by It’s that time of year again, the season of road trips, pool parties, afternoon thunderstorms and soaring COVID infections. The virus has spread widely this summer; President Joe Biden tested positive in July, and at least 40 athletes at the Paris Olympics have been infected with COVID or other respiratory illnesses, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
“COVID-19 is still very much here,” Dr Maria Van Kerkhove, acting director of epidemic and pandemic preparedness and prevention at WHO, said at a press conference on Tuesday. “Data from our sentinel surveillance system in 84 countries indicate that the percentage of tests positive for SARS-CoV-2 has been increasing for several weeks.”
In the United States, infections, emergency room visits and deaths are all on the rise. The test positivity rate is expected to exceed 16% for the week ended July 27, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That’s higher than any other summer increase since the pandemic began in 2020.
Hospitalizations began to decline in the week ending July 27 after increasing since May. Viral activity in wastewater is currently “high,” the second-most severe rating. A new Omicron subvariant is also in town, with KP.3.1.1 accounting for 28% of infections nationwide in the two-week period ending Aug. 3. Not to mention, an updated COVID vaccine is not yet available.
So how can you and your loved ones stay healthy as you continue your summer adventures or prepare to return to work or school? It all comes down to the basics, says Donald Dumford, MD, an infectious disease specialist at Cleveland Clinic Akron General.
“Take good care of yourself, eat well, get plenty of sleep and stay hydrated,” says Dumford. Fortune “For those traveling, consider wearing a well-fitted mask at the airport and during the flight. That’s my particular strategy, I just figure it’s a time when I’m exposed to a large group of people, with the risk that some people will choose to fly when they’re sick because they had already planned a trip for which they spent a lot of money.”
What are the symptoms of COVID?
Symptoms of COVID-19 can appear two days to two weeks after you are exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus. Your symptoms may be mild or severe, or you may not have any symptoms at all. According to the CDC, you should watch for:
- Nasal congestion or runny nose
- Cough
- Diarrhea
- Fatigue
- Fever or chills
- Headache
- Muscle or body pain
- New loss of taste or smell
- Nausea or vomiting
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
If these symptoms sound familiar, it’s because they’re similar to the flu, the common cold, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). Dumford advises getting tested when you feel sick, as this is the only way to differentiate between respiratory illnesses.
According to the CDC, the following symptoms of COVID-19 require emergency medical attention:
- Inability to wake up or stay awake
- Lips, skin, and nails that appear pale, blue, or gray
- New confusion
- Persistent pain or pressure in the chest
- Difficulty breathing
I have COVID. Do I need to isolate?
People who test positive for COVID-19 no longer need to isolate for five days, the CDC said in March. Now, the isolation period depends on how you feel. If your symptoms have improved for at least 24 hours and you haven’t had a fever without the use of fever-reducing medications, you can resume your normal activities. The agency’s new recommendations are consistent with those for other respiratory viruses, Dumford said.
“After that, plan to wear a well-fitted mask for the next five days. The reason for this is that you are most contagious early in the infection, when symptoms are most severe, so stay home to isolate at those times,” says Dumford. “During the period that follows, there is still a risk of spread, so mitigate that risk with a well-fitted mask to catch the virus you exhale.”
What treatments for COVID-19 are available?
Most people with the condition have mild symptoms that can be treated with over-the-counter medications such as ibuprofen or acetaminophen, according to the CDC. However, people at high risk of serious infection may be prescribed antiviral medications such as Paxlovid (nirmatrelvir with ritonavir) or Lagevrio (molnupiravir), which should be started within five to seven days of symptom onset.
People who are moderately or severely immunocompromised may be eligible for preventive treatment with monoclonal antibodies. The CDC urges people to refrain from attempting to treat COVID with products that have not been approved or cleared by the Food and Drug Administration for this purpose; doing so can be dangerous or fatal. Discuss your treatment options with your healthcare provider.
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When will the new COVID vaccines be available?
Every fall, you get a flu shot. The vaccine is formulated differently than the previous year. That’s because flu viruses change over time, and vaccines need to change with them. Now that COVID-19 has been circulating and mutating around the world for more than four years, the CDC recommends that you get the 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine in the coming months.
In a June press release, the CDC said new vaccines made by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax would be available “later this year” and that it was possible to get seasonal flu and COVID vaccines at the same time. Last year, the 2023-24 COVID vaccines became available in mid-September.
“Our top recommendation to protect yourself and your loved ones from respiratory illness is to get vaccinated,” CDC Director Dr. Mandy Cohen said in the statement. “Plan now to get yourself and your family up-to-date with flu and COVID vaccines this fall, before respiratory virus season.”
The CDC recommends an updated COVID vaccine for everyone 6 months of age and older, whether or not they have been previously vaccinated. People 65 and older and those with certain medical conditions such as autoimmune diseases may be eligible for more than one dose of COVID vaccine this fall. Talk to your doctor about whether an adapted dosing schedule is right for you.
If you have recently had COVID-19, the CDC advises delaying your vaccination until three months after infection.
To learn more about COVID-19:
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