COVID-19 is still raging – something any high-risk or immunocompromised person could have told you a long time ago – and right now there is a huge surge of infections across the United States
Infectious disease experts say it’s relatively unusual to see outbreaks during the summer months, but due to the heat wave (or heatwave, depending on where you live), more and more of people gather indoors to enjoy the air conditioning and seek respite from soaring temperatures and humidity.
There are currently 39 states experiencing increasing or probable surges of COVID-19, and data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) makes it seem unlikely that a decline will be seen in the near future.
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“The public health community is concerned that a summer spike in COVID-19 cases may occur due to new FLiRT variants combined with less vaccination and waning immunity in the community, as well as increased increased travel and indoor gatherings during the summer period. summer”, certified medical epidemiologist and pathologist Dr. David A. Schwartz, MD, M.Sc. Hyg, FCAPtell Parade“Laboratory research suggests that current vaccines and immunity acquired from previous infection may not be effective in producing high levels of protection, particularly in some people with risk factors such as people with underlying diseases, immunocompromised people and the elderly. »
Dr. Ashley L. Drews, MDHouston Methodist epidemiologist, points out: “We’ve seen COVID surges every summer since the pandemic began, but this one seems to be starting earlier in the summer than the COVID surges of the previous summer. We’re likely seeing a surge now because the most widely circulating variants, the FLiRT variants, have mutated and evaded the immune system even more, coupled with a waning of immunity overall. Uptake of the updated COVID vaccine has been low in the fall of 2023.”
Additionally, while hospitalizations are low compared to the peak of the pandemic in 2020, they are still up from where they were in the spring.
“Emergency room visits for COVID-19 increased more than 14% from the previous week,” said the infectious disease physician at Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare. Dr. Shirin Mazumder, MD, said. “COVID hospitalizations also increased by 25% from the previous week.
In fact, those numbers will likely increase even further as people travel for July 4th holidays and long weekends — and those numbers don’t even take into account long COVID, which can persist for months or longer in some patients and be very serious.
Here’s what to know about the current wave of COVID-19, symptoms to watch for, how to stay safe and protect yourself and others.
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What is the most common symptom of the June-July 2024 COVID-19 surge?
Infectious disease experts and epidemiologists we spoke with agreed that the most common symptom of the current wave of COVID-19 is a sore throat.
“Unfortunately, one of the most common symptoms of COVID right now seems to be a sore throat with or without a mild fever,” said an infectious disease specialist. Dr. Andreas M. Kogelnik, MD, PhD.tells us. “I say unfortunately because, of course, a sore throat can be attributed to many different causes.”
This is especially true for people with seasonal allergies, which makes it easier to dismiss the symptom as high pollen counts rather than a contagious infection like COVID.
Other commonly reported symptoms of COVID-19 include:
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Body aches
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Chills
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Congestion
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Cough
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Fatigue
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Fever
Some good news? Loss of smell and taste, which were common symptoms of previous COVID strains, are now rare.
And more good news: “COVID symptoms have remained very consistent over the last two years,” Dr. Mazumder said. “Based on the information available so far, there does not appear to be an increase in the severity of symptoms with respect to hospitalizations and deaths related to the strains currently circulating.”
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How can you protect yourself from new COVID-19 variants?
We can start by not ignoring that COVID-19 is still very much with us, even if our governments want to pretend otherwise.
“COVID-19 continues to change and adapt around us,” says Dr. Kogelnik. “The current wave of COVID-19, with milder symptoms, and widespread fatigue from precautions taken at the height of the pandemic are more than enough for many people to forget about handwashing and other protective measures, which in turn allows a persistent virus to persist even longer.”
In addition to hand washing (which you should be doing anyway!), masking, self-isolation, and frequent testing can all help protect you and others from the current wave of COVID.
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Should you get a COVID booster to protect yourself from the surge?
The answer to this question will depend on when (or if!) you received the most recent COVID-19 recall, issued last fall, and the state of your overall health.
“While there will most likely be an updated COVID-19 vaccine this fall, people over six months of age who have not received the current booster shot should consider getting vaccinated,” says Dr. Mazumder . “Immunocompromised people and those over 65 are eligible to receive another booster dose of the vaccine even if they received one last fall. As long as it has been at least four months since their last vaccine, people this category can get another booster shot The COVID-19 vaccine helps reduce the risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death With a summer surge predicted, now is the perfect time to get an update on the. vaccine against COVID-19.
If you got your booster shot last fall, you’re probably safe if you don’t have any other pre-existing conditions or risks for complications, according to an infectious disease doctor. Dr. Robert Salata, MDhe says, but you should definitely roll up your sleeves for the next dose in late summer. He notes: “A new vaccine will be developed primarily against the most common strains and should be available early this fall.”
Next, here’s how long COVID is contagious after you test positive