SACRAMENTO COUNTY, Calif. — A new coronavirus variant is making its way through California as data shows a summer increase. COVID is appearing in California waste water at very high levels, and now, a Sacramento pharmacy is feeling its impacts.
"We saw a lot of people coming in for testing, more people seeking vaccination and coming in for Paxlovid — the treatment," said Dr. Clint Hopkins, owner of Pucci's Pharmacy.
The CDC's latest data shows 17.8% of Californians are testing positive this past week. The California Department of Public Health is reporting a 2.3% increase in positive tests and Sacramento County Public Health Officer Dr. Olivia Kasirye said the county's numbers are similar.
"A steady increase over the summer and right now we are almost at the level that we were last year at this time," Kasirye said.
Dr. Dean Blumberg, chief for UC Davis Health's Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, said it has to do with summer travel.
"We're seeing an increase in travel, and so people are getting more exposed as they're with other people, perhaps during long plane flights and other situations," Blumberg said.
The spike left Pucci's Pharmacy in a bind when it came to patients looking for a test.
"We have had days where we have run out because so many people have come in and bought them all up," Hopkins said.
But Hopkins wants to be clear, there is not a shortage of tests.
"We do have plenty on hand right now. There's plenty available at the supplier, so there's no shortage. It's just there have been days where we've sold through everything we've had," he said.
For now, doctors believe the numbers could slow down as summer continues, but they urge everyone to practice healthy habits.
COVID-19 related deaths are still happening, but doctors said there has not been a significant increase.
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