San Francisco’s omicron surge is ending.

COVID-19 counts are falling off rapidly, and while hospitalization numbers have yet to see a decline, intensive care unit numbers appear to have peaked.

City officials said that the number of cases peaked on Jan. 8, a trend that follows other Bay Area counties. Hospitalization totals typically lag cases by a week or two, so a decline there can be expected in the coming days.

Even though raw hospitalization numbers exceed last winter’s surge, experts say those figures exaggerate the severity of the current wave, as they include both those who were hospitalized for COVID-19 and those who were hospitalized for other issues and then tested positive for COVID-19 , but might have only mild or no symptoms.

Some health officials say that ICU figures are a better representation of the true burden on hospitals, and the most recent data suggests the city has seen its peak at a level similar to last summer’s delta variant-driven wave but well below last winter’s wave.

With the surge ending, San Francisco officials have started to signal a policy shift going forward.

“Our goal is no longer to prevent every case of COVID,” San Francisco Department of Public Health Director Dr. Grant Colfax said in a statement Jan 20. “Instead, our goal is to prevent the worst outcomes of the disease, such as hospitalizations and deaths, and to do this while keeping essential services open, like schools and hospitals.”

“We know how to protect ourselves: vaccines, booster shots, testing, and soon we expect more widely available therapeutics,” tweeted Mayor London Breed on Jan. 20. “As we adapt to living with COVID, these tools will continue to be critical to keeping our city and our economy running, and our residents safe.”

Interestingly, Breed’s list of “tools” did not include masks.

The state of California is enforcing an indoor mask mandate that will run through at least Feb. 15, and under California law, all counties must abide by the more restrictive state order. When the state order is lifted, San Francisco is one of several Bay Area counties that have a set of shared criteria for lifting the mask mandate.

At least one of those counties — Marin — plans to break ranks and scrap the case rate criterion once the state order is lifted.

“We’d be looking at hospitalizations as our primary indicator, and importantly, hospitalizations ‘for COVID,’ where it’s directly attributable to the virus,” Marin County Health Officer Dr. Matt Willis told SFGATE.

It is unclear whether San Francisco and other Bay Area counties plan to continue to abide by the case requirement.

Other policies, such as school mask mandates and quarantines, are set by the California Department of Public Health and would have to be softened at the state level before they can be softened locally.

The post Omicron is fading in San Francisco; metropolis mulls coverage pivot appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.

For many, a day outdoors in the sun is the perfect way to spend a summer afternoon. On such days, a regular retreat to an air-conditioned home can provide much-needed relief from the heat.

HVAC systems are worth their weight in gold during the dog days of summer. Of course, such systems have to be replaced from time to time. Learning to spot the signs of a dwindling HVAC system can help homeowners replace their appliances before they stop working and save everyone the uncomfortable ordeal of being stuck at home on hot summer days with no cool air.

Weak airflow

An HVAC unit operating at peak power creates a high flow of air through the vents of a house. The experts at Select Home Warranty point out that a weak airflow from the ventilation opening can be a warning sign of a damaged air conditioning compressor or blocked or damaged ventilation openings. Damaged vents may be replaceable, but problems with the AC unit may require replacement. This is especially the case if the device is old. Repairs may be possible, but it may be cheaper to replace an aging unit than to make costly repairs.

Excessive moisture around the device

Excessive moisture around the unit can indicate that refrigerant is leaking. In addition, the Home Select Guarantee indicates that large pools of water around the device can contribute to mold growth and floor damage. Homeowners are urged to contact a qualified HVAC technician immediately if they discover leaks or moisture problems near their equipment.

Internal temperature

If your home is not quite recovering from the summer heat it once was with the air conditioning on and on, this could be an indication of a fading system that may need replacing. However, the home warranty company American Home Shield advises that hot indoor temperatures can also indicate clogged lines. Skilled HVAC technicians can fix potentially clogged ducts without replacing the air conditioner. If the problem persists even after the ducts have been cleaned and cleared, a new device might be the best choice for home owners.

Rotten stench

Sometimes your nose knows best when an air conditioner needs to be replaced. Unusual smells emanating from the vents when the air conditioner is on could indicate that the unit is spreading mold or mildew throughout the house. The Florida-based heating, cooling, plumbing, and electrical experts at Cool Today point out that a moldy or moldy smell from the vents can indicate a variety of problems, including a dirty evaporator coil, clogged drain pipe, or air ducts leaking. Any of these issues can be fixed, but homeowners must weigh the cost of fixing them against the cost of replacing an aging unit.

With the dog days of summer coming, homeowners want reliable air conditioning to keep their homes cool. Recognizing signs of a bad air conditioning system is a good first step in making sure homes stay cool and recover from the heat this summer.

The post Indicators Your HVAC Unit Might Be Fading appeared first on Los Gatos News And Events.