Forbes - Case spike from Coachella

Plus: Could UV light keep public spaces clear of Covid?

In two weeks, Covid cases in Riverside County, California, rose 76%, most likely thanks to an influx of thousands of people who gathered for Coachella, reports NBC News. Although the music event took place outdoors, there were no vaccine or other Covid-prevening requirements, and the close proximity involved in music events probably helped the virus spread. This is likely to be the first of several summertime events that cause similar Covid outbreaks, particularly as new omicron subvariants continue to spread into the population, both indoors and outdoors. 

"We've looked at outdoor events in the past as being a little bit more protective than indoor events when it comes to the transmission of Covid-19, but I think that omicron really changed that calculation," Cindy Prins, an epidemiologist at the University of Florida told NBC.

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What Else We Are Reading

• COVID-19 may have led to a spike in antibiotic resistance (Medical News Today)

• Paxlovid’s failure as a preventative measure raises questions, but doctors still back it as a therapeutic (Stat)

• Virus mutations aren’t slowing down. New omicron subvariant proves it. (The Washington Post)