Health officials in California are urging vigilance after detecting a new COVID-19 variant, NB.1.8.1, which appears to be more transmissible than current strains. First identified in China in January, the variant has since been found in six U.S. states, including California, New York, and Washington, raising concerns about a potential surge in infections. While hospitalization rates remain lower than during previous waves, some physicians have called for renewed mask mandates — a move that has reignited debates over public health messaging and pandemic-era policies.
According to the California Department of Public Health, NB.1.8.1 now accounts for nearly 20% of COVID cases in the state, up from just 2% in April. The World Health Organization reports that it dominates over half of global variants. Despite its rapid spread, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has not yet added NB.1.8.1 to its public tracking dashboard, where LP.8.1 remains the dominant U.S. strain.
Health authorities maintain that existing vaccines offer protection, but skepticism persists. “We all remember when flu cases disappeared as COVID cases ramped up,” one critic noted, referencing past debates over diagnostic accuracy. Others have accused officials of fear-mongering, pointing to conflicting data on mask efficacy and pandemic-era policies...<<<Read More>>>...