INDIANA – With COVID-19 cases once again on the rise, questions are being raised about proper prevention measures this fall.
Some health experts are encouraging a return to masking, while others believe an individualized approach to risk reduction is best.
Many also agree that the updated COVID-19 vaccine, expected to be made available later this month, will work well against the new variant BA.2.86.
Precautions to take are on how vulnerable you are to severe illness if you were to contract COVID-19.
For younger and generally healthy people, especially if they have had the coronavirus before and have been vaccinated, the chance of severe illness is very low. As a result, they might decide that they will use good hygiene practices like handwashing and sneezing into their elbows, but otherwise not take the more restrictive measures that they adopted earlier on in the pandemic like masking, social distancing, and avoiding indoor interactions.
Most people still becoming severely ill from the coronavirus are those 65 and over and who have serious underlying medical conditions such as heart disease, lung disease, and immunocompromised. These individuals should take additional precautions. They should be sure they are up to date with coronavirus boosters.
According to the CDC, less than half of those 65 and over received the bivalent booster shot that was first released in the fall of 2022. Older individuals and those with underlying medical illnesses should certainly get the new booster shot when it comes out, which is expected to happen next month.
People should also know whether they are eligible for the antiviral medication, Paxlovid, and have a plan for how to access it. Studies have shown that Paxlovid can reduce the risk of hospitalization or death by as much as 80% when taken within five days of symptom onset.
Individuals should speak with their physicians to discuss their risk of severe illness from the coronavirus. Those who are still vulnerable should take added precautions to avoid contracting COVID-19 by wearing a well-fitting, high-quality N95 or equivalent mask in crowded indoor places, and opting for outdoor rather than indoor gatherings.
It’s important to put the recent Covid-19 numbers into perspective. While it is true that hospitalizations are on the rise, they are about one-third of hospitalizations last year at the same time.
