After dominating headlines for years, COVID-19 has slowly lost public consciousness for the most part, as the number of cases has declined. Now, the new data shows a sobering reality: COVID-19 cases are lagging behind, as are hospitalizations. to the virus
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID data tracker shows that COVID-19-like hospitalizations have increased as much as 12% over the past week, with another 8,035 people hospitalized with the virus. Although COVID-19 hospitalizations are not as high as they were in the winter, they have been expanding since mid-June.
Previous knowledge has shown that COVID-19 cases are at their peak in late fall and early winter, so it’s understandable to wonder what’s going on now. Infectious disease experts break it down.
Experts say this buildup in cases is likely due to a combination of factors and while you shouldn’t panic, it’s important to at least be aware that it’s happening, Dr. Thomas Russo, a professor and leader of infectious diseases at the University at Buffalo in New York, told Yahoo Life. “People don’t take any kind of precautions against COVID and interact in poorly ventilated indoor spaces without wearing a mask; this has been going on for quite some time,” Russo says. .
But this is happening at a time when immunity has waned for many other people, either due to vaccination or an herbal infection. Russo said. That leaves many other people vulnerable to infection, he says.
At the same time, “the COVID virus hasn’t gone away,” Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease specialist and professor of medicine at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, told Yahoo Life. “These Omicron variants are highly transmissible, and we are seeing an increase in cases and hospitalizations,” he says.
Heat waves in various parts of the country have driven other people indoors, which also increases the threat of becoming infected, Russo says. “COVID is brewing, and now we’re seeing a little bit of COVID,” he says.
Anyone can become inflamed with COVID-19, and it can be an uncomfortable illness, Schaffner says. pregnant women and those with an underlying disease,” he says. These other people take extra precautions. “
People who fall into those categories “need to be more careful and think about what kind of scenarios they are placed in,” Russo says.
The main tactics for reducing your risk of contracting COVID-19 or getting severe headaches from the virus haven’t changed, Russo says: That is, putting on a mask in crowded enclosed spaces and making sure your COVID-19 vaccine is up to date. But again, it’s probably been a while since many other people earned their COVID-19 booster, making declining immunity an issue.
Schaffner recommends wearing a well-fitting N95 mask if you fall into a high-risk category, especially if you’re traveling. “Dust off the masks and reuse them,” he says. He also suggests having COVID-19 tests on hand and checking the expiration date of any tests you still have if it’s been a while since you bought them.
If symptoms of the virus increase, Schaffner suggests getting checked out and contacting your doctor right away if you test positive. “We have drugs like Paxlovid that will help you avoid going to the hospital,” he says. However, Paxlovid will need to be taken within five days of the onset of symptoms for it to be effective, so don’t wait to get checked out and take action, Schaffner says.
In general, doctors proposed that everyone monitor their temperature based on their non-public threats. but at a particularly lower risk of severe disease,” Russo says.
But if you fall into a high-risk category, Schaffner says it’s vital to be especially aware of the backlog of COVID-19 cases. “It’s the other people who take extra precautions,” he says.
An updated COVID-19 booster is expected to be released in the fall to target XBB. 1. 5, the dominant strain of the virus. “It’s going to be vital for everyone to get that,” Russo said.
Wellness, parenting, frame symbol and more: Find out who hoo is with the Yahoo Life newsletter. Register here.
This content is not available due to your privacy preferences.
RAM
21/03 – 19/04
Bull
4/20 – 5/20
Gemini
21/05 – 20/06
cancer
21/06 – 22/07
Lion
23/07 – 22/08
Virgin
23/08 – 22/09
Balance
23/09 – 22/10
Scorpion
23/10 – 21/11
Sagittarius
22/11 – 21/12
Capricorn
22/12 – 19/1
Aquarius
1/20 – 2/18
Pisces
19/02 – 20/03
See all horoscopes
The attractive products we covet right now