Santa Barbara County: Health experts say 99.9 percent of COVID-19 cases on the Central Coast are still Delta variants

SANTA MARIA, Calif. - As Marian Regional Medical Center continues seeing patients with COVID-19,
Dr. Scott Robertson says it’s important to understand that coronaviruses
have always existed.

"So it's possible that a new COVID variant may not be any more dangerous
than a common cold like we’ve seen with other coronaviruses," said Robertson.

But as we get further into the holiday season, health experts in Santa Barbara
county say 99.9 percent of COVID cases are still the Delta variant.

"Delta is still a major concern it still accounts for most of the cases
going around the county right now. However omicron is new … we just don’t
have enough data to know whether it’s going to be worse or if it’s gonna be
the same," said Dr. Sagar Asodia with JDX Pharmacy in Santa Maria.

Health experts say as long as COVID is out in the population, there is an
opportunity for further mutations to happen.

"We expect her to be around for a very long time. Hopefully it gets to the
point where we have enough antibodies in the community," said Robertson.

If you’re 18 and older and it’s been 6 months since your last vaccine for
COVID-19, the CDC is strengthening its recommendation saying all eligible
adults should get a booster.

"It’s gonna keep happening until we get Hurd  immunity or until we get
enough people vaccinated … that’s the only way it’s going to stop … at
least stop being as deadly as it is," said Asodia.

Health experts say it's still important to do all of your basic infection prevention measures.

Those include wearing a mask, keeping your hands clean, and distancing if you're out in a large crowd.