If you are noticing that people you know are getting COVID-19, you are probably not alone. In fact, the number of cases in the New York area has risen recently. But this type of periodic fluctuation has been expected and is generally not a reason for concern, experts say.
“There is no reason to dramatically change our behavior when it comes to basic safety precautions and protecting vulnerable people,” says Bernard Camins, MD, MSc, Professor of Medicine (Infectious Diseases) at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai and the Medical Director for Infection Prevention for the Mount Sinai Health System.
Among the possible reasons for an uptick in hospitalizations could be the recent extreme hot weather that pushed people to stay indoors, or that people are gathering more because of summer travel.
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene reports hospitalizations in New York surged in July, but the number is still a small fraction of what it was in January of 2022 during the last big surge. There have been virtually no deaths for several months.
You may have heard about a new variant of COVID-19, known as Eris. Mutations or changes in the virus are normal and expected, and experts track them closely. In this case, there does not seem to be anything significantly different about this new subvariant. It causes the same symptoms, and people do not get sicker when infected by it.
Most important, Dr. Camins’ recommendations remain unchanged:
- Those at risk of complications from COVID-19 may want to wear a protective mask (N95 or KN95) in crowded areas.
- Always wash your hands when you get home or arrive at work.
- Individuals at high-risk should talk with their health care provider and have a plan for how to get antiviral medications if they become infected, as these prescription medications must be taken within the first five days of symptom onset. Those at high-risk include older adults, those with chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes, and those with reduced ability to fight infections, such as those being treated for some cancers.
- If you feel stick, stay at home.
Bernard Camins, MD, MSc
Here are four key takeaways from Dr. Camins and heath care experts about how we are all living with COVID-19 now.
It’s endemic
COVID-19 is now considered endemic in our society, which means it is a constant presence, and we should expect it to come and go, such as the common cold or the seasonal flu. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) officially declared the end of the pandemic in May, 2023. A pandemic refers to a disease that spreads rapidly and beyond control around the world.
Be sure to check the right number
Since the official end of the pandemic, health authorities are no longer reporting the daily cases of COVID-19. One reason is those figures are no longer an accurate measure because so many people are testing at home if they suspect they may be infected. Hospitalizations are still being reported. Ongoing measurements of the level of SARS-CoV-2 virus in wastewater may be a better measure of how widespread the virus is in the population, and that has shown a slight uptick in recent weeks, according to Dr. Camins.
New vaccines are on the way
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with vaccine manufacturers to prepare a new COVID-19 vaccine booster for the fall that will target the latest variants. Any new vaccine must be approved for use by the FDA and then recommended by the CDC and state health authorities before you can get it.
Don’t forget your flu shot
Now is the time to begin thinking about getting your flu shot. September and October are the best times to get the flu shot, according to the CDC. In addition, you may want to talk with your provider about the a vaccine against Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), a common respiratory virus that usually causes mild, cold-like symptoms but can be serous for infants and older adults. The CDC is recommending the vaccine for older adults, adults with chronic heart or lung disease, with weakened immune systems, or those living in nursing homes or long-term care facilities. A CDC advisory committee has recommended the vaccine for infants under eight months.