COVID-19 Update: August 17, 2022

High Levels of Transmission in the County

The Santa Barbara Community Data Dashboard reports that high levels of virus transmission remain in the county. BA.5 is still the most dominant strain on the West Coast and throughout the nation. There were 683 new cases reported this week.

The weekly average of confirmed cases has decreased by 13.13% in the past seven days. The Community Data Dashboard is only reporting confirmed PCR cases, not the increasing level of at home antigen tests.

There are 48 people currently being treated for COVID-19 in local hospitals this week. An increase from the previous week which had 37 hospitalizations and one death.

New CDC Guidelines

Community levels have increased to medium, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The CDC issued new guidelines stating quarantine after exposure to COVID-19 is no longer necessary or recommended regardless of vaccination status.

Guidelines encourage people who are exposed to wear a high quality face mask around others for 10 days and get tested on the fifth day after exposure.

Find more information on the latest COVID-19 data at the on the Community Data Dashboard.