What to do if you’ve been exposed to COVID or are having symptoms?
We are definitely in a wave of COVID and have been getting a LOT of questions about what are the current COVID conditions and what do I do if I am exposed?
The US has a shocking number of new deaths related to COVID.
We are in a surge of COVID. Here are the latest numbers in terms of new deaths from COVID in the US. You can look for more stats HERE:
WHAT DO I DO IF I AM EXPOSED OR HAVE SYMPTOMS?
For those exposed to COVID or who have symptoms, in an ideal world, people would take a COVID test as soon as they develop symptoms or learn they were exposed, and then test at the time you have symptoms or find out you were exposed and again a day or two later. But if you only have a limited number of at-home rapid tests, there are a few ways to maximize their usefulness:
1) test immediately if you have a fever and a cough.
2) If you have other symptoms but few tests on hand, you may want to wait a few days to test, to reduce the chance of a false negative.
People who are immunocompromised, older or who have underlying health issues should test as soon as they feel sick or learn they were exposed, so they can look to get Paxlovid to reduce the severity of the illness
If you’ve had symptoms for more than three days... but are still testing negative, it may be you’ll never test positive on an at-home test, either because you do not have COVID, or because you are shedding amounts of the virus that are too low for a rapid test to pick up.
If you’re waiting to test, you should take precautions in the meantime to minimize the potential spread of the virus, like having others mask around you, wearing a mask in public and isolating from others in general.
VACCINES:
New Vaccines: The F.D.A. has approved the latest slate of annual Covid vaccines for 2024 for people ages 6 months and up. For the frailest Americans, who have been dying of Covid in growing numbers amidst a summer surge, the shots could offer a reprieve from a virus that disproportionately endangers those whose vaccinations are out of date.
mRNA (Pfizer and Moderna) are updated to target the latest variants. They are FDA approved. Last year, boosters provided an additional approx. 60% additionl protection. This is especially important for high risk/elder patients.
non-mRNA (Novavax) is not yet FDA approved but expected to be soon. It is not updated for the current variants, but there is data to show it is still effective for current variants and may be better for those who don’t want mRNA.
WHEN TO GET THE UPDATED COVID VACCINE:
Protection is the highest after a booster for the first few months.
You can get it now or closer to winter (Halloween time) if you haven’t had COVID recently.
What if you’ve recently had COVID-19?
wait at least 3 months after a COVID diagnosis to get the vaccine.
AND we encourage you to get your FLU SHOT this winter.
It is ok to get both COVID and FLU shot at the same time.
Big Trees MD will do COVID and FLU vaccines clinics soon, but if you do not want to wait, schedule a vaccination appointment at your local pharmacy.
COVID TESTING:
The pharmacies and stores should have COVID tests and the US Government should be offering free covid tests by the end of September. Find more on that here: https://aspr.hhs.gov/COVID-19/Test/Pages/default.aspx.
Big Trees MD just got our combo COVID + Flu A&B swab testing in. They are ONLY available to members for $25 a test. If you would like a test through Big Trees MD, send us a portal message!
MORE ON COVID-19:
Long Covid: About 400 million people worldwide have been afflicted with long Covid, according to a new report, which estimated that the global economic cost of the condition is about $1 trillion each year.
Dangerous Inflammation in Children: According to a new study, Covid-19 can set off an autoimmune reaction that leads to multi-inflammatory syndrome in children, or MIS-C, a rare and sometimes fatal condition.
Free Vaccine Program to End: A C.D.C. program that provided more than one million Covid shots to uninsured and underinsured people will run out of funding by the end of August.
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