8 a. m. a 8 p. m., sábados y domingos de 8 a. m. a 5 p. m.) y registrarse por teléfono. Hay operadores que hablan inglés y español. Las personas que llamen y necesiten información en otros idiomas serán conectadas con un servicio de traducción que ofrece asistencia en más de 250 idiomas.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch5>A través de su condado, cuando esté disponible\u003c/h5>\n\u003cp>Consulte el sitio web de salud pública de su condado para ver si la vacuna actualizada contra el COVID-19 estará pronto disponible para los residentes, especialmente para aquellos que no tienen seguro o tienen un seguro insuficiente.\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\">Busque su condado del Área de la Bahía en nuestra lista.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Kaiser\">\u003c/a>¿Cómo pueden los miembros de Kaiser obtener su vacuna contra el COVID-19?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Con respecto al 15 de septiembre, Kaiser Permanente puso \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">la vacuna actualizada contra el COVID-19 a disposición de todos sus miembros\u003c/a>, rompiendo con las restricciones de la FDA antes que el estado.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Un vocero de Kaiser dijo que el sistema de salud estaba poniendo las vacunas a disposición de sus miembros “sin costo alguno”, “basándose en las últimas pruebas científicas y en las recomendaciones clínicas de nuestros médicos expertos y muchas otras fuentes, incluidas las que encabezan las principales sociedades médicas”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Si es miembro de Kaiser, puede \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/flu-and-covid-19-vaccine-locations/\">averiguar los lugares que ofrecen la vacuna contra el COVID-19 cerca de usted\u003c/a>, ya sea con cita previa o con respecto a un acceso sin cita.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Y si está pensando en vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en una farmacia porque le resulta más cómodo, tenga en cuenta que si su atención médica es a través de un sistema como Kaiser, normalmente no podrá obtener la cobertura total de la vacuna por parte de su seguro. Sin embargo, según Kaiser, “\u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">es posible que le reembolsen hasta la mitad del costo\u003c/a>”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tenga en cuenta que, en este momento, en CVS \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">el costo de la vacuna contra el COVID-19 es de 198,99 dólares\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Este artículo fue traducido por la periodista \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/mpena/\">María Peña\u003c/a> y esa traducción fue editada por el periodista \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ccabreralomeli\">Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Si usted vive en California, tiene varias opciones para poder recibir la versión más reciente de la vacuna contra el coronavirus. Cambios a nivel estatal permiten que más residentes de California tengan acceso a esta vacuna.",
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"title": "En 2025, ¿dónde consigo la nueva vacuna contra COVID-19? | KQED",
"description": "Si usted vive en California, tiene varias opciones para poder recibir la versión más reciente de la vacuna contra el coronavirus. Cambios a nivel estatal permiten que más residentes de California tengan acceso a esta vacuna.",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>\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#covid-vaccine-near-me\">Read in English\u003c/a>\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>No lo está imaginando: el proceso para recibir la vacuna contra COVID-19 este año en California no ha sido como en años anteriores.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pero lo importante es saber que, a pesar de \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">las restricciones iniciales\u003c/a>, las autoridades de salud permiten que todas las personas mayores de 6 meses puedan recibir esta vacuna.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Previamente, la Administración de alimentos y medicamentos de los Estados Unidos (o FDA por sus siglas en inglés) \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12053906/covid-vaccines-booster-2025-fda-cdc-who-can-get-updated-vaccine-novavax-pfizer-moderna-where-find\">había anunciado\u003c/a> que la agencia limitaría por primera vez quienes califican para recibir la versión más reciente de la vacuna. La FDA dijo que las vacunas recién aprobadas este año de Pfizer, Moderna y Novavax solo estarán disponibles para personas de 65 años o más y para cualquier persona con una condición médica que la ponga en mayor riesgo de contraer COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Al principio, las vacunas se administraron en las farmacias de California solo a estos grupos. El 15 de septiembre, Kaiser Permanente se convirtió en el primer proveedor de California en romper con las restricciones de la FDA, poniendo \u003ca href=\"https://espanol.kaiserpermanente.org/es/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">la nueva vacuna contra el COVID-19 a disposición de todos sus miembros\u003c/a> mayores de 6 meses sin limitaciones.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cbr>\nEl 17 de septiembre, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">las autoridades de California publicaron sus propias recomendaciones sobre quiénes pueden recibir la nueva vacuna contra COVID-19\u003c/a>, rompiendo con los límites de elegibilidad de la FDA y ampliando el acceso a las vacunas a todas las personas del estado mayores de 6 meses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Ir directamente a:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#CaliforniaR\">\u003cstrong>¿Quiénes pueden recibir la vacuna contra COVID-19 según las nuevas reglas de California?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#COVID-19\">\u003cstrong>¿Dónde puedo encontrar la vacuna contra COVID-19 si antes no era elegible?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#WalgreensR\">\u003cstrong>¿Dónde puedo encontrar la vacuna contra COVID-19 en una farmacia como Walgreens o CVS?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#Kaiser\">\u003cstrong>¿Cómo pueden los miembros de Kaiser obtener su vacuna contra el COVID-19 en este momento?\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Siga leyendo para saber dónde obtener las nuevas vacunas, cómo se ha abierto el acceso en California y cómo funciona la cobertura del seguro este año.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1998670\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1998670\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/NURSE-WITH-VACCINE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Tracy Gage, enfermera vocacional licenciada, prepara una jeringa en una clínica de vacunación contra la gripe y COVID-19 en Kaiser Permanente, en Pasadena, el 12 de octubre de 2023.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"California\">\u003c/a>¿Quién puede recibir ahora la nueva vacuna contra COVID-19 en California?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Según las nuevas recomendaciones de las autoridades sanitarias de California sobre quién puede recibir la nueva vacuna contra el COVID-19, todas las personas mayores de 6 meses pueden recibir la vacuna actualizada.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Las autoridades a nivel estatal están rompiendo con los límites de elegibilidad de la FDA y abriendo las vacunas a “todos los que elijan protegerse”, al tiempo que especifica ciertos grupos entre los niños y adultos que se beneficiarán especialmente de recibir la vacuna contra COVID-19. Entre ellos se incluyen:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Todos los niños de 2 a 18 años con factores de riesgo o que nunca hayan sido vacunados contra COVID-19.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Todos los niños y adultos que tengan contacto cercano con otras personas con factores de riesgo.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Todos los adultos de entre 18 y 64 años con factores de riesgo.\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Todas las personas que estén planeando un embarazo, embarazadas, en posparto o en periodo de lactancia.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>El Departamento de salud pública de California afirma que \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR25-011.aspx\">estas vacunas recomendadas “estarán cubiertas por las aseguradoras de salud\u003c/a> reguladas por el estado de California y se podrán recibir en la farmacia local, a través del proveedor de atención médica o de otros proveedores de vacunas autorizados sin costo alguno”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Es posible que las vacunas tarden un poco en llegar a todos los proveedores, pero puede consultar directamente nuestra información sobre:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#Walgreens\">\u003cstrong>Cómo obtener su nueva vacuna en una farmacia como Walgreens o CVS\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"#COVID-19\">\u003cstrong>Otros lugares donde podría encontrar pronto la vacuna contra COVID-19\u003c/strong>\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Si ha visto las noticias de que el \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056934/rfk-jr-s-vaccine-panel-backs-away-from-plan-to-require-an-rx-for-a-covid-shot\">Comité asesor sobre prácticas de inmunización de los Centros para el Control y la Prevención de Enfermedades (o CDC por sus siglas en inglés)\u003c/a> votó el 19 de septiembre a favor de cambiar el acceso a las vacunas contra el COVID-19, pidiendo a los pacientes que hablen con un médico sobre los riesgos y beneficios antes de vacunarse, debe saber que un portavoz del CDPH confirmó a KQED que las directrices del comité “no afectarían a las recomendaciones, directrices o acceso a las vacunas contra el COVID en California”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Como siempre, animamos a las personas a que consulten con su plan de salud o su aseguradora médica si tienen preguntas específicas”, afirmó el CDPH.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>¿Cómo fue que California rompió con el gobierno federal con respecto a las vacunas contra COVID-19?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>A principios de septiembre, el gobernador de California, Gavin Newsom, anunció que el estado se uniría a Oregón y Washington para \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">lanzar una nueva “alianza de salud de la Costa Oeste”\u003c/a>, una coalición que ahora ha emitido sus propias recomendaciones sobre vacunas específicas para cada estado.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>En una declaración conjunta, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12054491/in-rebuke-of-rfk-jr-the-west-coast-unites-on-vaccine-policy\">los gobernadores afirmaron que los CDC se habían “convertido en una herramienta política\u003c/a> que cada vez más promueve la ideología en lugar de la ciencia, una ideología que encabezará graves consecuencias para la salud”, y añadieron que “California, Oregón y Washington no permitirán que se ponga en riesgo a la población de nuestros estados, con respecto a la política”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>En junio, el secretario de Salud, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., disolvió el Comité Asesor sobre Prácticas de Inmunización de los CDC y \u003ca href=\"https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-health-chief-kennedy-names-new-members-vaccine-advisory-committee-2025-06-11/\">sustituyó a sus miembros por varios médicos e investigadores\u003c/a> que han cuestionado repetidamente la seguridad de las vacunas y los ingredientes de uso común. El \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/acip/meetings/index.html\">nuevo panel no se reunió hasta el 18 de septiembre\u003c/a>, y votó \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056934/rfk-jr-s-vaccine-panel-backs-away-from-plan-to-require-an-rx-for-a-covid-shot\">a favor de cambiar el acceso a las vacunas contra la COVID-19 con respecto a la fecha del 19 de septiembre\u003c/a>, pidiendo a los pacientes que hablaran con un médico sobre los riesgos y beneficios antes de vacunarse. El CDPH confirma que esta decisión sigue sin afectar al acceso a las vacunas en California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12056289/california-law-sets-states-own-vaccine-schedules-deepening-rift-with-cdc\">Newsom también ha firmado una ley\u003c/a> que permite al estado actuar de forma independiente de los CDC en lo que respecta a la recomendación de vacunas, “empoderando a California para trazar su propio camino y rechazar las directrices federales corruptas”, según un comunicado de la oficina del gobernador.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>En cuanto a cómo California puede ampliar las restricciones de elegibilidad de la FDA, la decisión de la FDA afecta a lo que se denomina la “etiqueta” de la vacuna. Básicamente, California está poniendo ahora la vacuna a disposición de personas que no entran dentro de las limitaciones de la FDA, “fuera de lo indicado en la etiqueta”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Para nosotros, como médicos, clínicos y proveedores, está perfectamente bien utilizar vacunas y medicamentos” fuera de lo indicado en la etiqueta de esta manera, dijo el Dr. Brad Hare, experto en enfermedades infecciosas de Kaiser Permanente San Francisco. “Es algo que se hace muy comúnmente y es muy seguro”.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Walgreens\">\u003c/a>¿Puedo recibir mi nueva vacuna contra el COVID-19 en una farmacia como Walgreens o CVS ahora mismo?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Antes del 17 de septiembre, ya se podían programar citas para las vacunas actualizadas contra el COVID-19 para 2025-2026 en farmacias como \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/scheduling/patient-lookup?lob=rximz&flow=vaccine&icid=global-nav\">CVS\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp?ban=immhub_covidinfo\">Walgreens\u003c/a> y Safeway en California, pero solo para personas que, durante el proceso de registro en línea, indicaron que tenían 65 años o más o que padecían una afección médica que los hacía más vulnerables al COVID-19. Las farmacias siguen las indicaciones del gobierno federal, no de los estados, por lo que siempre han pedido ser los primeros lugares en los que se han distribuido las vacunas contra el COVID-19, antes de que las vacunas estuvieran más ampliamente disponibles a través de los proveedores y las autoridades de salud pública.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Pero ahora, las autoridades sanitarias estatales afirman que \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/OPA/Pages/NR25-011.aspx\">cualquier persona mayor de 6 meses puede vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en su farmacia local\u003c/a>, y que la vacuna estará cubierta por su seguro.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1998675\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1998675\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/CVS-PHARMACY.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1079\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">Una tienda CVS en Huntington Park el agosto 28 de 2024.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003cp>Con respecto a las aplicaciones de citas en línea para la vacuna contra el COVID-19 en \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/get-vaccinated\">CVS\u003c/a> y \u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp?ban=immhub_covidinfo\">Walgreens\u003c/a>, se ha eliminado el mensaje anterior que solicitaba a los pacientes confirmar que tenían más de 65 años o que padecían \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html\">condiciones de salud de alto riesgo\u003c/a>, según las restricciones de elegibilidad de la FDA.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>En su lugar, solo se pregunta a los pacientes si desean vacunarse contra la COVID-19 y si son “elegibles”. Aunque las páginas de citas en línea de las farmacias suelen seguir incluyendo un enlace a la lista del CDC de \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html\">afecciones que pueden aumentar el riesgo de contraer la COVID-19\u003c/a>, no se especifican criterios reales de elegibilidad y Walgreens ha confirmado que ser “elegible” en California significa que el paciente desea vacunarse y tiene 6 meses o más.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/get-vaccinated\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en CVS\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walgreens.com/topic/promotion/covid-vaccine.jsp?ban=immhub_covidinfo\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en Walgreens\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.safeway.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en Safeway\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.costco.com/pharmacy/adult-immunization-program.html\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en Costco\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en \u003c/a>\u003ca href=\"https://www.albertsons.com/pharmacy/covid-19.html\">Albertsons\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.walmart.com/cp/covid-19-vaccine/4289766?povid=OMNISRV_D_Cp_HW_AllVaccines_1228302_HW_4289766_TileCardsService_Covid-19Vaccines_LearnMore_1332399668\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en Walmart\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003ca href=\"https://www.ralphs.com/health/schedule-appointment\">Programe una cita para vacunarse contra la COVID-19 en Ralph’s\u003c/a>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>¿Quiénes siguen sin poder vacunarse contra la COVID-19 en una farmacia?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024#kaisernewcovidvaccine\">Si recibe atención médica a través de un sistema sanitario como Kaiser Permanente o Sutter Health\u003c/a>, normalmente no podrá vacunarse contra la COVID-19 en una farmacia con la cobertura total de su seguro, sino que tendrá que acudir directamente a su proveedor. Vaya directamente a \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#kaiser-permanente-covid-vaccines\">cómo pueden vacunarse contra la COVID-19 los miembros de Kaiser\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>El estado también dice que las farmacias no están autorizadas a vacunar a niños menores de 2 años. Esto significa que, a menos que su hijo tenga 3 años o más, no podrá vacunarlo contra el COVID-19 en una farmacia y deberá hablar con el pediatra de su hijo sobre la mejor manera de vacunarlo. La excepción a esto son las MinuteClinics de CVS, que cuentan con proveedores autorizados para administrar la vacuna contra el COVID-19 a niños de 18 meses o más.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/covid/risk-factors/index.html\">La lista actual del CDC de afecciones de salud\u003c/a> que aumentan el riesgo de enfermedad grave, hospitalización o muerte por COVID-19 incluye cáncer, enfermedades crónicas de pulmón, riñón e hígado, así como ciertas discapacidades. También incluye factores como afecciones de salud mental, incluida la depresión, la obesidad y ser fumador actual o ex fumador.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Al concertar una cita en línea, solo se pedía a los pacientes que “autodeclararan” cualquier afección médica que los pusiera en mayor riesgo y, por lo tanto, los hiciera elegibles para la vacuna, lo que significa que no se les pedía ninguna prueba que lo acreditara. Tampoco se exigía ninguna prueba de ninguna afección en las citas para vacunarse en las farmacias, lo que sigue siendo así.\u003c/p>\n\u003cfigure id=\"attachment_1998679\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1536px\">\u003cimg loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1998679\" src=\"https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/35/2025/09/ARM-AND-BANDAGE.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\">\u003cfigcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">La FDA ha anunciado quiénes están autorizados a recibir la vacuna contra la COVID-19 en 2025.\u003c/figcaption>\u003c/figure>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"COVID-19\">\u003c/a>¿Dónde puedo vacunarme contra el COVID-19 ahora que California ha ampliado los requisitos para recibir la vacuna?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Aunque cualquier persona mayor de 6 meses en California puede ahora \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#covid-vaccine-pharmacy-near-me-walgreens-cvs-safeway\">encontrar la vacuna contra el COVID-19 en farmacias como Walgreens o CVS\u003c/a>, es posible que las citas para vacunarse con proveedores y clínicas tarden un poco en estar disponibles en todo el estado.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Además de las farmacias, existen otros lugares donde pronto podrá encontrar la vacuna contra el COVID-19, en alguno de ellos:\u003c/p>\n\u003ch5>A través de su proveedor de atención médica, cuando esté disponible\u003c/h5>\n\u003cp>Si tiene seguro médico, consulte con su proveedor de atención médica para ver si pueden ofrecerle la vacuna actualizada contra el COVID-19 y cuándo.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Si no tiene seguro médico pero recibe atención médica a través de un proveedor municipal o del condado, debe consultar con ese centro para ver si pueden ofrecerle la nueva vacuna contra el COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Además de intentar hablar directamente con su proveedor de atención médica, consulte el sitio web de su proveedor para ver si ofrece la posibilidad de concertar citas y registrarse para recibir notificaciones sobre la vacuna, si esa es una opción.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch5>A través de My Turn, cuando esté disponible\u003c/h5>\n\u003cp>A lo largo de la pandemia, \u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">My Turn ha sido el sitio web del estado\u003c/a> para que los californianos programen citas para vacunarse o encuentren lugares sin cita previa, independientemente de su situación en cuanto al seguro médico.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://myturn.ca.gov/\">Si visita la página de My Turn\u003c/a>, seleccione “Hacer una cita”. My Turn le pedirá su información y el código postal o la ubicación que desea utilizar para buscar citas para vacunarse. Puede indicar la ubicación de su domicilio o introducir otras ubicaciones para ver qué centros hay disponibles más lejos.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>My Turn le pedirá que proporcione un número de teléfono celular y una dirección de correo electrónico. El estado afirma que esto es para que pueda utilizar la autenticación de dos factores para confirmar su identidad y concertar su cita, así como para evitar que los bots acaparen automáticamente las citas disponibles en línea.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Si no tiene una dirección de correo electrónico o un número de teléfono celular, o si tiene preguntas, puede llamar a la línea directa de COVID-19 de California al 833-422-4255 (de lunes a viernes de 8 a. m. a 8 p. m., sábados y domingos de 8 a. m. a 5 p. m.) y registrarse por teléfono. Hay operadores que hablan inglés y español. Las personas que llamen y necesiten información en otros idiomas serán conectadas con un servicio de traducción que ofrece asistencia en más de 250 idiomas.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch5>A través de su condado, cuando esté disponible\u003c/h5>\n\u003cp>Consulte el sitio web de salud pública de su condado para ver si la vacuna actualizada contra el COVID-19 estará pronto disponible para los residentes, especialmente para aquellos que no tienen seguro o tienen un seguro insuficiente.\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\">Busque su condado del Área de la Bahía en nuestra lista.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"Kaiser\">\u003c/a>¿Cómo pueden los miembros de Kaiser obtener su vacuna contra el COVID-19?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Con respecto al 15 de septiembre, Kaiser Permanente puso \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">la vacuna actualizada contra el COVID-19 a disposición de todos sus miembros\u003c/a>, rompiendo con las restricciones de la FDA antes que el estado.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Un vocero de Kaiser dijo que el sistema de salud estaba poniendo las vacunas a disposición de sus miembros “sin costo alguno”, “basándose en las últimas pruebas científicas y en las recomendaciones clínicas de nuestros médicos expertos y muchas otras fuentes, incluidas las que encabezan las principales sociedades médicas”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Si es miembro de Kaiser, puede \u003ca href=\"https://mydoctor.kaiserpermanente.org/ncal/flu-and-covid-19-vaccine-locations/\">averiguar los lugares que ofrecen la vacuna contra el COVID-19 cerca de usted\u003c/a>, ya sea con cita previa o con respecto a un acceso sin cita.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Y si está pensando en vacunarse contra el COVID-19 en una farmacia porque le resulta más cómodo, tenga en cuenta que si su atención médica es a través de un sistema como Kaiser, normalmente no podrá obtener la cobertura total de la vacuna por parte de su seguro. Sin embargo, según Kaiser, “\u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/health-wellness/coronavirus-information/vaccine-appointments\">es posible que le reembolsen hasta la mitad del costo\u003c/a>”.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Tenga en cuenta que, en este momento, en CVS \u003ca href=\"https://www.cvs.com/immunizations/covid-19-vaccine\">el costo de la vacuna contra el COVID-19 es de 198,99 dólares\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>Este artículo fue traducido por la periodista \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/mpena/\">María Peña\u003c/a> y esa traducción fue editada por el periodista \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/ccabreralomeli\">Carlos Cabrera-Lomelí\u003c/a>.\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"title": "Why Getting Your 2024 COVID and Flu Shots Before Halloween Is a Good Idea",
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"headTitle": "Why Getting Your 2024 COVID and Flu Shots Before Halloween Is a Good Idea | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>If you haven’t yet sought out your updated COVID-19 vaccine — or your flu shot — now might be a good time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because, after a lengthy COVID-19 surge this summer that lasted twice as long as 2023’s summer swell, the Bay Area is now about to enter the winter respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In August, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">the updated 2024 COVID-19 vaccine was made available to everyone age 6 months and over\u003c/a>, with shots from manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna and most recently, Novavax. These COVID-19 vaccines are now provided as annual fall vaccines, alongside the yearly flu shot, updated to target the latest strains and timed in order to offer maximum protection against the predicted winter surge of these viruses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of which means if you haven’t gotten either your COVID-19 or flu shot yet at this stage in the fall, seeking them out in the next few weeks is a good idea. Keep reading for what you need to know about fall vaccines, including the best time to get them, what to do if you got COVID-19 this summer and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#covidbayarea\">If I got COVID this summer, when should I get my vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>When is the best time to get my COVID and flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a COVID-19 or flu shot are based on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the virus\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>When levels of the virus are predicted to rise that year\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Getting your COVID shot\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the Bay Area’s fall and winter COVID-19 surge began in late October, according to Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors levels of the virus in local sewage. And when it comes to the timing of your COVID-19 shot, you want to aim for what UCSF infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Chin-Hong called “the Goldilocks moment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You don’t want to get it too soon because your antibodies might wane just when you need it the most,” Chin-Hong said. “And you don’t want to get it too late because you want to prevent infection. So generally, by Halloween or mid to late October is when most people say the right time is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12001396]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reason for this, explained Chin-Hong, is to ensure you get your full immunity ahead of the busy holiday season, from trick-or-treating at Halloween to holiday travel, Thanksgiving and beyond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With your vaccine, “you not only get protection against serious disease, hospitalization and death, but you get a little bit of a buffer against infection itself,” Chin-Hong said. “So that if you want to have peace of mind while doing all of these things, it’s probably a good idea to peak your antibodies just when people are getting together again.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Getting your flu shot\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that last year’s flu season caused between 17,000 and 100,000 deaths and up to 900,000 hospitalizations. Typically, flu season starts in November and peaks around January or February, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/index.html\">everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine “ideally by the end of October.”\u003c/a> Chin-Hong told KQED that his “optimal sweet point” for getting this shot is “sometime before Halloween” — but that if you see flu cases start to rise earlier, you should hustle to seek out your flu shot even sooner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I get my COVID and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes — it’s totally fine and safe to get your flu shot at the same time as your new COVID-19 vaccine, and you’ll find many pharmacies offer appointments where you can get multiple vaccines at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A caveat: if you’re trying to schedule vaccinations for a child, the CDC advised in 2023 that you first talk to your pediatrician about the best schedule for the COVID-19 and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment, too).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidbayarea\">\u003c/a>I got COVID over the summer. Do I still need a COVID shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, Chin-Hong said — although make sure you’re not getting a shot too soon after having COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because “after getting infected with COVID, in general, you have a force field for around three months,” Chin-Hong said, meaning your infection will give you a good level of immunity against getting COVID-19 again during that period.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, this immunity will wane, Chin-Hong said, so having “a little bit of a buffer” is something to consider. This means getting your COVID-19 shot even after two months “won’t be a bad idea if it coincides with the time when we expect COVID to come back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get my COVID and flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For full information on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">how to find an updated 2024 COVID-19 shot, read our guide\u003c/a>. If you have health insurance, the cost of your COVID-19 vaccine should be fully covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12006600]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To learn more about where to find a flu shot with or without insurance, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv#flushotnearme\">read our 2023 guide to locations offering flu vaccination around the Bay Area\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that many locations — including pharmacies — will offer appointments where you can get both vaccines at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about RSV? Should I get a vaccine for that?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that while RSV “does not usually cause severe illness in healthy adults and children,” older adults and infants younger than six months of age are especially at risk of becoming “very sick and may need to be hospitalized.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html\">vaccine against RSV is accordingly recommended by the CDC for infants, young children and adults ages 60 and older\u003c/a>, as well as for pregnant people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The virus spreads in the fall and winter like other respiratory viruses and “usually peaks in December and January,” according to the agency, which recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/older-adults.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvaccines%2Fvpd%2Frsv%2Fhcp%2Folder-adults-faqs.html\">vaccination against RSV “will have the most benefit if administered in late summer or early fall\u003c/a> [August through October], just before the RSV season.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speak to your health care provider about getting the RSV vaccine, when might be the best time for you and whether to get it alongside other vaccines. And as ever, 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 advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>If you haven’t yet sought out your updated COVID-19 vaccine — or your flu shot — now might be a good time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because, after a lengthy COVID-19 surge this summer that lasted twice as long as 2023’s summer swell, the Bay Area is now about to enter the winter respiratory virus season.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In August, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">the updated 2024 COVID-19 vaccine was made available to everyone age 6 months and over\u003c/a>, with shots from manufacturers Pfizer, Moderna and most recently, Novavax. These COVID-19 vaccines are now provided as annual fall vaccines, alongside the yearly flu shot, updated to target the latest strains and timed in order to offer maximum protection against the predicted winter surge of these viruses.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>All of which means if you haven’t gotten either your COVID-19 or flu shot yet at this stage in the fall, seeking them out in the next few weeks is a good idea. Keep reading for what you need to know about fall vaccines, including the best time to get them, what to do if you got COVID-19 this summer and more.\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to: \u003ca href=\"#covidbayarea\">If I got COVID this summer, when should I get my vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>When is the best time to get my COVID and flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The recommendations medical professionals make about when to get a COVID-19 or flu shot are based on:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>The fact that it takes about two weeks after you get vaccinated for antibodies to develop and provide protection against the virus\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>When levels of the virus are predicted to rise that year\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Getting your COVID shot\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Last year, the Bay Area’s fall and winter COVID-19 surge began in late October, according to Stanford University’s WastewaterSCAN team, which monitors levels of the virus in local sewage. And when it comes to the timing of your COVID-19 shot, you want to aim for what UCSF infectious disease expert Dr. Peter Chin-Hong called “the Goldilocks moment.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“You don’t want to get it too soon because your antibodies might wane just when you need it the most,” Chin-Hong said. “And you don’t want to get it too late because you want to prevent infection. So generally, by Halloween or mid to late October is when most people say the right time is.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The reason for this, explained Chin-Hong, is to ensure you get your full immunity ahead of the busy holiday season, from trick-or-treating at Halloween to holiday travel, Thanksgiving and beyond.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>With your vaccine, “you not only get protection against serious disease, hospitalization and death, but you get a little bit of a buffer against infection itself,” Chin-Hong said. “So that if you want to have peace of mind while doing all of these things, it’s probably a good idea to peak your antibodies just when people are getting together again.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Getting your flu shot\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that last year’s flu season caused between 17,000 and 100,000 deaths and up to 900,000 hospitalizations. Typically, flu season starts in November and peaks around January or February, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/prevention/index.html\">everyone 6 months and older get an annual flu vaccine “ideally by the end of October.”\u003c/a> Chin-Hong told KQED that his “optimal sweet point” for getting this shot is “sometime before Halloween” — but that if you see flu cases start to rise earlier, you should hustle to seek out your flu shot even sooner.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Can I get my COVID and my flu shot at the same time?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes — it’s totally fine and safe to get your flu shot at the same time as your new COVID-19 vaccine, and you’ll find many pharmacies offer appointments where you can get multiple vaccines at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A caveat: if you’re trying to schedule vaccinations for a child, the CDC advised in 2023 that you first talk to your pediatrician about the best schedule for the COVID-19 and flu vaccines (and now the RSV — respiratory syncytial virus — preventive treatment, too).\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"covidbayarea\">\u003c/a>I got COVID over the summer. Do I still need a COVID shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Yes, Chin-Hong said — although make sure you’re not getting a shot too soon after having COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That’s because “after getting infected with COVID, in general, you have a force field for around three months,” Chin-Hong said, meaning your infection will give you a good level of immunity against getting COVID-19 again during that period.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>That said, this immunity will wane, Chin-Hong said, so having “a little bit of a buffer” is something to consider. This means getting your COVID-19 shot even after two months “won’t be a bad idea if it coincides with the time when we expect COVID to come back.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Where can I get my COVID and flu shot?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>For full information on \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/12001396/where-can-i-get-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2024\">how to find an updated 2024 COVID-19 shot, read our guide\u003c/a>. If you have health insurance, the cost of your COVID-19 vaccine should be fully covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To learn more about where to find a flu shot with or without insurance, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv#flushotnearme\">read our 2023 guide to locations offering flu vaccination around the Bay Area\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember that many locations — including pharmacies — will offer appointments where you can get both vaccines at the same time.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What about RSV? Should I get a vaccine for that?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that while RSV “does not usually cause severe illness in healthy adults and children,” older adults and infants younger than six months of age are especially at risk of becoming “very sick and may need to be hospitalized.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/index.html\">vaccine against RSV is accordingly recommended by the CDC for infants, young children and adults ages 60 and older\u003c/a>, as well as for pregnant people.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The virus spreads in the fall and winter like other respiratory viruses and “usually peaks in December and January,” according to the agency, which recommends that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/hcp/vaccine-clinical-guidance/older-adults.html?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fvaccines%2Fvpd%2Frsv%2Fhcp%2Folder-adults-faqs.html\">vaccination against RSV “will have the most benefit if administered in late summer or early fall\u003c/a> [August through October], just before the RSV season.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Speak to your health care provider about getting the RSV vaccine, when might be the best time for you and whether to get it alongside other vaccines. And as ever, 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 advises that you first talk to your pediatrician\u003c/a> about the best schedule for the COVID-19, flu and RSV vaccines.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"slug": "bay-areas-long-covid-community-celebrates-moonshot-bill-for-10-billion-in-funding",
"title": "Bay Area's Long COVID Community Celebrates Moonshot Bill for $10 Billion in Funding",
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"headTitle": "Bay Area’s Long COVID Community Celebrates Moonshot Bill for $10 Billion in Funding | KQED",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/long-covid\">Long COVID\u003c/a> patients and advocates in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> have spent years pushing for a concerted effort toward research, prevention and a cure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re now hopeful that the increasingly widespread chronic condition that follows many COVID-19 infections will soon be better understood, thanks to legislation introduced Friday in the House of Representatives that would provide $10 billion in funding for long COVID research and education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Long COVID Research Moonshot Act, proposed by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and co-sponsored by Rep.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973684\"> Barbara Lee\u003c/a> (D-Oakland), is a companion bill to one that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4964/cosponsors?s=2&r=2&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22bernie+sanders%22%7D\">introduced\u003c/a> in the Senate in August.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s huge for us,” said Lisa McCorkell, an Oakland resident who co-founded the Patient-Led Research Collaborative. The PLRC is a group of researchers living with long COVID and other related chronic conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It really shows that this bill has broad support — as it should — because it’s aiming to address the crisis of long COVID in a way that puts the resources that are necessary behind it,” McCorkell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11986724/after-months-long-coma-this-latino-immigrant-worker-is-still-fighting-mysterious-symptoms\">symptoms of long COVID\u003c/a> often include brain fog and fatigue. Many people found to have it have also been diagnosed with conditions like \u003ca href=\"https://solvecfs.org/me-cfs-long-covid/about-the-disease/\">myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome\u003c/a> (ME/CF) and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots\">postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome\u003c/a> (POTS). These chronic, complex immune diseases can profoundly limit the wellness and productivity of patients and, like long COVID, are often triggered by an infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Studies have also found that COVID-19 can cause immune system \u003ca href=\"https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/the-long-covid-puzzle-autoimmunity-inflammation-and-other-possible-causes#:~:text=The%20theory%20is%20that%20COVID,in%20those%20with%20Long%20COVID.\">dysfunction\u003c/a>, allowing dormant infections, like the virus that causes Epstein-Barr disease or the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, to reemerge. And while vaccines have ensured bouts of COVID-19 are less likely to be deadly than they were at the pandemic’s start, every infection makes you more \u003ca href=\"https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity/transmission/2023/12/27/every-covid-infection-increases-your-risk-of-long-covid-study-warns/\">susceptible \u003c/a>to contracting long COVID.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[aside postID=news_12006600 hero='https://cdn.kqed.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2024/09/GettyImages-1668874864-1020x646.jpg']\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Linda Geng, co-director of the Stanford Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome Clinic, said long COVID has become a “huge public health problem,” affecting millions of people in the United States long term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though physicians have an FDA-approved therapeutic toolkit for COVID-19, they currently have “minimal to no evidence-based strategies” to help those who have long COVID or who may develop it in the future, Geng said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Long COVID Research Moonshot Act would create a new research center within the National Institutes of Health to study the condition and other related illnesses, like ME/CFS and POTS. The center would house a new database tracking long COVID cases, an advisory board, and new grant processes to accelerate clinical trials, according to a report by \u003ca href=\"https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/ilhan-omar-bernie-long-covid-house-bill/\">\u003cem>Mother Jones\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The legislation would also fund public health education and clinics dedicated to long COVID care, especially in underserved communities — and would require any new treatments developed through the act to be reasonably priced and accessible to more patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area’s Umoja Health, which serves the COVID-19 and health needs of people of color, was an early sponsor of the Sanders bill. Co-founder Kim Rhoads described how long COVID can transform patients’ lives and contribute to long-term disability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve heard stories of folks who now have a hospital bed in their house where the family member who was affected by long COVID lives,” Rhoads said. “Folks who do not like to get out of bed, have burning feet and difficulty walking or have exertional malaise, which is basically a fatigue that can come over people after just doing simple things like cooking a meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rhoads said the disease has largely been ignored or treated like a seasonal virus, such as the flu. “There are political reasons to deny that there are any long-term effects of COVID,” Rhoads said, “to allow for us to ‘get back to normal.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In her work, Rhoads has seen firsthand how communities of color and disabled people have been disproportionately harmed by long COVID. Historically marginalized groups are also on the frontlines of infections and suffer from the highest mortality rates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Disabled people \u003ca href=\"https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/long-covid-rate-among-disabled-people-double-able-bodied\">are twice as likely\u003c/a> to contract long COVID as nondisabled people, said Sabrina Epstein, a policy analyst with Disability Rights California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is deeply an equity and justice issue,” said Epstein, whose disability makes her at risk for long COVID. “The research proposed by this bill has the potential to benefit folks in the disability and chronic illness community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/carlysevern\">Carly Severn\u003c/a> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n",
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"excerpt": "Legislation introduced in Congress could improve the lives of millions of patients, according to long COVID patients and advocates in the Bay Area.",
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"title": "Bay Area's Long COVID Community Celebrates Moonshot Bill for $10 Billion in Funding | KQED",
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"headline": "Bay Area's Long COVID Community Celebrates Moonshot Bill for $10 Billion in Funding",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/long-covid\">Long COVID\u003c/a> patients and advocates in the \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/bay-area\">Bay Area\u003c/a> have spent years pushing for a concerted effort toward research, prevention and a cure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>They’re now hopeful that the increasingly widespread chronic condition that follows many COVID-19 infections will soon be better understood, thanks to legislation introduced Friday in the House of Representatives that would provide $10 billion in funding for long COVID research and education.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Long COVID Research Moonshot Act, proposed by Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn.) and co-sponsored by Rep.\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11973684\"> Barbara Lee\u003c/a> (D-Oakland), is a companion bill to one that Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) \u003ca href=\"https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/senate-bill/4964/cosponsors?s=2&r=2&q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22bernie+sanders%22%7D\">introduced\u003c/a> in the Senate in August.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It’s huge for us,” said Lisa McCorkell, an Oakland resident who co-founded the Patient-Led Research Collaborative. The PLRC is a group of researchers living with long COVID and other related chronic conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It really shows that this bill has broad support — as it should — because it’s aiming to address the crisis of long COVID in a way that puts the resources that are necessary behind it,” McCorkell said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11986724/after-months-long-coma-this-latino-immigrant-worker-is-still-fighting-mysterious-symptoms\">symptoms of long COVID\u003c/a> often include brain fog and fatigue. Many people found to have it have also been diagnosed with conditions like \u003ca href=\"https://solvecfs.org/me-cfs-long-covid/about-the-disease/\">myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome\u003c/a> (ME/CF) and \u003ca href=\"https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/postural-orthostatic-tachycardia-syndrome-pots\">postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome\u003c/a> (POTS). These chronic, complex immune diseases can profoundly limit the wellness and productivity of patients and, like long COVID, are often triggered by an infection.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Studies have also found that COVID-19 can cause immune system \u003ca href=\"https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/the-long-covid-puzzle-autoimmunity-inflammation-and-other-possible-causes#:~:text=The%20theory%20is%20that%20COVID,in%20those%20with%20Long%20COVID.\">dysfunction\u003c/a>, allowing dormant infections, like the virus that causes Epstein-Barr disease or the bacteria that causes Lyme disease, to reemerge. And while vaccines have ensured bouts of COVID-19 are less likely to be deadly than they were at the pandemic’s start, every infection makes you more \u003ca href=\"https://www.unmc.edu/healthsecurity/transmission/2023/12/27/every-covid-infection-increases-your-risk-of-long-covid-study-warns/\">susceptible \u003c/a>to contracting long COVID.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Linda Geng, co-director of the Stanford Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome Clinic, said long COVID has become a “huge public health problem,” affecting millions of people in the United States long term.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Though physicians have an FDA-approved therapeutic toolkit for COVID-19, they currently have “minimal to no evidence-based strategies” to help those who have long COVID or who may develop it in the future, Geng said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Long COVID Research Moonshot Act would create a new research center within the National Institutes of Health to study the condition and other related illnesses, like ME/CFS and POTS. The center would house a new database tracking long COVID cases, an advisory board, and new grant processes to accelerate clinical trials, according to a report by \u003ca href=\"https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2024/09/ilhan-omar-bernie-long-covid-house-bill/\">\u003cem>Mother Jones\u003c/em>\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The legislation would also fund public health education and clinics dedicated to long COVID care, especially in underserved communities — and would require any new treatments developed through the act to be reasonably priced and accessible to more patients.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The Bay Area’s Umoja Health, which serves the COVID-19 and health needs of people of color, was an early sponsor of the Sanders bill. Co-founder Kim Rhoads described how long COVID can transform patients’ lives and contribute to long-term disability.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We’ve heard stories of folks who now have a hospital bed in their house where the family member who was affected by long COVID lives,” Rhoads said. “Folks who do not like to get out of bed, have burning feet and difficulty walking or have exertional malaise, which is basically a fatigue that can come over people after just doing simple things like cooking a meal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Rhoads said the disease has largely been ignored or treated like a seasonal virus, such as the flu. “There are political reasons to deny that there are any long-term effects of COVID,” Rhoads said, “to allow for us to ‘get back to normal.’”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In her work, Rhoads has seen firsthand how communities of color and disabled people have been disproportionately harmed by long COVID. Historically marginalized groups are also on the frontlines of infections and suffer from the highest mortality rates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Disabled people \u003ca href=\"https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/long-covid-rate-among-disabled-people-double-able-bodied\">are twice as likely\u003c/a> to contract long COVID as nondisabled people, said Sabrina Epstein, a policy analyst with Disability Rights California.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This is deeply an equity and justice issue,” said Epstein, whose disability makes her at risk for long COVID. “The research proposed by this bill has the potential to benefit folks in the disability and chronic illness community.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/author/carlysevern\">Carly Severn\u003c/a> contributed to this report. \u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "free-covid-tests-antigen-usps-order-2024-september",
"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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"content": "\u003cp>The Biden administration is bringing back free at-home COVID-19 tests by mail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the end of September, \u003ca href=\"https://aspr.hhs.gov/covid-19/test/Pages/default.aspx\">each household will be able to order\u003c/a> up to four rapid tests through COVIDtests.gov.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tests, which will detect newer COVID-19 variants, will be good for use until the end of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mailed tests are returning after the Food and Drug Administration this week \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5082372/updated-covid-vaccines-fda-approved\">approved two updated COVID-19 vaccines\u003c/a> to protect against current strains of the virus. Those vaccines, from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are expected to be rolled out within days for anyone age 6 months and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 infection, and testing is key to help limit the spread of the virus, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When using these rapid antigen tests, a positive result means you very likely have COVID-19.[aside postID=\"news_11972313,news_11970001,news_11968709\" label=\"Related Stories\"]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you test negative and are experiencing symptoms, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/home-covid-19-antigen-tests-take-steps-reduce-your-risk-false-negative-results-fda-safety\">FDA recommends a second test\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>performed 48 hours after the first. It recommends three tests for people exposed but don’t have symptoms, also 48 hours apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The prevention measures are being offered as an unexpected summer wave of COVID-19 hits the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you still have unused COVID-19 tests, they may still be current. You can \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">check this FDA website\u003c/a> to see if the expiration date has been extended.\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"excerpt": "Starting in late September, Americans will be able to order up to four free at-home COVID-19 tests that will be delivered to your mailbox. The tests will be able to detect newer variants of the virus.",
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"headline": "More Free COVID Tests Coming From US Government in September",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>The Biden administration is bringing back free at-home COVID-19 tests by mail.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>At the end of September, \u003ca href=\"https://aspr.hhs.gov/covid-19/test/Pages/default.aspx\">each household will be able to order\u003c/a> up to four rapid tests through COVIDtests.gov.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The tests, which will detect newer COVID-19 variants, will be good for use until the end of the year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The mailed tests are returning after the Food and Drug Administration this week \u003ca href=\"https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/08/22/nx-s1-5082372/updated-covid-vaccines-fda-approved\">approved two updated COVID-19 vaccines\u003c/a> to protect against current strains of the virus. Those vaccines, from Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna, are expected to be rolled out within days for anyone age 6 months and older.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vaccination is the most effective way to prevent COVID-19 infection, and testing is key to help limit the spread of the virus, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When using these rapid antigen tests, a positive result means you very likely have COVID-19.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you test negative and are experiencing symptoms, the \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/safety-communications/home-covid-19-antigen-tests-take-steps-reduce-your-risk-false-negative-results-fda-safety\">FDA recommends a second test\u003c/a>\u003cstrong> \u003c/strong>performed 48 hours after the first. It recommends three tests for people exposed but don’t have symptoms, also 48 hours apart.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The prevention measures are being offered as an unexpected summer wave of COVID-19 hits the U.S.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you still have unused COVID-19 tests, they may still be current. You can \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/medical-devices/coronavirus-covid-19-and-medical-devices/home-otc-covid-19-diagnostic-tests#list\">check this FDA website\u003c/a> to see if the expiration date has been extended.\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"content": "\u003cp>Charges in more than 100 San Francisco criminal cases could be dismissed after an appellate court ruled that the San Francisco Superior Court unlawfully used COVID-19 as an excuse to delay a misdemeanor trial despite the expiration of pandemic-era emergency restrictions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a 13-page opinion issued Monday, the 1st District Court of Appeal ordered the case to be dismissed, writing that the state court went “beyond its proper judicial role” and “stepped into the shoes of the prosecution” when it delayed the case for more than a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thousands of trials in San Francisco were delayed since the start of the pandemic, with more than 240 people being held in jail past the legal deadline at one point, according to a press release from the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Pretty much everybody charged with a crime in San Francisco over the last four years has been caught up in these backlogs,” San Francisco Deputy Public Defender Oliver Kroll said in an interview with KQED. “So we’re very glad the court of appeal has finally put a stop to it. And said that you have a right to a speedy trial in San Francisco. COVID-19 can no longer serve as an excuse.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kroll said he believes the court has violated a person’s speedy trial rights in over 100 other cases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lynette Mendoza, the defendant in the dismissed case, was arrested in October 2021 for driving under the influence, among other charges. In March 2023, Mendoza’s trial, along with a batch of other cases, was continued, citing COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The trial was ultimately continued six more times until Mendoza filed a motion to dismiss for a statutory speedy trial violation. Judge Victor Hwang denied the request.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law sets certain time limits by which a defendant must go to trial. In a misdemeanor case, the court must dismiss the case if it is not brought to trial within the time specified by law unless there is a compelling legal reason to delay or the defendant waives their right to a speedy trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The decision by the court of appeal could lead to reversals on appeal for defendants who were convicted after being deprived of their right to a speedy trial, according to the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an effort to create a binding precedent that the superior court would have to follow in other cases, the court of appeal took what it called an “unusual step” and published its opinion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are potentially hundreds of misdemeanor cases in superior court that are beyond the statutory last day to commence trial under section 1382,” the opinion reads. “It appears that many of the defendants in those cases sought dismissal on the same basis as petitioner.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, which dismissed a number of cases due to delays, agreed with the court’s decision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We concur with the (appellate court’s) conclusion that ‘under the circumstances, the court abused its discretion in denying the motion to dismiss,’” the district attorney’s office said in a statement. “We saw then, what the First District clearly points out now, there was no competent evidence to continue cases without good cause.”\u003c/p>\n\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>Charges in more than 100 San Francisco criminal cases could be dismissed after an appellate court ruled that the San Francisco Superior Court unlawfully used COVID-19 as an excuse to delay a misdemeanor trial despite the expiration of pandemic-era emergency restrictions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In a 13-page opinion issued Monday, the 1st District Court of Appeal ordered the case to be dismissed, writing that the state court went “beyond its proper judicial role” and “stepped into the shoes of the prosecution” when it delayed the case for more than a year.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Thousands of trials in San Francisco were delayed since the start of the pandemic, with more than 240 people being held in jail past the legal deadline at one point, according to a press release from the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Pretty much everybody charged with a crime in San Francisco over the last four years has been caught up in these backlogs,” San Francisco Deputy Public Defender Oliver Kroll said in an interview with KQED. “So we’re very glad the court of appeal has finally put a stop to it. And said that you have a right to a speedy trial in San Francisco. COVID-19 can no longer serve as an excuse.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Kroll said he believes the court has violated a person’s speedy trial rights in over 100 other cases.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Lynette Mendoza, the defendant in the dismissed case, was arrested in October 2021 for driving under the influence, among other charges. In March 2023, Mendoza’s trial, along with a batch of other cases, was continued, citing COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The trial was ultimately continued six more times until Mendoza filed a motion to dismiss for a statutory speedy trial violation. Judge Victor Hwang denied the request.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>California law sets certain time limits by which a defendant must go to trial. In a misdemeanor case, the court must dismiss the case if it is not brought to trial within the time specified by law unless there is a compelling legal reason to delay or the defendant waives their right to a speedy trial.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The decision by the court of appeal could lead to reversals on appeal for defendants who were convicted after being deprived of their right to a speedy trial, according to the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In an effort to create a binding precedent that the superior court would have to follow in other cases, the court of appeal took what it called an “unusual step” and published its opinion.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“There are potentially hundreds of misdemeanor cases in superior court that are beyond the statutory last day to commence trial under section 1382,” the opinion reads. “It appears that many of the defendants in those cases sought dismissal on the same basis as petitioner.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The San Francisco District Attorney’s Office, which dismissed a number of cases due to delays, agreed with the court’s decision.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We concur with the (appellate court’s) conclusion that ‘under the circumstances, the court abused its discretion in denying the motion to dismiss,’” the district attorney’s office said in a statement. “We saw then, what the First District clearly points out now, there was no competent evidence to continue cases without good cause.”\u003c/p>\n\n\u003c/div>\u003c/p>",
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"slug": "how-long-to-isolate-with-covid-in-2024-california-now-says-that-depends-on-symptoms",
"title": "Got COVID (Again)? Here's What the CDC Says About 2024 Isolation Guidelines",
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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": "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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"excerpt": "Masks became a part of our lives during COVID. So when wildfire smoke hits and the air quality plummets, how can you best protect yourself with a face covering?",
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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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"slug": "how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder",
"title": "Today Is Your Last Chance to Order Free COVID Tests via USPS",
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"headTitle": "Today Is Your Last Chance to Order Free COVID Tests via USPS | KQED",
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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>. 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>\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 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>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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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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"content": "\u003cp>At the height of the pandemic, in the spring of 2020, Maria O., her husband and four children were quarantined in their one-bedroom apartment in South Los Angeles, each vying for privacy, quiet and adequate technology to work and attend school remotely.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>There weren’t enough tablets or laptops, and Wi-Fi was glitchy. Her children ended up logging into online classes using their parents’ phones. While the children once loved school, they started falling behind academically. Everyone grew frustrated. [pullquote size=\"medium\" align=\"right\" citation=\"Maria O., parent, Los Angeles\"]‘People on the outside don’t know the impact that remote learning had on families like us. It was hard, and it was stressful. We stayed afloat, but it wasn’t easy.’[/pullquote]“People on the outside don’t know the impact that remote learning had on families like us,” Maria O. said. “It was hard and it was stressful. We stayed afloat, but it wasn’t easy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maria O.’s family is among a dozen Californians who \u003ca href=\"https://publiccounsel.org/our-cases/cayla-j-v-california/\">joined a lawsuit\u003c/a> against the state, claiming that in many schools, remote learning was so inconsistent and ineffective that thousands of students — especially low-income, Black and Latino students — were denied their right to an education. She and other plaintiffs in the case were not identified by their full names in court documents and asked to remain anonymous when interviewed to protect their children’s privacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://publiccounsel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-12-18.Cayla-J-Settlement.FINAL_.pdf\">case was settled\u003c/a> this month in Alameda County Superior Court, which issued an order that the state introduce legislation requiring schools to spend the remaining $2 billion in COVID-19 relief funds to help students most impacted by remote learning recover academically and emotionally from the pandemic. That could include tutoring, counseling, after-school activities and other steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The impact of school shutdowns\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>But beyond the settlement details, the case has drawn attention to the magnitude of learning loss during the pandemic. Despite herculean efforts by school staff to keep students engaged during remote classes, learning loss — especially among students who were struggling before the pandemic — is a crisis that could harm a generation of students, researchers said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can measure the impact of lost quality instruction, but the implications of a traumatic few academic years are much bigger for student health, mental health and well-being,” said Joe Bishop, co-founder of UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools. “In the same way we rush to support families after a wildfire or school shooting, we have to deploy assistance to help students, especially youth of color, with the same sense of urgency.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bishop and his team at UCLA \u003ca href=\"https://transformschools.ucla.edu/research/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-schools-in-california/\">published a pair of reports \u003c/a>on learning loss on behalf of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They interviewed teachers, administrators, counselors and school staff at all levels. They found that remote learning exacerbated pre-existing inequities and that most educators believe the state offered insufficient guidance on navigating the pandemic. [pullquote size=\"medium\" align=\"right\" citation=\"Joe Bishop, co-founder, UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools\"]‘We can measure the impact of lost quality instruction, but the implications of a traumatic few academic years are much bigger for student health, mental health and well-being.’[/pullquote]But with California’s decentralized education system, the state’s authority was limited, said Elizabeth Sanders, a spokesperson for the California Department of Education. Still, the department provided ample assistance for schools under difficult circumstances, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Certainly, there were clear needs for support that students and families had during the pandemic. [The Department of Education] and Superintendent [Tony] Thurmond acted immediately to try to meet those needs,” Sanders said. “And when new needs arose, we stepped in to provide help every step of the way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, when some districts struggled to get laptops or tablets for every student, the state leveraged its connections to manufacturers to deliver enough devices to districts, even amid a global shortage, she said. In addition, the state provided a host of online resources for schools, addressing \u003ca href=\"https://schools.covid19.ca.gov/\">health\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/dl/\">distance learning\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/coronavirus.asp\">reopening\u003c/a> campuses, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/coronavirus.asp\">parents’ concerns\u003c/a> and other topics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, too many districts were “flying in dangerous conditions without a control tower or central place of support,” Bishop said. “They were largely left alone to weather the COVID storm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some districts fared relatively well during remote learning, others struggled to meet students’ basic needs. That included everything from providing enough devices and Wi-Fi hotspots to addressing students’ mental health needs to offering adequate academic instruction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Schools and districts felt isolated and on their own dealing with this extraordinary moment in our history,” Bishop said. “They had to be public health experts, help parents find jobs and housing, provide IT support.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The UCLA researchers also looked at solutions to a problem they say stretches far beyond the realm of schools. They said the Department of Education needs support from the Legislature and other agencies to create a long-term roadmap for recovery. It should include a comprehensive plan to address staffing shortages, expand mental health services and target services to students who need them the most, among other steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now, there’s not a clear compass for where we’re headed and what we’re doing about it,” Bishop said. “Learning has been stagnant, but as a state, what are we doing about it? This is a question we need to answer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Parents’ frustrations\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Kelly R., another plaintiff in the lawsuit, said she’s hopeful the settlement funds will help students across California regain lost ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During remote learning, her three daughters, who were enrolled in Los Angeles Unified, experienced shortened school days and large amounts of independent work they struggled to complete. Kelly R., a case manager, was working from home, and because the family lived in an airplane path, Wi-Fi was unreliable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her children were falling behind academically, lost their self-confidence and started disliking school, she said. This was especially frustrating, she said because just a few miles away in more affluent neighborhoods, students were attending in-person learning pods paid for by their parents and staying on top of their academics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was stressful, discouraging. I had a sense of helplessness. I kept asking myself, what could I have done better?” she said. “Maybe if we had been in a different tax bracket, things would have gone differently.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Compton Unified rebounds\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Compton Unified, in Los Angeles County, has rebounded almost entirely from the pandemic, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/19734370000000/2023\">most recent California Schools Dashboard data\u003c/a>. Last year, English language arts scores surpassed the 2019 results, while math scores jumped 5.8% to nearly meet the pre-pandemic score. The graduation rate was 89% last year, two percentage points higher than in 2019. Chronic absenteeism was still high last year but lower than the state average of 24%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Superintendent Darin Brawley credits a heavy investment in tutoring and mental health services, some of which pre-date the pandemic. The district used its COVID-19 relief funds to contract with four tutoring agencies and expand the mental health curriculum at all schools for families as well as students. It also operates 30 on-campus wellness centers that offer services such as mental health counseling, yoga and mindfulness and crisis intervention. [aside label='More on Education' tag='education']Brawley also credits an early reopening plan. Some students, including English learners and those in special education, began returning to in-person school in October 2020, months before most other schools reopened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Because of that, our students have done a little better. The drops were not as significant,” Brawley said. “Although we’re not where I want us to be.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brawley said the settlement heartens him, but its success will depend on whether the money actually benefits students who were most affected by remote learning. Accountability and follow-up will be key, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This case is extremely important. You cannot deny that Black and brown and low-income students were significantly impacted by the pandemic,” Brawley said. “But the devil will be in the details.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>California’s education landscape\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s learning loss was not the worst in the country by a long shot. California is actually in the middle of the pack nationwide, \u003ca href=\"https://ed.stanford.edu/news/new-report-shows-historic-gains-pandemic-recovery-many-us-school-districts\">according to a report\u003c/a> from the Stanford Graduate School of Education released last month. California schools have seen less dramatic recovery than other states, but the initial loss wasn’t as great.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nationwide, the recovery for some districts has been remarkable, said Sean Reardon, co-author of the study and a Stanford University education professor. While some districts, especially those in low-income areas, are still behind, some have made significant strides to catch up. Overall, students have rebounded by 25% in reading and 33% in math, far exceeding students’ typical progress in a year, according to the report. [pullquote size=\"medium\" align=\"right\" citation=\"Maria O., parent, Los Angeles\"]‘I didn’t take part in this lawsuit for my kids, though. I did it for the kids who don’t have the support that my kids do. I want to give them a voice.’[/pullquote]He said teachers deserve credit for those improvements, helping students stay on track academically while addressing a host of other demands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question is, will the recovery be sustained as [COVID relief] funds run out this year,” Reardon said. “We also need to look at the strategy going forward.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Maria O., who works as a case manager, the effects of the pandemic still linger. Her children managed to stay afloat, thanks in part to tutoring and other support from Community Coalition, a South Los Angeles nonprofit focusing on social justice. But they’re not as enthusiastic about school as they once were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her son, who’s in high school, is especially disengaged, she said. Although he’s doing OK academically, he often wants to skip class, she said, and she worries about him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I didn’t take part in this lawsuit for my kids, though. I did it for the kids who don’t have the support that my kids do,” she said. “I want to give them a voice.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>“People on the outside don’t know the impact that remote learning had on families like us,” Maria O. said. “It was hard and it was stressful. We stayed afloat, but it wasn’t easy.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Maria O.’s family is among a dozen Californians who \u003ca href=\"https://publiccounsel.org/our-cases/cayla-j-v-california/\">joined a lawsuit\u003c/a> against the state, claiming that in many schools, remote learning was so inconsistent and ineffective that thousands of students — especially low-income, Black and Latino students — were denied their right to an education. She and other plaintiffs in the case were not identified by their full names in court documents and asked to remain anonymous when interviewed to protect their children’s privacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The \u003ca href=\"https://publiccounsel.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023-12-18.Cayla-J-Settlement.FINAL_.pdf\">case was settled\u003c/a> this month in Alameda County Superior Court, which issued an order that the state introduce legislation requiring schools to spend the remaining $2 billion in COVID-19 relief funds to help students most impacted by remote learning recover academically and emotionally from the pandemic. That could include tutoring, counseling, after-school activities and other steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>The impact of school shutdowns\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>But beyond the settlement details, the case has drawn attention to the magnitude of learning loss during the pandemic. Despite herculean efforts by school staff to keep students engaged during remote classes, learning loss — especially among students who were struggling before the pandemic — is a crisis that could harm a generation of students, researchers said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“We can measure the impact of lost quality instruction, but the implications of a traumatic few academic years are much bigger for student health, mental health and well-being,” said Joe Bishop, co-founder of UCLA’s Center for the Transformation of Schools. “In the same way we rush to support families after a wildfire or school shooting, we have to deploy assistance to help students, especially youth of color, with the same sense of urgency.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Bishop and his team at UCLA \u003ca href=\"https://transformschools.ucla.edu/research/the-impact-of-covid-19-on-schools-in-california/\">published a pair of reports \u003c/a>on learning loss on behalf of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit. They interviewed teachers, administrators, counselors and school staff at all levels. They found that remote learning exacerbated pre-existing inequities and that most educators believe the state offered insufficient guidance on navigating the pandemic. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>But with California’s decentralized education system, the state’s authority was limited, said Elizabeth Sanders, a spokesperson for the California Department of Education. Still, the department provided ample assistance for schools under difficult circumstances, she said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Certainly, there were clear needs for support that students and families had during the pandemic. [The Department of Education] and Superintendent [Tony] Thurmond acted immediately to try to meet those needs,” Sanders said. “And when new needs arose, we stepped in to provide help every step of the way.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For example, when some districts struggled to get laptops or tablets for every student, the state leveraged its connections to manufacturers to deliver enough devices to districts, even amid a global shortage, she said. In addition, the state provided a host of online resources for schools, addressing \u003ca href=\"https://schools.covid19.ca.gov/\">health\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cde.ca.gov/ci/cr/dl/\">distance learning\u003c/a>, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/coronavirus.asp\">reopening\u003c/a> campuses, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cde.ca.gov/ls/he/hn/coronavirus.asp\">parents’ concerns\u003c/a> and other topics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nonetheless, too many districts were “flying in dangerous conditions without a control tower or central place of support,” Bishop said. “They were largely left alone to weather the COVID storm.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>While some districts fared relatively well during remote learning, others struggled to meet students’ basic needs. That included everything from providing enough devices and Wi-Fi hotspots to addressing students’ mental health needs to offering adequate academic instruction.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Schools and districts felt isolated and on their own dealing with this extraordinary moment in our history,” Bishop said. “They had to be public health experts, help parents find jobs and housing, provide IT support.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The UCLA researchers also looked at solutions to a problem they say stretches far beyond the realm of schools. They said the Department of Education needs support from the Legislature and other agencies to create a long-term roadmap for recovery. It should include a comprehensive plan to address staffing shortages, expand mental health services and target services to students who need them the most, among other steps.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Right now, there’s not a clear compass for where we’re headed and what we’re doing about it,” Bishop said. “Learning has been stagnant, but as a state, what are we doing about it? This is a question we need to answer.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Parents’ frustrations\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Kelly R., another plaintiff in the lawsuit, said she’s hopeful the settlement funds will help students across California regain lost ground.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>During remote learning, her three daughters, who were enrolled in Los Angeles Unified, experienced shortened school days and large amounts of independent work they struggled to complete. Kelly R., a case manager, was working from home, and because the family lived in an airplane path, Wi-Fi was unreliable.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her children were falling behind academically, lost their self-confidence and started disliking school, she said. This was especially frustrating, she said because just a few miles away in more affluent neighborhoods, students were attending in-person learning pods paid for by their parents and staying on top of their academics.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“It was stressful, discouraging. I had a sense of helplessness. I kept asking myself, what could I have done better?” she said. “Maybe if we had been in a different tax bracket, things would have gone differently.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>Compton Unified rebounds\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Compton Unified, in Los Angeles County, has rebounded almost entirely from the pandemic, according to the \u003ca href=\"https://www.caschooldashboard.org/reports/19734370000000/2023\">most recent California Schools Dashboard data\u003c/a>. Last year, English language arts scores surpassed the 2019 results, while math scores jumped 5.8% to nearly meet the pre-pandemic score. The graduation rate was 89% last year, two percentage points higher than in 2019. Chronic absenteeism was still high last year but lower than the state average of 24%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Superintendent Darin Brawley credits a heavy investment in tutoring and mental health services, some of which pre-date the pandemic. The district used its COVID-19 relief funds to contract with four tutoring agencies and expand the mental health curriculum at all schools for families as well as students. It also operates 30 on-campus wellness centers that offer services such as mental health counseling, yoga and mindfulness and crisis intervention. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Brawley also credits an early reopening plan. Some students, including English learners and those in special education, began returning to in-person school in October 2020, months before most other schools reopened.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“Because of that, our students have done a little better. The drops were not as significant,” Brawley said. “Although we’re not where I want us to be.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Brawley said the settlement heartens him, but its success will depend on whether the money actually benefits students who were most affected by remote learning. Accountability and follow-up will be key, he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“This case is extremely important. You cannot deny that Black and brown and low-income students were significantly impacted by the pandemic,” Brawley said. “But the devil will be in the details.”\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>California’s education landscape\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>California’s learning loss was not the worst in the country by a long shot. California is actually in the middle of the pack nationwide, \u003ca href=\"https://ed.stanford.edu/news/new-report-shows-historic-gains-pandemic-recovery-many-us-school-districts\">according to a report\u003c/a> from the Stanford Graduate School of Education released last month. California schools have seen less dramatic recovery than other states, but the initial loss wasn’t as great.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nationwide, the recovery for some districts has been remarkable, said Sean Reardon, co-author of the study and a Stanford University education professor. While some districts, especially those in low-income areas, are still behind, some have made significant strides to catch up. Overall, students have rebounded by 25% in reading and 33% in math, far exceeding students’ typical progress in a year, according to the report. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "‘I didn’t take part in this lawsuit for my kids, though. I did it for the kids who don’t have the support that my kids do. I want to give them a voice.’",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>He said teachers deserve credit for those improvements, helping students stay on track academically while addressing a host of other demands.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“The question is, will the recovery be sustained as [COVID relief] funds run out this year,” Reardon said. “We also need to look at the strategy going forward.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>For Maria O., who works as a case manager, the effects of the pandemic still linger. Her children managed to stay afloat, thanks in part to tutoring and other support from Community Coalition, a South Los Angeles nonprofit focusing on social justice. But they’re not as enthusiastic about school as they once were.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Her son, who’s in high school, is especially disengaged, she said. Although he’s doing OK academically, he often wants to skip class, she said, and she worries about him.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I didn’t take part in this lawsuit for my kids, though. I did it for the kids who don’t have the support that my kids do,” she said. “I want to give them a voice.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 1:30 p.m. Wednesday\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Winter in California has begun with foggy mornings, rainy nights and planning holiday dinners with family and friends. And like the past few winters, we’re also seeing COVID-19 infections creep back up across the state despite less free and easily accessible testing sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In early November, 6.2% of the PCR tests for COVID-19 administered in California came back positive, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Respiratory-Viruses/RespiratoryDashboard.aspx\">according to the state’s most recent data showing the seven-day average of those positivity rates.\u003c/a> One month later, the state’s most recent data from Dec. 4 shows that this rate has climbed to 8.8%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rate of positive COVID-19 tests has increased every winter since the start of the pandemic. In January 2022, the infection rate surpassed 20%, partly due to the spread of the powerful omicron variant. During that time, one out of every five tests administered in the state came back positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if you’re up to date with your vaccines and have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">received the new updated COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a>, it’s perfectly normal to feel still anxious about the coronavirus, especially if you plan to spend time with family and friends during the holiday season. On Nov. 30, public health officials from all nine Bay Area counties \u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/news/respiratory-viruses-circulating-all-bay-area-health-officers-recommend-actions-stay-healthy\">published a list of recommendations to prevent respiratory infections\u003c/a> (COVID-19, RSV and the flu) during the holidays. Among these recommendations is stocking up on at-home COVID-19 tests.[aside postID=\"news_11940562\" hero=\"https://ww2.kqed.org/app/uploads/sites/10/2023/02/RS62644_GettyImages-1237599780-qut-1020x680.jpg\"]The federal government is still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">giving out four free COVID-19 tests to every household\u003c/a>. And yes, for many families four tests may just not be enough, especially considering that the high season for COVID-19 infections lasts several months. However, many insurance companies in California will still reimburse you for at-home tests you buy at the store or pharmacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The process of reimbursing for at-home COVID-19 tests \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-07/with-covid-emergency-ending-will-i-have-to-pay-for-tests\">has changed in the last month\u003c/a>, and each insurer is reimbursing members differently. KQED reached out to every major health insurance company in California to learn what they’re doing and what members need to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What rules have changed for health insurance companies?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At the start of 2022, the federal government required insurers to reimburse their members for up to eight monthly at-home COVID-19 tests, regardless of where those tests were purchased. That federal rule lasted for over a year and ended in May 2023, when the federal state of emergency ended — but in California, state law extended it for six more months until Nov. 11.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nov. 11 has come and gone, and there are some new rules to keep an eye out for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11941075/californias-covid-emergency-ends-feb-28-what-does-that-actually-mean-for-you\">Insurers are \u003cem>still\u003c/em> required to reimburse members for up to eight at-home tests\u003c/a> as long as these tests are now obtained “in-network” with your insurer. However, other insurers will continue to reimburse you for tests regardless of where you buy them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of course, each insurance company does this a little differently — so make sure you know what’s available for you according to your plan before buying a test. And if you’re in any doubt, contact your insurer directly to find out what you’re eligible for \u003cem>before\u003c/em> you purchase any tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How does my insurance company handle reimbursements for at-home COVID-19 tests?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Kaiser Permanente\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before Nov. 11, Kaiser Permanente members could buy at-home tests from any pharmacy or store and get reimbursed by completing a form. That process is no longer in place. Kaiser Permanente told KQED: “ If members get a COVID-19 vaccine, testing, or drug therapy outside of Kaiser Permanente after Nov. 11, they’ll be responsible for cost-sharing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Members, however, can receive up to eight home tests per month at no cost when they go to a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. You can also order your eight tests online through the member services website, \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/front-door\">kp.org\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing to keep in mind: If you order your tests through kp. org, you are not guaranteed a reimbursement. Kaiser Permanente told KQED that tests ordered through kp.org are “low cost” and members “may be eligible for reimbursement, depending on their plan.” For this reason, it may be worth contacting Kaiser’s membership services (as listed on your insurance card) to double-check your tests \u003cem>will\u003c/em> be free when ordered online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The eight monthly tests are available to each Kaiser member, regardless of age. So if you, your spouse and two children are all covered by Kaiser Permanente, you can order up to 32 home tests each month through kp.org.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Blue Shield of California\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blue Shield continues to fully reimburse policyholders for the cost of up to eight at-home tests each month. “Nothing regarding in-home COVID-19 testing has changed since Nov. 12,” the insurer told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Members can also buy home tests from anywhere. Unlike other insurance companies, Blue Shield does not have a network of preferred home test brands or providers. Once a member purchases their tests, \u003ca href=\"https://www.blueshieldca.com/bsca/bsc/public/common/PortalComponents/sites/StreamDocumentServlet?fileName=SITES_Other_2022_COVID%20Test%20Claim%20Form_v1_12232021.pdf\">they must complete a reimbursement claim form\u003c/a> and mail it to Blue Shield.[aside label='More Guides from KQED' tag='audience-news']Keep in mind that Blue Shield will only cover the cost of up to eight tests per month, max. You will not be reimbursed for the ninth test if you buy nine tests in one month. And if you are looking to get an in-person COVID-19 test done, for that, you \u003ci>will\u003c/i> have to go to an in-network provider so the cost of the test is covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Anthem Blue Cross\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anthem Blue Cross has confirmed with KQED that it will continue to reimburse members with certain plans for at-home tests. You can buy the tests from any seller and are not limited to a specific network of test providers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that there are some plans that do not qualify for reimbursements and based on the information that Anthem Blue Cross provided KQED, it seems that a member will only know if they qualify once they have filed a reimbursement claim.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To file a claim, first, make sure you still have the receipts from when you bought the tests because you will need to submit them later on. If you got the tests online, say through Amazon, you can find an electronic receipt when you go to your purchasing history. Once you have your receipts secured, \u003ca href=\"https://www.anthem.com/ca/login/?dplid=sso.dpl.rcp.member%2Fclaim-form\">head over to the Anthem Blue Cross member website\u003c/a>. If you use the SydneySM Health app, you can use that too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve logged in, click on “Claims” and select “Submit a Claim,” and that’s where you will complete an electronic form with all the details from your purchase.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember that in California, this insurer goes by \u003cstrong>Anthem Blue Cross\u003c/strong>, and in other states, it is called \u003cstrong>Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield\u003c/strong>. Distinguishing between the two is especially important to make sure you get the right benefits that correspond to your insurance plan. For example, \u003cstrong>Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield\u003c/strong> are no longer reimbursing members for at-home COVID-19 tests in other states, but \u003cstrong>Anthem Blue Cross\u003c/strong>, as explained above, is still covering members in California for these tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Aetna\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aetna continues to cover the costs of up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month. This includes members with Aetna coverage through their employer and those on Medi-Cal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get reimbursed, policyholders should \u003ca href=\"https://member.aetna.com/MbrLanding/RoutingServlet?createSession=true&custNumSel=A&serviceName=home&ae_ptparam_cmpId=int_aetnaco\">log into Aetna’s member website\u003c/a> using their insurance plan credentials. Once logged in, click on “Submit a claim for reimbursement.” You’ll then see an electronic form that asks you for certain information, including the location and date of your purchase and a photo or scan of the receipt to verify your purchase.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are on a commercial plan and have Pharmacy Benefit coverage, there is a list of pharmacies that Aetna considers “in-network.” To make sure you get a reimbursement for the tests you buy, it’s probably best to buy them at an in-network pharmacy. If you receive Aetna coverage through Medi-Cal, you can buy tests from anywhere, regardless if the seller is in-network or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One last thing to keep in mind: Aetna members can currently request reimbursement through an online form. But that option will be discontinued at the end of this year. In 2024, the insurer says that you will need to call Member Services directly to request a reimbursement over the phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>UnitedHealthcare and Cigna\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has repeatedly reached out to UnitedHealthcare and Cigna but has not received an answer from either insurer’s media team. We’ll be updating this story once we have new information.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if I don’t have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Remember, you don’t need health insurance to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests online from the federal government. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">Read more about how to order four free tests per residential address via USPS.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you or someone in your community doesn’t have access to the internet to order these free tests, USPS says you can contact their helpline by calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). You should also be prepared for potentially long wait times using this helpline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other ways of finding a free or low-cost COVID-19 test may still be available, using the CDC’s No-Cost Testing Locator or through your Bay Area county. These tests may be antigen tests or PCR tests. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder#findtests\">Read more about where to find a free or low-cost test near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Carly Severn contributed to this story.\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 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, helpful explainers and guides about issues like 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 fullwidth]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 1:30 p.m. Wednesday\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Winter in California has begun with foggy mornings, rainy nights and planning holiday dinners with family and friends. And like the past few winters, we’re also seeing COVID-19 infections creep back up across the state despite less free and easily accessible testing sites.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In early November, 6.2% of the PCR tests for COVID-19 administered in California came back positive, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/Pages/Respiratory-Viruses/RespiratoryDashboard.aspx\">according to the state’s most recent data showing the seven-day average of those positivity rates.\u003c/a> One month later, the state’s most recent data from Dec. 4 shows that this rate has climbed to 8.8%.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The rate of positive COVID-19 tests has increased every winter since the start of the pandemic. In January 2022, the infection rate surpassed 20%, partly due to the spread of the powerful omicron variant. During that time, one out of every five tests administered in the state came back positive.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Even if you’re up to date with your vaccines and have \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11960630/free-new-covid-vaccine-near-me-2023\">received the new updated COVID-19 vaccine\u003c/a>, it’s perfectly normal to feel still anxious about the coronavirus, especially if you plan to spend time with family and friends during the holiday season. On Nov. 30, public health officials from all nine Bay Area counties \u003ca href=\"https://sf.gov/news/respiratory-viruses-circulating-all-bay-area-health-officers-recommend-actions-stay-healthy\">published a list of recommendations to prevent respiratory infections\u003c/a> (COVID-19, RSV and the flu) during the holidays. Among these recommendations is stocking up on at-home COVID-19 tests.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>The federal government is still \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">giving out four free COVID-19 tests to every household\u003c/a>. And yes, for many families four tests may just not be enough, especially considering that the high season for COVID-19 infections lasts several months. However, many insurance companies in California will still reimburse you for at-home tests you buy at the store or pharmacy.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The process of reimbursing for at-home COVID-19 tests \u003ca href=\"https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2023-02-07/with-covid-emergency-ending-will-i-have-to-pay-for-tests\">has changed in the last month\u003c/a>, and each insurer is reimbursing members differently. KQED reached out to every major health insurance company in California to learn what they’re doing and what members need to know.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What rules have changed for health insurance companies?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At the start of 2022, the federal government required insurers to reimburse their members for up to eight monthly at-home COVID-19 tests, regardless of where those tests were purchased. That federal rule lasted for over a year and ended in May 2023, when the federal state of emergency ended — but in California, state law extended it for six more months until Nov. 11.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Nov. 11 has come and gone, and there are some new rules to keep an eye out for.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11941075/californias-covid-emergency-ends-feb-28-what-does-that-actually-mean-for-you\">Insurers are \u003cem>still\u003c/em> required to reimburse members for up to eight at-home tests\u003c/a> as long as these tests are now obtained “in-network” with your insurer. However, other insurers will continue to reimburse you for tests regardless of where you buy them.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Of course, each insurance company does this a little differently — so make sure you know what’s available for you according to your plan before buying a test. And if you’re in any doubt, contact your insurer directly to find out what you’re eligible for \u003cem>before\u003c/em> you purchase any tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>How does my insurance company handle reimbursements for at-home COVID-19 tests?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Kaiser Permanente\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Before Nov. 11, Kaiser Permanente members could buy at-home tests from any pharmacy or store and get reimbursed by completing a form. That process is no longer in place. Kaiser Permanente told KQED: “ If members get a COVID-19 vaccine, testing, or drug therapy outside of Kaiser Permanente after Nov. 11, they’ll be responsible for cost-sharing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Members, however, can receive up to eight home tests per month at no cost when they go to a Kaiser Permanente pharmacy. You can also order your eight tests online through the member services website, \u003ca href=\"https://healthy.kaiserpermanente.org/northern-california/front-door\">kp.org\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One thing to keep in mind: If you order your tests through kp. org, you are not guaranteed a reimbursement. Kaiser Permanente told KQED that tests ordered through kp.org are “low cost” and members “may be eligible for reimbursement, depending on their plan.” For this reason, it may be worth contacting Kaiser’s membership services (as listed on your insurance card) to double-check your tests \u003cem>will\u003c/em> be free when ordered online.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The eight monthly tests are available to each Kaiser member, regardless of age. So if you, your spouse and two children are all covered by Kaiser Permanente, you can order up to 32 home tests each month through kp.org.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Blue Shield of California\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Blue Shield continues to fully reimburse policyholders for the cost of up to eight at-home tests each month. “Nothing regarding in-home COVID-19 testing has changed since Nov. 12,” the insurer told KQED.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Members can also buy home tests from anywhere. Unlike other insurance companies, Blue Shield does not have a network of preferred home test brands or providers. Once a member purchases their tests, \u003ca href=\"https://www.blueshieldca.com/bsca/bsc/public/common/PortalComponents/sites/StreamDocumentServlet?fileName=SITES_Other_2022_COVID%20Test%20Claim%20Form_v1_12232021.pdf\">they must complete a reimbursement claim form\u003c/a> and mail it to Blue Shield.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Keep in mind that Blue Shield will only cover the cost of up to eight tests per month, max. You will not be reimbursed for the ninth test if you buy nine tests in one month. And if you are looking to get an in-person COVID-19 test done, for that, you \u003ci>will\u003c/i> have to go to an in-network provider so the cost of the test is covered.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Anthem Blue Cross\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Anthem Blue Cross has confirmed with KQED that it will continue to reimburse members with certain plans for at-home tests. You can buy the tests from any seller and are not limited to a specific network of test providers.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep in mind that there are some plans that do not qualify for reimbursements and based on the information that Anthem Blue Cross provided KQED, it seems that a member will only know if they qualify once they have filed a reimbursement claim.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To file a claim, first, make sure you still have the receipts from when you bought the tests because you will need to submit them later on. If you got the tests online, say through Amazon, you can find an electronic receipt when you go to your purchasing history. Once you have your receipts secured, \u003ca href=\"https://www.anthem.com/ca/login/?dplid=sso.dpl.rcp.member%2Fclaim-form\">head over to the Anthem Blue Cross member website\u003c/a>. If you use the SydneySM Health app, you can use that too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Once you’ve logged in, click on “Claims” and select “Submit a Claim,” and that’s where you will complete an electronic form with all the details from your purchase.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And remember that in California, this insurer goes by \u003cstrong>Anthem Blue Cross\u003c/strong>, and in other states, it is called \u003cstrong>Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield\u003c/strong>. Distinguishing between the two is especially important to make sure you get the right benefits that correspond to your insurance plan. For example, \u003cstrong>Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield\u003c/strong> are no longer reimbursing members for at-home COVID-19 tests in other states, but \u003cstrong>Anthem Blue Cross\u003c/strong>, as explained above, is still covering members in California for these tests.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Aetna\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Aetna continues to cover the costs of up to eight at-home COVID-19 tests per month. This includes members with Aetna coverage through their employer and those on Medi-Cal.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>To get reimbursed, policyholders should \u003ca href=\"https://member.aetna.com/MbrLanding/RoutingServlet?createSession=true&custNumSel=A&serviceName=home&ae_ptparam_cmpId=int_aetnaco\">log into Aetna’s member website\u003c/a> using their insurance plan credentials. Once logged in, click on “Submit a claim for reimbursement.” You’ll then see an electronic form that asks you for certain information, including the location and date of your purchase and a photo or scan of the receipt to verify your purchase.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you are on a commercial plan and have Pharmacy Benefit coverage, there is a list of pharmacies that Aetna considers “in-network.” To make sure you get a reimbursement for the tests you buy, it’s probably best to buy them at an in-network pharmacy. If you receive Aetna coverage through Medi-Cal, you can buy tests from anywhere, regardless if the seller is in-network or not.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>One last thing to keep in mind: Aetna members can currently request reimbursement through an online form. But that option will be discontinued at the end of this year. In 2024, the insurer says that you will need to call Member Services directly to request a reimbursement over the phone.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>UnitedHealthcare and Cigna\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>KQED has repeatedly reached out to UnitedHealthcare and Cigna but has not received an answer from either insurer’s media team. We’ll be updating this story once we have new information.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>What if I don’t have health insurance?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>Remember, you don’t need health insurance to order four free at-home COVID-19 tests online from the federal government. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder\">Read more about how to order four free tests per residential address via USPS.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you or someone in your community doesn’t have access to the internet to order these free tests, USPS says you can contact their helpline by calling 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). You should also be prepared for potentially long wait times using this helpline.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Other ways of finding a free or low-cost COVID-19 test may still be available, using the CDC’s No-Cost Testing Locator or through your Bay Area county. These tests may be antigen tests or PCR tests. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11940562/how-to-find-a-free-covid-test-near-you-in-2023-because-its-getting-harder#findtests\">Read more about where to find a free or low-cost test near you.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cem>KQED’s Carly Severn contributed to this story.\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 2023. We’ve published \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/tag/coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\">clear, helpful explainers and guides about issues like 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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"content": "\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 11:15 a.m., December 13\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 2023-2024 winter respiratory virus season is here. And alongside \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the latest COVID-19 variant \u003c/a>and\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\"> the return of flu season\u003c/a>, RSV is once again on the rise around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV — which stands for Respiratory Syncytial (\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">pronounced “sin-SISH-uhl”\u003c/a>) Virus — usually causes “mild, cold-like symptoms,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in infants, young children and adults over 60, this respiratory virus can attack a weakened immune system to cause severe sickness, leading to hospitalization and even — in serious cases — death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People in these age groups and the people who care for them are often warned by their health care providers about the dangers of RSV transmission and offered vaccination against the virus. However, there are a lot of people who may not even know RSV exists, let alone how dangerous it can be to spread it to others accidentally — even if getting infected themselves only means mild symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about RSV testing, how to spot an RSV infection, incubation periods, and who’s eligible for the new RSV vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor1\">How bad is RSV in the Bay Area now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor2\">Can I get tested?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor3\">How do I know if my “cold” is actually RSV?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor4\">If I get infected but I’m not high risk, what should I do?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor5\">Why are younger and older people more at risk, and when is it time to seek medical attention?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor6\">Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor1\">\u003c/a>How bad is RSV around the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In its weekly report, on Dec. 8, the CDC said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data-research/dashboard/snapshot.html\">the U.S. is “experiencing elevated RSV activity, particularly among young children\u003c/a>” — and that there is currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html\">“high overall respiratory illness activity” in California.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The impacts on the state’s hospital capacity are already being felt, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">three-quarters of intensive care beds around California are full\u003c/a>, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wastewaterscan.org/en/about\">The WastewaterSCAN project\u003c/a> monitors the presence of viruses — including RSV, COVID-19 and the flu — in wastewater across the U.S. Alexandria Boehm, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering, who helps lead the project, provided KQED with the latest snapshot data on Nov. 30, that found RSV “levels are trending up and high,” and that “all sites in the Bay Area are categorized as in the high wastewater category” for the virus. This upward trend indicates that the Bay Area is “headed towards \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9844019/\">the levels we saw last year”\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">Levels of flu and COVID are also increasing in local wastewater, said Boehm\u003c/a>. [pullquote align=\"right\" size=\"medium\" citation=\"Dr.Peter Chin-Hong, UCSF infectious disease specialist\"]‘If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.’[/pullquote]\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara County, health officials recently warned of a dramatic increase in winter viruses in the county’s wastewater — and an especially sharp rise in RSV levels, which the county’s Deputy Health Officer Dr. Sarah Rudman said had doubled in the month leading up to Thanksgiving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That worries me,” Rudman told KQED on Monday, “that especially after this holiday weekend with everyone’s travel and gathering there, we’re going to see even higher levels [afterward].”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that when it comes to lab testing at his hospital right now, more tests are coming back positive for RSV than for the flu or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor2\">\u003c/a>What about testing for RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At-home testing for RSV isn’t available in the way it is for COVID-19. The only places you’d typically have access to a formal RSV test are at an urgent care center, the emergency room, or elsewhere in a hospital, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think in the future it’d be great to have a home test for COVID, flu and RSV,” he said. “But right now, we just have COVID [testing] at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong acknowledges the downsides of being unable to access an RSV test outside of these clinical settings. “It’s good to know so that you don’t infect the very young and very old, who can have more serious consequences,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And on that note …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor3\">\u003c/a>So, what are RSV symptoms? How are they different from COVID-19 or the flu?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>RSV, Chin-Hong said, “seems like a cold for most people. But that ‘cold’ infecting somebody under two, or older than 60, can land them in the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC,\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\"> the symptoms of RSV infection\u003c/a> “usually appear in stages and not all at once,” and can include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Decrease in appetite\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Coughing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sneezing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wheezing\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>One big exception to this list: In some very young infants with RSV, the CDC said that “the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wheezing could be the particular symptom that might indicate you’ve got RSV rather than another respiratory virus, Chin-Hong said — although wheezing can still be a symptom of those other viruses, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re unlikely to get access to an RSV test, how can you tell if what feels like a bad cold is actually RSV — or the flu? Chin-Hong said there are a few things that might help you tell the difference:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The speed and severity of symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said the onset of symptoms for the flu will be sudden and severe, with fever and muscle pain. “You feel like a garbage truck hits you very suddenly,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Influenza, which, like RSV (and COVID-19), is already spreading throughout the Bay Area this winter, can cause serious problems even in healthy people of any age. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">Some people are also at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick\u003c/a>, including those aged 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant people and children younger than 5 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in as many as 58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and up to 650,000 flu hospitalizations. WastewaterSCAN’s Boehm noted, in her team’s latest snapshot, that wastewater levels for influenza are “starting to trend up, which suggests influenza infections are starting to rise in our region,” and that based on last year’s records, “we fully expect the levels to keep increasing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you haven’t already, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">consider getting your flu shot as soon as possible\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/treatment.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what to do if you get the flu.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your cold symptoms are more progressive, but you’re repeatedly testing negative for COVID-19, seriously consider the possibility that you have RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, as Chin-Hong puts it: “If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The incubation period\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV has a longer incubation period than COVID-19 or a cold — the amount of time between exposure to the virus and getting sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right now, the latest COVID-19 subvariants have an incubation period of three to five days, and a cold will take 24 to 72 hours to incubate after exposure. But RSV has a longer incubation period of “four to six days,” Chin-Hong said. So, if you know you’ve been exposed to RSV but haven’t gotten sick after a few days, unfortunately, it’s unwise to presume you’ve escaped infection.\u003cbr>\n[ad fullwidth]\u003cbr>\nWhile people infected with RSV are usually contagious for “3 to 8 days,” according to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html\">they can also “become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness”\u003c/a> — similar to those infected with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor4\">\u003c/a>What should I do if I have RSV but I’m not at higher risk?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re not at higher risk for severe RSV but you’re pretty sure you’ve got it, what now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manage your symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that antiviral medication is “not routinely recommended” to fight an RSV infection — in contrast to COVID-19, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11966797/paxlovid-free-eligibility-california-2023\">the antiviral drug Paxlovid is often prescribed\u003c/a>, or for the flu, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm\">antiviral drugs like Tamiflu can be taken\u003c/a>.[aside label=\"more virus-related coverage\" tag=\"coronavirus-resources-and-explainers\"]Most RSV infections, the agency said, “go away on their own in a week or two.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re an adult who’s not at higher risk for severe RSV, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\">the CDC recommends managing fever and pain symptoms \u003c/a>with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It’s also important to drink fluids to prevent getting dehydrated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Stay home as much as you can\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, the big difference between having “just” a cold and having RSV is that if you spread RSV, you’re potentially endangering infants and older people who are at much higher risk from it. The best thing to do is keep away from others as much as possible while you’re sick — especially infants and people aged 60 and older. And “definitely don’t go out if you have a fever,” Chin-Hong said — “that’s probably the highest risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you really can’t stay indoors away from others? Then it’s time to wear a well-fitted face covering like an N95 or KN95 mask, Chin-Hong said. By masking, you’ll reduce the risks of spreading the virus to those around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor5\">\u003c/a>Why are younger and older people more at risk from RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are two age groups at the highest risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death from RSV:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants and young children\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every year, as many as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\">80,000 children under 5 years old are hospitalized in the U.S. because of RSV\u003c/a>, according to an estimate from the CDC. Children at the greatest risk from RSV include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Premature infants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Infants up to 12 months, especially (6 months and younger)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children younger than 2 years with chronic lung disease or congenital (present from birth) heart disease\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with weakened immune systems\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with neuromuscular disorders.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Part of the danger of RSV is how it can bring on more severe infections, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bronchiolitis: when the small airways in the lungs are inflamed\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pneumonia: when the lungs are infected.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that RSV is “the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These statistics can seem scary — and RSV does undoubtedly pose a threat to many younger children. But for context, the CDC notes that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\"> “almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If an infant or young child gets infected with RSV, parents and caregivers can always call their provider’s advice line, added Chin-Hong, who said to watch for red flags, including when a young child is having difficulty feeding or breathing, or is wheezing and lethargic. “Infants with quote-unquote ‘colds’ who have any of those [symptoms] should be brought into the hospital or urgent care or the emergency room for advice,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV poses a particular risk to older people because of how our immune systems weaken with age. Every year, between \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">60,000 and 160,000 older adults in the U.S. are hospitalized with RSV, \u003c/a>and as many as 10,000 die from it, The CDC estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to causing more severe infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, the virus can also exacerbate existing health conditions — including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">Some younger adults are also at higher risk from RSV\u003c/a>. These groups include folks with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems or certain other underlying medical conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When should older adults — or their caregivers — seek medical attention due to a potential RSV infection? Chin-Hong said that one of the main concerns for this age group is developing pneumonia, of which a new shortness of breath can be a symptom. Oxygen levels can also be monitored with an at-home pulse oximeter — if a person’s levels drop below 93%, Chin-Hong said that’s a sign to head to the emergency room.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>When RSV means being hospitalized\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What does hospitalization actually mean for infants and older adults with severe RSV?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hospitalization often occurs if the patient is having trouble breathing or has become dehydrated — and once in the hospital, they may require extra oxygen or fluids given through an IV if they can’t eat or drink enough on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A patient might also need to be intubated with a breathing tube inserted through the mouth, and be given mechanical ventilation to help them breathe again. While this sounds scary, hospitalization usually lasts for only a few days “in most of these cases,” according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor6\">\u003c/a>Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to the general benefits of vaccination against the virus, Chin-Hong notes that “there isn’t any good therapy for RSV” currently — making a preventative vaccine even more important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine\">approved the first RSV vaccine for older adults\u003c/a>, and, several months later, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-vaccine-pregnant-individuals-prevent-rsv-infants\">approved another one for pregnant people\u003c/a>, as well as a separate preventative antibody treatment for infants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV vaccines for these groups are available through health care providers and pharmacies, with the shots covered partly or fully by most health insurance plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Adults age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends this group “should talk with their health care provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for them.” There is no upper age limit for getting an RSV vaccination, which is given as a single shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/older-adults.html\">Read more about older adults and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vaccinations for pregnant people are one of two ways that infants can be immunized against RSV — in this case, to pass on the benefits to the fetus. The CDC said that a baby born to a mother who got the RSV vaccine “at least two weeks before delivery” will have protection — and “in most cases,” that baby then won’t require a later RSV immunization. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\">Read more about pregnant people and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\"> health insurance coverage for this maternal vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A preventive antibody — not a vaccine — can also be given directly to a baby after birth if a maternal vaccine isn’t an option. This form of immunization is recommended for children younger than 8 months of age during their first RSV season. In some cases, this immunization is extended to children under 24 months of age “with certain conditions that place them at increased risk for severe RSV disease,” the CDC said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/child.html\">Read more about RSV immunization for infants and young children\u003c/a> and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this immunization.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>KQED’s Sara Hossaini and Lesley McClurg contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>[ad floatright]\u003c/p>\n",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cp>\u003cem>Updated 11:15 a.m., December 13\u003c/em>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The 2023-2024 winter respiratory virus season is here. And alongside \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11957790/the-new-covid-eris-variant-and-rising-cases-what-you-need-to-know\">the latest COVID-19 variant \u003c/a>and\u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\"> the return of flu season\u003c/a>, RSV is once again on the rise around the Bay Area.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV — which stands for Respiratory Syncytial (\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/index.html\">pronounced “sin-SISH-uhl”\u003c/a>) Virus — usually causes “mild, cold-like symptoms,” according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But in infants, young children and adults over 60, this respiratory virus can attack a weakened immune system to cause severe sickness, leading to hospitalization and even — in serious cases — death.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>People in these age groups and the people who care for them are often warned by their health care providers about the dangers of RSV transmission and offered vaccination against the virus. However, there are a lot of people who may not even know RSV exists, let alone how dangerous it can be to spread it to others accidentally — even if getting infected themselves only means mild symptoms.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Keep reading for what to know about RSV testing, how to spot an RSV infection, incubation periods, and who’s eligible for the new RSV vaccine.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cstrong>Jump straight to:\u003c/strong>\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor1\">How bad is RSV in the Bay Area now?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor2\">Can I get tested?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor3\">How do I know if my “cold” is actually RSV?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor4\">If I get infected but I’m not high risk, what should I do?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor5\">Why are younger and older people more at risk, and when is it time to seek medical attention?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>\u003cstrong>\u003ca href=\"#anchor6\">Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/a>\u003c/strong>\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor1\">\u003c/a>How bad is RSV around the Bay Area right now?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In its weekly report, on Dec. 8, the CDC said that \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/data-research/dashboard/snapshot.html\">the U.S. is “experiencing elevated RSV activity, particularly among young children\u003c/a>” — and that there is currently \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/index.html\">“high overall respiratory illness activity” in California.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The impacts on the state’s hospital capacity are already being felt, and \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">three-quarters of intensive care beds around California are full\u003c/a>, according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.wastewaterscan.org/en/about\">The WastewaterSCAN project\u003c/a> monitors the presence of viruses — including RSV, COVID-19 and the flu — in wastewater across the U.S. Alexandria Boehm, a Stanford professor of civil and environmental engineering, who helps lead the project, provided KQED with the latest snapshot data on Nov. 30, that found RSV “levels are trending up and high,” and that “all sites in the Bay Area are categorized as in the high wastewater category” for the virus. This upward trend indicates that the Bay Area is “headed towards \u003ca href=\"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9844019/\">the levels we saw last year”\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/science/1985786/bay-area-covid-flu-cases-on-the-rise-but-not-surging-like-last-year\">Levels of flu and COVID are also increasing in local wastewater, said Boehm\u003c/a>. \u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "‘If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.’",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In Santa Clara County, health officials recently warned of a dramatic increase in winter viruses in the county’s wastewater — and an especially sharp rise in RSV levels, which the county’s Deputy Health Officer Dr. Sarah Rudman said had doubled in the month leading up to Thanksgiving.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“That worries me,” Rudman told KQED on Monday, “that especially after this holiday weekend with everyone’s travel and gathering there, we’re going to see even higher levels [afterward].”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at UCSF, said that when it comes to lab testing at his hospital right now, more tests are coming back positive for RSV than for the flu or COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor2\">\u003c/a>What about testing for RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>At-home testing for RSV isn’t available in the way it is for COVID-19. The only places you’d typically have access to a formal RSV test are at an urgent care center, the emergency room, or elsewhere in a hospital, Chin-Hong said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>“I think in the future it’d be great to have a home test for COVID, flu and RSV,” he said. “But right now, we just have COVID [testing] at home.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong acknowledges the downsides of being unable to access an RSV test outside of these clinical settings. “It’s good to know so that you don’t infect the very young and very old, who can have more serious consequences,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>And on that note …\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor3\">\u003c/a>So, what are RSV symptoms? How are they different from COVID-19 or the flu?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>RSV, Chin-Hong said, “seems like a cold for most people. But that ‘cold’ infecting somebody under two, or older than 60, can land them in the hospital.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>According to the CDC,\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\"> the symptoms of RSV infection\u003c/a> “usually appear in stages and not all at once,” and can include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Runny nose\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Decrease in appetite\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Coughing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Sneezing\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Fever\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Wheezing\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>One big exception to this list: In some very young infants with RSV, the CDC said that “the only symptoms may be irritability, decreased activity, and breathing difficulties.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Wheezing could be the particular symptom that might indicate you’ve got RSV rather than another respiratory virus, Chin-Hong said — although wheezing can still be a symptom of those other viruses, too.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re unlikely to get access to an RSV test, how can you tell if what feels like a bad cold is actually RSV — or the flu? Chin-Hong said there are a few things that might help you tell the difference:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The speed and severity of symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Chin-Hong said the onset of symptoms for the flu will be sudden and severe, with fever and muscle pain. “You feel like a garbage truck hits you very suddenly,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Influenza, which, like RSV (and COVID-19), is already spreading throughout the Bay Area this winter, can cause serious problems even in healthy people of any age. \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">Some people are also at higher risk of developing serious flu-related complications if they get sick\u003c/a>, including those aged 65 years and older, people of any age with certain chronic medical conditions (such as asthma, diabetes, or heart disease), pregnant people and children younger than 5 years.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC estimates that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/burden/preliminary-in-season-estimates.htm\"> last year’s flu season resulted in as many as 58,000 deaths from flu\u003c/a> and up to 650,000 flu hospitalizations. WastewaterSCAN’s Boehm noted, in her team’s latest snapshot, that wastewater levels for influenza are “starting to trend up, which suggests influenza infections are starting to rise in our region,” and that based on last year’s records, “we fully expect the levels to keep increasing.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If you haven’t already, \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11961649/when-should-i-get-2023-flu-shot-safe-with-new-covid-vaccine-rsv\">consider getting your flu shot as soon as possible\u003c/a>. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/treatment.htm\">Read more from the CDC about what to do if you get the flu.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If your cold symptoms are more progressive, but you’re repeatedly testing negative for COVID-19, seriously consider the possibility that you have RSV.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Or, as Chin-Hong puts it: “If you don’t feel like your whole body is on fire, and it feels like a cold — these days, chances are that it’s going to be RSV.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>The incubation period\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV has a longer incubation period than COVID-19 or a cold — the amount of time between exposure to the virus and getting sick.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Right now, the latest COVID-19 subvariants have an incubation period of three to five days, and a cold will take 24 to 72 hours to incubate after exposure. But RSV has a longer incubation period of “four to six days,” Chin-Hong said. So, if you know you’ve been exposed to RSV but haven’t gotten sick after a few days, unfortunately, it’s unwise to presume you’ve escaped infection.\u003cbr>\n\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>\u003cbr>\nWhile people infected with RSV are usually contagious for “3 to 8 days,” according to the CDC, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/transmission.html\">they can also “become contagious a day or two before they start showing signs of illness”\u003c/a> — similar to those infected with COVID-19.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor4\">\u003c/a>What should I do if I have RSV but I’m not at higher risk?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>If you’re not at higher risk for severe RSV but you’re pretty sure you’ve got it, what now?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Manage your symptoms\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that antiviral medication is “not routinely recommended” to fight an RSV infection — in contrast to COVID-19, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.kqed.org/news/11966797/paxlovid-free-eligibility-california-2023\">the antiviral drug Paxlovid is often prescribed\u003c/a>, or for the flu, for which \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/flu/treatment/whatyoushould.htm\">antiviral drugs like Tamiflu can be taken\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"content": "\u003cdiv class=\"post-body\">\u003cp>Most RSV infections, the agency said, “go away on their own in a week or two.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>So, if you’re an adult who’s not at higher risk for severe RSV, \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/symptoms.html\">the CDC recommends managing fever and pain symptoms \u003c/a>with over-the-counter fever reducers and pain relievers, such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen. It’s also important to drink fluids to prevent getting dehydrated.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Stay home as much as you can\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Remember, the big difference between having “just” a cold and having RSV is that if you spread RSV, you’re potentially endangering infants and older people who are at much higher risk from it. The best thing to do is keep away from others as much as possible while you’re sick — especially infants and people aged 60 and older. And “definitely don’t go out if you have a fever,” Chin-Hong said — “that’s probably the highest risk.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>What if you really can’t stay indoors away from others? Then it’s time to wear a well-fitted face covering like an N95 or KN95 mask, Chin-Hong said. By masking, you’ll reduce the risks of spreading the virus to those around you.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor5\">\u003c/a>Why are younger and older people more at risk from RSV?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>There are two age groups at the highest risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death from RSV:\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants and young children\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Every year, as many as \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\">80,000 children under 5 years old are hospitalized in the U.S. because of RSV\u003c/a>, according to an estimate from the CDC. Children at the greatest risk from RSV include:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Premature infants\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Infants up to 12 months, especially (6 months and younger)\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children younger than 2 years with chronic lung disease or congenital (present from birth) heart disease\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with weakened immune systems\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Children with neuromuscular disorders.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>Part of the danger of RSV is how it can bring on more severe infections, including:\u003c/p>\n\u003cul>\n\u003cli>Bronchiolitis: when the small airways in the lungs are inflamed\u003c/li>\n\u003cli>Pneumonia: when the lungs are infected.\u003c/li>\n\u003c/ul>\n\u003cp>The CDC said that RSV is “the most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia in children younger than 1 year of age.”\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>These statistics can seem scary — and RSV does undoubtedly pose a threat to many younger children. But for context, the CDC notes that\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/infants-young-children.html\"> “almost all children will have had an RSV infection by their second birthday.”\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>If an infant or young child gets infected with RSV, parents and caregivers can always call their provider’s advice line, added Chin-Hong, who said to watch for red flags, including when a young child is having difficulty feeding or breathing, or is wheezing and lethargic. “Infants with quote-unquote ‘colds’ who have any of those [symptoms] should be brought into the hospital or urgent care or the emergency room for advice,” he said.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV poses a particular risk to older people because of how our immune systems weaken with age. Every year, between \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">60,000 and 160,000 older adults in the U.S. are hospitalized with RSV, \u003c/a>and as many as 10,000 die from it, The CDC estimates.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In addition to causing more severe infections like bronchiolitis and pneumonia, the virus can also exacerbate existing health conditions — including asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/high-risk/older-adults.html\">Some younger adults are also at higher risk from RSV\u003c/a>. These groups include folks with chronic heart or lung disease, weakened immune systems or certain other underlying medical conditions.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>When should older adults — or their caregivers — seek medical attention due to a potential RSV infection? Chin-Hong said that one of the main concerns for this age group is developing pneumonia, of which a new shortness of breath can be a symptom. Oxygen levels can also be monitored with an at-home pulse oximeter — if a person’s levels drop below 93%, Chin-Hong said that’s a sign to head to the emergency room.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003cb>When RSV means being hospitalized\u003c/b>\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>What does hospitalization actually mean for infants and older adults with severe RSV?\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Hospitalization often occurs if the patient is having trouble breathing or has become dehydrated — and once in the hospital, they may require extra oxygen or fluids given through an IV if they can’t eat or drink enough on their own.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A patient might also need to be intubated with a breathing tube inserted through the mouth, and be given mechanical ventilation to help them breathe again. While this sounds scary, hospitalization usually lasts for only a few days “in most of these cases,” according to the CDC.\u003c/p>\n\u003ch2>\u003ca id=\"anchor6\">\u003c/a>Who can get the RSV vaccine?\u003c/h2>\n\u003cp>In addition to the general benefits of vaccination against the virus, Chin-Hong notes that “there isn’t any good therapy for RSV” currently — making a preventative vaccine even more important.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>In May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-respiratory-syncytial-virus-rsv-vaccine\">approved the first RSV vaccine for older adults\u003c/a>, and, several months later, \u003ca href=\"https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-vaccine-pregnant-individuals-prevent-rsv-infants\">approved another one for pregnant people\u003c/a>, as well as a separate preventative antibody treatment for infants.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>RSV vaccines for these groups are available through health care providers and pharmacies, with the shots covered partly or fully by most health insurance plans.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Adults age 60 and older\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>The CDC recommends this group “should talk with their health care provider about whether RSV vaccination is right for them.” There is no upper age limit for getting an RSV vaccination, which is given as a single shot. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/older-adults.html\">Read more about older adults and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this vaccine.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>People between 32 and 36 weeks of pregnancy\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>Vaccinations for pregnant people are one of two ways that infants can be immunized against RSV — in this case, to pass on the benefits to the fetus. The CDC said that a baby born to a mother who got the RSV vaccine “at least two weeks before delivery” will have protection — and “in most cases,” that baby then won’t require a later RSV immunization. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\">Read more about pregnant people and the RSV vaccine\u003c/a>, and about\u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/pregnancy.html\"> health insurance coverage for this maternal vaccine\u003c/a>.\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003cb>Infants\u003c/b>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>A preventive antibody — not a vaccine — can also be given directly to a baby after birth if a maternal vaccine isn’t an option. This form of immunization is recommended for children younger than 8 months of age during their first RSV season. In some cases, this immunization is extended to children under 24 months of age “with certain conditions that place them at increased risk for severe RSV disease,” the CDC said. \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/rsv/public/child.html\">Read more about RSV immunization for infants and young children\u003c/a> and about \u003ca href=\"https://www.cdc.gov/respiratory-viruses/whats-new/how-to-get-your-vaccines.html\">health insurance coverage for this immunization.\u003c/a>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003ci>KQED’s Sara Hossaini and Lesley McClurg contributed reporting to this story.\u003c/i>\u003c/p>\n\u003cp>\u003c/p>\u003c/div>",
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"info": "What kind of no sabo word is Hyphenación? For us, it’s about living within a hyphenation. Like being a third-gen Mexican-American from the Texas border now living that Bay Area Chicano life. Like Xorje! Each week we bring together a couple of hyphenated Latinos to talk all about personal life choices: family, careers, relationships, belonging … everything is on the table. ",
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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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"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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"title": "Possible",
"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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},
"science-friday": {
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