COVID 19: Observers of COVID-19 have seen a recent increase in viral activity and concern.
News headlines highlight the alarming increase in COVID-19 hospitalizations. People are discussing whether mask laws should be reinstated. Concerns arise regarding the new subvariant, BA.2.86, and its implications for the upcoming fall and winter seasons. There are concerns about the effectiveness of upcoming booster shots against it or future versions.
Despite the valid concerns, we must accept that SARS-CoV-2 is our new normal.
Jennifer Nuzzo is an epidemiologist at Brown University’s Pandemic Center. Many people remind others, “Remember, Covid’s not over.” Covid will never end. You must establish proper standards. “It will never end.”
Covid is now a disease, like influenza, RSV, rhinoviruses, and more. Throughout the year, the fluctuating number of people affected by it allows for the emergence of other illnesses with similar symptoms and potential severity. Certainly, COVID-19 is currently the most dangerous. It kills more people annually than influenza, once the deadliest disease.
Experts say our approach to SARS-CoV-2 has changed significantly in the past year. Despite increasing hospitalizations and potential deaths, the numbers remain significantly lower. Over 86,000 people visited hospitals for the first time in the last week of August 2021. This number was 37,000 by the same time the previous year. It’s at 16,530 this year.
Unfortunately, crucial context is often omitted from attention-grabbing headlines and social media posts emphasizing doubled figures or percentage increases in statistics.
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Osterholm from the University of Minnesota says, “That makes no sense.” Are we doubling the severity of 650 deaths per week? Or are we causing 15,000 more deaths? We need to convince ourselves we’re in a different place. We’ll see Covid action as long as we live.
It’s important to clarify that this doesn’t mean Covid isn’t a serious threat to some. The infection may resemble a cold or flu, but it’s different. COVID-19 can lead to hospitalization, death, and long-lasting symptoms known as long Covid.
Epidemiologist Bill Hanage notes that over 100,000 people have died from Covid in the US this year, with three months remaining. If the same number of flu deaths occurred in a regular season, it would be deemed a bad flu year.
Hanage, assistant director of the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at Harvard’s T. H. Chan School of Public Health, says Covid is improving. Both of these things are true.
Our Reader’s Queries
When can I return to normal life after COVID?
Once your fever subsides without the use of fever-reducing meds like Tylenol, your symptoms get better, and it has been at least 10 days since your symptoms started, you are no longer contagious if you had COVID-19.
How did COVID affect your life?
The COVID-19 pandemic has definitely shaken up life as we know it. It’s brought a lot of uncertainty, changes to our daily routines, financial stress, and feeling isolated from our friends and family. It’s natural to feel anxious about staying healthy, how long this will all last, and what it means for our jobs and future.
How do you survive COVID-19?
Maintain a regular schedule by showering and dressing each day. Take breaks from COVID-19 updates and social media. Eat nutritious meals and stay hydrated. Keep moving with physical activity. Ensure you get enough sleep. Say no to drugs, tobacco, and alcohol.
Will the world ever be the same after COVID?
Emerging from this crisis, the world can only truly change if we take action to address these issues and drive fundamental transformation. The post-COVID-19 world is unlikely to revert to its former state.