Covid-19 Resurgence: Navigating the Summer Wave with Caution and Care

[Social Media]

 

As Covid-19 cases surge once again in the United States, concerns about the virus's impact are resurfacing. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), emergency department visits associated with Covid-19 have been increasing steadily, with a 23.5% rise reported for the week ending July 6 compared to the previous week. Additionally, Covid-19 viral activity in wastewater remains high nationally. These trends are echoed in personal experiences and public events, as evidenced by infections among friends and public figures, including Doug Emhoff, and the impact on events like the Tour de France.

 

 

This summer wave prompts a re-evaluation of Covid-19's spread and raises important questions: Why is this wave occurring now? Should individuals be concerned about getting infected again? How can one minimize the risk while maintaining a normal lifestyle, especially when traveling? Is it advisable to get vaccinated now or wait for the updated vaccine? Do home tests still provide reliable results? What are the current recommendations if one contracts Covid-19?

 

To address these questions, CNN consulted with Dr. Leana Wen, an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University, and a former health commissioner of Baltimore. Dr. Wen acknowledges the current summer wave of Covid-19 infections, noting that such patterns have been observed throughout the pandemic. Multiple waves each year, including peaks in the summer, are partly attributed to increased travel and indoor gatherings due to hot weather.

 

The level of concern should be tailored to individual medical circumstances. Those at higher risk, such as older adults, the immunocompromised, and individuals with multiple underlying health conditions, should remain vigilant. Ensuring up-to-date vaccinations, having a plan for antiviral treatments, and considering additional precautions like masking in crowded indoor spaces and opting for outdoor gatherings are recommended steps for these vulnerable groups.

 

For those resuming pre-pandemic activities, Dr. Wen suggests a balanced approach. While many people are returning to socializing, attending events, and other activities, reducing the risk of infection, especially before visiting vulnerable individuals, is crucial. Measures such as avoiding indoor gatherings, masking in public transit, and taking rapid tests before visits can significantly reduce the risk of transmitting the virus.

 

Regarding the efficacy of home tests, Dr. Wen confirms that while rapid antigen tests are less accurate than PCR tests, they remain a convenient tool for screening Covid-19. Individuals with symptoms should take rapid tests, and if the initial result is negative, retest the following day. It is important to remember that symptoms could be due to other respiratory viruses, so staying away from vulnerable individuals is advisable even if the Covid-19 test is negative.

 

When traveling, Dr. Wen advises wearing an N95 or equivalent mask in crowded, poorly ventilated spaces, such as during boarding planes or on crowded trains. Opting for outdoor dining when possible, carrying rapid tests, and having a plan for accessing antiviral treatments if needed are also recommended. Travel insurance can provide additional security, covering medical care and costs if plans change due to illness.

 

As for vaccinations, a new Covid-19 vaccine formulation is expected to be available in the fall, possibly as early as August. The CDC recommends that everyone aged six months and older receive this updated vaccine, which is anticipated to be more effective against current variants. Given the proximity to the release of the new vaccine, Dr. Wen suggests waiting for the updated formulation. The primary goal of vaccination is to reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and death rather than merely preventing infection, as the latter benefit diminishes quickly over time. Those requiring extra protection should continue to take additional precautions.

 

If one contracts Covid-19, the CDC's updated guidance recommends staying home until fever-free for at least 24 hours and symptoms are improving, with additional precautions like masking and limiting contact with others for five more days. Dr. Wen emphasizes that individuals should consider the medical circumstances of their household members. If living with someone highly vulnerable, it is prudent to avoid close contact until testing negative for Covid-19, including avoiding indoor dining and shared spaces.

 

Ultimately, while many people can continue their daily activities during this summer wave, those at higher risk should adopt additional precautions. It is essential for everyone to contribute to protecting the most vulnerable by taking reasonable measures to reduce the spread of Covid-19.

 

Credit: CNN News 2024-07-18

 

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[Red Phoenix]

Yawn....

[Amethyst]

A trolling post with unsourced and unsubstantiated claims has been removed, along with an ensuing comment on moderation post.

 

 

[Robert Paulson]

Get boosted and wear your masks everyone. Even the six month olds. 

[Robert Paulson]

I wonder why not all countries recommend 6 month olds be boosted. It must be following the “science”. It all makes perfect sense if you have your head clamped in a vise 

 

Maybe our resident expert can explain why or how the science changes between country borders. 

Edited July 19 by Robert Paulson

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Because the research on COVID and vaccines shows what it shows, but policy makers in different  countries make differing policy judgments on how to respond to that science.

 

Presumably in the U.S., the FDA and CDC were looking at this kind of data showing that some young children, even previously healthy ones, can and do get very sick from COVID, especially when they haven't been vaccinated -- even if their rates of COVID illness may be lower that older age groups.

Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Vaccine-Eligible US Children Under-5 Years Hospitalized for Acute COVID-19 in a National Network

March 2024

 

"We enrolled inpatients 8 months to <5 years of age with acute community-acquired COVID-19 across 28 US pediatric hospitals from September 20, 2022 to May 31, 2023.... Among 597 children, 174 (29.1%) patients were admitted to the intensive care unit and 75 (12.6%) had a life-threatening illness, including 51 (8.5%) requiring invasive mechanical ventilation.

 

Only 4.5% of children hospitalized for COVID-19 (n = 27) had completed their primary COVID-19 vaccination series and 7.0% (n = 42) of children initiated but did not complete their primary series. Among 528 unvaccinated children, nearly half (n = 251) were previously healthy, 3 of them required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for acute COVID-19 and 1 died.

 

Conclusions: 

Most young children hospitalized for acute COVID-19, including most children admitted to the intensive care unit and with life-threatening illness, had not initiated COVID-19 vaccination despite being eligible. Nearly half of these children had no underlying conditions. Of the small percentage of children who initiated a COVID-19 primary series, most had not completed it before hospitalization."

 

https://journals.lww.com/pidj/abstract/2024/03000/characteristics_and_clinical_outcomes_of.10.aspx

 

combined with

Study estimates 2 COVID vaccine doses 40% effective against emergency, hospital care in young kids

December 1, 2023

 

"Two doses of a COVID-19 mRNA vaccine were 40% effective against emergency department (ED) visits and hospitalization in preschool-aged children during a period of Omicron variant predominance, estimates a test-negative, case-control study using data from the New Vaccine Surveillance Network (NVSN).

 

Today in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, a US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)-led team published COVID-19 vaccine effectiveness (VE) estimates among 7,434 children aged 6 months to 4 years receiving ED care or being admitted to one of seven pediatric hospitals for acute respiratory infection (ARI) from July 2022 to September 2023.

 

https://www.cidrap.umn.edu/covid-19/study-estimates-2-covid-vaccine-doses-40-effective-against-emergency-hospital-care-young

 

Edited July 19 by TallGuyJohninBKK