What’s with the uptick in COVID circumstances? There is a sample that is been repeated every year since COVID began — a late summer season wave. Older individuals and people who are immuno-compromised ought to be cautious.
ARI SHAPIRO, HOST:
If it looks like you are listening to about extra individuals testing constructive for COVID, you are proper. The CDC says we’re in a summer season COVID wave, and NPR well being correspondent Maria Godoy is right here to inform us extra about it. Hello, Maria.
SHAPIRO: If it looks like you are listening to about extra individuals testing constructive for COVID, you are proper. The CDC says we’re in a summer season COVID wave, and NPR well being correspondent Maria Godoy is right here to inform us extra about it. Hello, Maria.
MARIA GODOY, HOST:
Hello, Ari.
SHAPIRO: What are the numbers? How many individuals are getting COVID proper now?
SHAPIRO: What are the numbers? How many individuals are getting COVID proper now?
GODOY: Yeah. So the CDC does not monitor the variety of new circumstances the way in which it used to. States aren’t reporting – , testing individuals and reporting it again to them anymore. As a substitute, we’re getting our sense of what is occurring from just a few sources. One is wastewater surveillance – so testing which reveals up in sewage. And proper now that tells us now we have excessive or very excessive viral exercise in 36 states – so the vast majority of the nation. The CDC additionally will get estimates from emergency room visits and hospitalization charges. And people are going up, too, although they’re ranging from a really low place. So fortunately, we aren’t in a scenario the place hospitals are getting overwhelmed.
SHAPIRO: Nicely, that is good. It does seem to be each summer season, there’s a new wave of COVID infections. Why is that?
SHAPIRO: Nicely, that is good. It does seem to be each summer season, there’s a new wave of COVID infections. Why is that?
GODOY: Yeah. I spoke with epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina about this. She writes this nice Substack referred to as Your Native Epidemiologist. And she or he explains it is a mixture of some elements.
KATELYN JETELINA: One is conduct change. Folks transfer inside because of the warmth, and many of the virus spreads indoors. Two, COVID simply retains mutating extremely shortly, about twice as quick because the flu.
GODOY: After which the third factor she says is now we have waning immunity. In case you’re updated together with your COVID vaccines, you in all probability obtained one someday final winter. I do know I obtained mine in January. And guess what? I obtained COVID final month.
SHAPIRO: Oh, Maria, I am sorry. How dangerous was it?
SHAPIRO: Oh, Maria, I am sorry. How dangerous was it?
GODOY: You realize, the excellent news is it was pretty delicate. I’ve had COVID thrice, and the primary time, it was like pneumonia. The second time, it felt like a foul flu. And this one was similar to a foul chilly. And that reveals my immune system is getting higher at combating COVID. Yay. After all, , individuals’s responses fluctuate, however basically, previous infections and vaccination make our immune system higher at combating this virus off.
SHAPIRO: Nicely, such as you, it has been at the very least six months since I had a vaccination, and I have never been contaminated since then, to my data. Ought to individuals like me be getting one other COVID vaccine?
SHAPIRO: Nicely, such as you, it has been at the very least six months since I had a vaccination, and I have never been contaminated since then, to my data. Ought to individuals like me be getting one other COVID vaccine?
GODOY: Yeah. Nicely, the vital factor to recollect is that whereas your previous vaccinations might not forestall you from getting contaminated altogether, they’re nonetheless actually efficient at stopping extreme sickness or dying, which is, in fact, the purpose. Up to date vaccines tailor-made to the newest variants which might be circulating – these ought to be launched within the fall – so simply a few months from now. So individuals at common threat ought to in all probability wait to get that up to date vaccine within the fall or early winter. However in case you are in a high-risk group – so for those who’re over 65 or you’re immune compromised, for instance – it’s best to verify together with your physician.
I spoke with Dr. Preeti Malani. She’s a geriatrician and infectious illness specialist on the College of Michigan. And she or he says in case you are an older particular person thought-about at greater threat, whether or not to vaccinate now or wait actually is determined by your particular person circumstances.
PREETI MALANI: Like, for those who’re occurring an enormous journey the place you are going to have lots of publicity to individuals, it would make sense to get vaccinated now. It is a good dialog to have as a result of I feel many people have misplaced monitor of precisely once we had been vaccinated final.
GODOY: Proper. So, once more, , it’s best to speak to your physician. And the opposite level Malani made is that no matter whether or not you’re high-risk, , keep in mind to check for those who’re not feeling properly. You could not understand it is COVID, and also you actually do not wish to go go to grandma within the nursing residence in case you are infectious.
SHAPIRO: Talking of which, in only a sentence or two, what are the foundations for isolating for those who do check constructive nowadays?
SHAPIRO: Talking of which, in only a sentence or two, what are the foundations for isolating for those who do check constructive nowadays?
GODOY: Yeah. CDC says keep residence till your signs subside and you have been freed from fever for at the very least 24 hours. However even then, put on a masks whenever you exit for the subsequent 5 days since you might nonetheless be shedding infectious virus.
SHAPIRO: NPR well being correspondent Maria Godoy. Thanks for the recommendation.
SHAPIRO: NPR well being correspondent Maria Godoy. Thanks for the recommendation.
GODOY: My pleasure.
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