2023-12-09 06:39:40
(Photo by Tolga Akmen / AFP)
Reading newspaper Pennsylvania recently had a front page headline that read:
CORONAVIRUS ‘It’s still here’
“It’s Still Here”
along with the headline:
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Cases are increasing There are strong COVID warnings from public health officials.
The news said When the federal COVID-19 public health emergency announced the cancellation of epidemic surveillance on May 11, 2023, the entire country felt a resurgence of life.
This seems to indicate that The worst part of the epidemic is clearly seen as a mirror image. And global change is so relaxed that it isn’t real.
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Among the many things that are true: the number of cases has decreased, mask mandates have been lifted. people return to work enter the restaurant children go to school and people gather in public places
But it’s not that things are different. Starting to get better will mean that Covid will go away because it has started to come back.
The number of cases is starting to increase. Driven by new germs But public health officials said Fortunately, the latest symptoms tend to be mild.
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“We are in a better position than we were a few years ago,” said Dr. Debra Powell, chief of infectious diseases. Reading Hospital said
“But people need to remember that it (COVID) is still here.”
Tracking the number of COVID infections is not as easy as it was for Ken. Because of the announcement of the end of the emergency situation Public health officials and agents have also dismissed reports of positive COVID results that previously detailed case counts, death rates, hospital admissions and other data.
The state and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have stopped reporting the number of daily cases. Only the number of hospital patients and deaths remains.
But to get a true sense of the situation, the Reading Eagle newspaper reached out to officials at Reading Hospital and Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center.
Both hospitals say they are seeing COVID case numbers increase even more than before.
“We saw a huge increase in positive results from the lab,” Dr. Wolf said. “We saw a 21% increase in positive results. Obviously, we’re not doing a lot of screening. Aside from checking only from people who have symptoms.”
Both Dr. Powell and Dr. Wolf say that even though COVID cases are increasing But the number of people admitted to the hospital was not as overwhelming as in the early stages of the epidemic.
This is because the current outbreak of infection does not have severe symptoms.
“The good news is that with every variant that evolved, there was a greater infection. But there were no severe symptoms,” Dr. Powell said.
Dr. Powell also said that Most patients infected with COVID will have headaches, sore throats and coughs for about 3-5 days.
“Some people still think it’s just a cold,” Dr. Powell added.
Dr. Wolf added that loss of smell and taste which was a symptom of Covid in the early days It’s all gone now.
And Dr. Wolf also agrees that Most patients do not have any serious symptoms.
The overall result is that hospital admissions from COVID remain low.
Dr. Powell and Dr. Wolf say there are a couple of reasons why COVID is at play. There are symptoms that are reduced.
First, some people gain immunity from vaccination or infection. Helps the body fight germs and reduce the severity of infection
Next, the virus itself has mutated from one variant to another.
What has been happening all along is that infections are accelerating. Propagates quickly But the symptoms were milder, Dr. Powell said, adding:
“It’s like a parasite that doesn’t kill the body it inhabits. It will continue to stick with us. Then jump to the others.”
Although there are signs that COVID becomes less dangerous with each mutation. But public health officials say People still need to be careful about COVID.
There are still some people who are at risk of serious illness if infected with COVID. The number of cases is increasing. This creates an increase in the number of people who will become sick and suffer.
“We still have vulnerable groups,” Dr. Powell said, “especially older people.”
Dr. Powell recommends that people who think they are infected must get tested. And if it’s positive from Covid? Must be quarantined away from others for at least 5 days.
And both Dr. Powell and Dr. Wolf encourage people to get their booster shots. Especially people who are at risk.
Dr Powell said people over 65 should get the new vaccine, as should people with co-morbidities. Including people who have to work with large groups of people, such as teachers. Those in the public health field
If you come into contact with an infected person, you must vaccinate quickly.
The Reading Eagle newspaper said this fall and winter could see an increase in Flu cases, COVID-19 cases and respiratory syncytial virus – RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), all of which are forecast to increase. Increases with cold weather.
But luckily, local public health experts Give the opinion that there are things that can protect oneself from these 3 diseases, namely:
During this same period last year Medical experts advise on the possibility of a “tri-demic” system of illness.
Flu season – The flu is coming. It is expected to be worse than the past few years. That’s because during the COVID pandemic the flu disappeared.
“During the peak of COVID, we were all wearing masks and staying apart,” explains Dr. Debra Powell, head of infectious diseases at Reading Hospital.
“In the winter of 2020-2022, there were zero flu cases, showing that wearing masks is working.”
Dr. Powell said that last winter Hospitals are seeing an increase in flu cases as people stop wearing masks and go about their normal lives.
“The resurgence of flu comes as COVID lingers in the background.”
Dr. Powell said, adding that “The COVID hospital admission rate in Berks increased from 35 to 70 between September and February.”
And then there’s the third leg of the “tri-demic”: RSV, a viral respiratory disease that has spread across countries. Especially among children who returned to school
“We have children who have not yet been infected with RSV who appear to have it. are being infected at the same time.”
Three elements of illness coming together at the same time create pressure on the medical world.
“We are seeing an increase in admission numbers for three illnesses,” said Dr. Kimberly Wolf, vice president of medical affairs at Penn State Health St. Joseph Medical Center.
“It has increased significantly since last year.”
Local medical experts say All three illnesses will increase significantly this winter.
Dr. Powell expects flu to increase as precautions such as physical distancing are lifted.
“We will see a lot more flu this year. Compared to 2-3 years ago, we are entering the same flu season as in the past.”
Dr. Powell also expects RSV to increase again. After last year, cases decreased a little.
And COVID hasn’t gone away.
Local medical experts report that The number of sick cases has increased. And I think the trend will continue to increase throughout this winter.
Fortunately, modern Covid cases There is a decrease in severity. Most patients experience mild symptoms and disappear within a week.
Prevention is the key
generally speaking Illness is dangerous for groups at high risk of serious illness, such as those with chronic respiratory disease, heart disease, diabetes, obesity and other diseases.
To reduce the risk to a minimum. Doctors recommend that people use the best form of protection, which is vaccination.
Vaccines for 3 diseases are now ready:
The new COVID vaccine booster is recommended especially for people over the age of 65 and people with specified co-morbidities.
The new version of the flu vaccine came out last month. It is a new generation vaccine for RSV as well, suitable for patients at risk for lung and heart disease.
In addition to advice on vaccines Local public health experts also recommend “Hand hygiene”
The basics of hand hygiene are washing your hands often.
Dr. Powell and Dr. Wolf also recommend it for people with respiratory infections. Consider it a serious matter.
And if you have cold symptoms, test for COVID as well, because right now these two are very similar.
People with symptoms of COVID, flu, or RSV should stay home and stay away from others for at least 5 days.
After that, if you must leave the house, wear a mask for at least another 5 days to prevent the infection from infecting others.
New CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen told CNN:
We are in a different position than before. We are outside the emergency zone.
But COVID is still with us.
Dr. Cohen says there are 20,000 people in the hospital right now because of COVID.
Hundreds of people over the age of 65 die from COVID every week.
The number of COVID illnesses has increased from last year.
There are many tools to prevent COVID. The first is Vaccine. Hopefully everyone has already had the shot.
The vaccine is safe. Prevent bad effects from Long COVID data says it can be prevented. Reduce the risk from Long COVID
In addition, there are various tests along with general protection.
Wearing masks is still necessary, including ventilation. (Ventilation)
Frequent hand washing and staying home when experiencing symptoms All in all, we need more tools to protect ourselves.
Regarding wearing masks, the director of the CDC said that the CDC has a policy for schoolchildren to wear masks. Wearing masks is still necessary. Especially for children who have to underline. We want children to see what’s happening on the ground, in the community.
There’s now a school in Maryland that lets kids wear masks.
COVID-19 is still here.
We warned you
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