COVID in California: Latest updates and new findings about the coronavirus in the Bay Area

Newsom infected with coronavirus, has mild illness

Gov. Gavin Newsom is infected with the coronavirus and is taking the treatment pill Paxlovid, his office said. He tested positive Saturday, a day after appearing in San Francisco with New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern for a climate change partnership. Newsom was exhibiting mild symptoms and is expected to work remotely, officials said. He will be in isolation at least through Thursday and until he tests negative. Read more about the governor’s infection.

Beijing starts to open up as outbreak wanes

Shoppers returned to the malls of Beijing on Sunday as the Chinese capital relaxed pandemic restrictions after declaring a small but persistent COVID-19 outbreak effectively under control. Coupled with a gradual easing of restrictions in Shanghai, it signaled that the worst is over in the twin outbreaks in China’s most prominent cities. The lockdowns and other restrictions under China’s “zero-COVID” strategy have increasingly frustrated residents as they see other countries ease up and re-open their borders. Some have resisted and staged protests in an authoritarian country where people think twice about speaking out publicly because of possible repercussions.

Study shows shifting symptoms over different waves of COVID

A yearlong COVID-19 study of more than 60,000 people in San Francisco found shifting symptoms over three surges — including fewer reports of loss of smell — probably because of changes in the virus itself as well as individuals’ immunity. More infected people reported symptoms of upper respiratory infection — including cough, sore throat and congestion — during the omicron surge than earlier waves. Read about other differences among the virus surges, like systemic issues such as fever and body aches.