COVID 19 pandemic

Next 2 weeks are 'critical' for Bay Area to avoid 4th COVID-19 surge, doctors say

Thursday, April 8, 2021

Next 2 weeks are 'critical' to avoid 4th COVID-19 surge, doctors say

The next two weeks are 'critical' for Bay Area to avoid a fourth COVID-19 surge, doctors say.

SAN FRANCISCO (KGO) -- As COVID-19 cases surge in many parts of the Midwest and East Coast, the Bay Area is in good shape. But good enough to avoid a fourth wave, or is that still possible?

"I think it's a distant possibility," said UCSF Epidemiologist Dr. George Rutherford. "That's not to say it couldn't happen in other parts of the state or neighboring parts of the west."

Rutherford explains it all comes back to the rate of transmission.

According to ABC7's analysis, over the past week, most of the Bay Area reported a less than 1% increase in case rates per 100,000 people. Napa and Solano counties reported around a 2% increase.

"Two is almost nothing," Rutherford said. "In some of the Midwestern counties, case rates were reaching 56% at some points."

While most of the Bay Area's case rates have stabilized, there are still a record number of COVID-19 variants circulating in California.

Rutherford spoke on what he expects to happen if we were to see a fourth wave.

"If it were to happen, it would happen sooner rather than later," he said. How soon? As soon as two weeks.

Rutherford explains it's all about the pace of vaccinations, and right now is the most vulnerable time as California waits for additional vaccine supply to meet the demand of those eligible.

Gov. Gavin Newsom said Tuesday that California received 2.4 million vaccines this week. The hope is that supply will grow to 3 million per week by early May.

"There's not a lot of transmission going on right now, but there's still 2,500 new COVID-19 cases per day in California," said Rutherford. "We want it to be at zero."

UCSF Dr. Monica Gandhi explains the only way to get close to zero is by reaching herd immunity.

"You reach a certain point of the population that's vaccinated and you keep your prudent restrictions on which we need to do, then cases start coming down because vaccines do stop transmission," said Gandhi.

As of Wednesday, 43% of Californians have received at least one dose.

Rutherford said California will be closer to herd immunity levels once at least 60% of the state's population has received at least one dose. At that point, it's estimated those who have naturally-acquired immunity will raise the state's immunity level from 60% closer to 80%.

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