How to Navigate Covid in California Right Now

California is undeniably successful the midst of yet different Covid-19 surge.

The fig of radical investigating affirmative for the coronavirus crossed the authorities each time has much than tripled since the opening of the month, according to The New York Times’s tracker. To blasted is Omicron, the extraordinarily contagious variant that volition astir apt support spreading astatine a accelerated clip.

But however precisely to respond to these rising numbers is much analyzable than it has been successful the past. While much Californians are catching the coronavirus, the fig being admitted to hospitals with Covid-19 has accrued lone slightly, if astatine all, implicit the past respective weeks.

The vaccines stay highly effectual astatine preventing terrible illness, and Omicron seems little apt than erstwhile variants to marque radical sick capable to request infirmary care. (Read much from my colleagues astir the probe connected the severity of Omicron infection.)

This doesn’t mean we tin hide astir the pandemic altogether: Omicron is truthful contagious that it could infect truthful galore radical that adjacent a tiny percent needing hospitalization could strain our infirmary systems. And for those who stay unvaccinated, the microorganism tin inactive beryllium deadly.

But vaccinated (and ideally, boosted) radical possibly don’t request to isolate themselves arsenic strictly arsenic they whitethorn person past winter. There’s immoderate wiggle country this clip around, though however overmuch depends connected your circumstances and hazard tolerance.

When considering what feels comfortable, cheque the transmission levels and vaccination rates successful your county, which you tin find here astir halfway down the page. For example, portion Los Angeles County is logging astir 74 caller cases per 100,000 residents a day, the much vaccinated Santa Clara County is logging astir 20.

Take into relationship the vaccination presumption of you and anyone you’ll travel into interaction with, your wellness presumption and however comfy you consciousness catching the microorganism and being capable to infect others, adjacent if your symptoms are mild.

There are nary cosmopolitan answers, but here’s immoderate further guidance:

Is it harmless to person a New Year’s Eve party? A Times newsman asked experts this thorny question.

How to question responsibly during the holidays amid the surge. The seasonal question unreserved seems unstoppable, but you tin instrumentality steps to mitigate the risks.

Federal officials shorten Covid-19 isolation period. The C.D.C. connected Monday reduced the play that definite infected Americans indispensable sequester.

Where we’re traveling

Today’s question extremity comes from Anne Perrigo, who recommends the A.K. Smiley Public Library successful Redlands:

“Mission style, inactive (I hope!) lodging a precise fancy gramps timepiece with an elaborate satellite dial. I beauteous overmuch grew up successful the children’s conception and the full gathering was fascinating, past arsenic now, guessing aboriginal 1900s oregon thereabouts.”

Tell america astir your favourite places to sojourn successful California. Email your suggestions to CAtoday@nytimes.com. We’ll beryllium sharing much successful upcoming editions of the newsletter.

What we’re reading

Our favorite location stories of 2021.

Tell us

How are you marking the commencement of the 2022? Are you making immoderate New Year’s resolutions?

Share with america astatine CAtoday@nytimes.com.

And earlier you go, immoderate bully news

In 1942 successful a tiny municipality successful Germany, a Jewish household asked their non-Jewish neighbors to store a acceptable of cherished porcelain dishes for them.

The family, the Feiners, were being deported by Nazis, and believed that 1 time they would instrumentality to retrieve the dishes. But the father, parent and girl each died successful attraction camps.

The German household entrusted with the plates and serving bowls, rimmed with golden leafage and successful adjacent cleanable condition, treated them similar precious heirlooms. They watched implicit them for astir 80 years — until past month.

In June this year, the household located a descendant of the Feiners who was surviving successful Oakland.

And successful November, she and immoderate of her relatives flew to Germany to retrieve the plates they didn’t adjacent cognize existed, and to conscionable the radical who had kept them safe.

This unthinkable communicative from J. The Jewish News of Northern California is worthy speechmaking each the mode through.

Thanks for reading. I’ll beryllium backmost tomorrow. — Soumya

P.S. Here’s today’s Mini Crossword, and a clue: Carpenter’s fastener (5 letters).

Mariel Wamsley contributed to California Today. You tin scope the squad astatine CAtoday@nytimes.com.

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