American track and field and boxing star Noah Lyles won the bronze medal in the 200m final on Thursday despite testing positive for Covid-19 two days earlier. The sprinter then needed medical assistance and was removed from the track in a wheelchair. Lyles’ functionality once back highlights the significant variability of Covid-19 among inflamed Americans and reminds us that the virus is still circulating heavily among the population.
Although the marathon of the Covid-19 pandemic – as well as the highest rates of hospitalizations and deaths – is largely us, the virus continues to find tactics to stay in the race. In the last 4 months, we have noticed the emergence of FLiRT variants, which have led to higher transmission rates due to mutations that allow the virus to evade past immunity. In early August, the KP. 3 variant accounted for about 40% of Covid-19 infections in the United States. Immunity from a previous vaccination or from the Covid-19 disease of more than six months ago is unlikely to save infection with the variants circulating lately.
Data from the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that Covid-19 test positivity rates, emergency room visits, hospitalizations, and deaths have tended to increase over the past week, indicating the ongoing impact of the virus on society.
Since SARS-CoV-2 began circulating in 2020, one of the constant observations among public health officials and medical professionals is the inconsistency of the effects of Covid-19. While many remain asymptomatic or suffer mild illness, others require hospitalization and millions have died. Although the overall rate of hospitalizations and deaths from Covid-19 has decreased, the threat remains that other people, particularly those who are immunocompromised or elderly, will suffer more severe illness. Furthermore, those who suffer from a mild illness in the first place could develop long Covid. What continues to frustrate scientists and medical professionals is the fact that it is still unknown who might be suffering from a more serious illness.
Although Noah Lyles led the fight against Covid-19, this is a virus we continue to take seriously. Lyles, a world-class athlete, is being treated with an antiviral and will need a period of rest and supportive care to regain his full strength.
For the rest of us who may not have Lyles’ physical prowess, it’s even more important to take steps to help decrease the risk of a bad outcome. If you have symptoms of Covid-19 (fever, sore throat, body aches, or cough), get checked out. If the result is positive, tell your doctor and get plenty of rest and hydration. And most importantly, getting an updated Covid-19 vaccine, which will focus on newer variants and be available in the coming months.
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