US health specialists say a new wave of Covid could return in the coming months and recommend that people be vaccinated or at least to take caution, such as wearing the mask to be protected from coronavirus.
Wearing the mask remains one of the effective protection solutions. Photo: freepik.com
Coronavirus cases could increase in the coming weeks, as has happened every summer since the pandemic started, five years ago, according to the specialists quoted by the media platform The Washington Post.
Covid still affects vulnerable people
Vaccination, wearing the mask, improving air quality and avoiding people who could be contagious remain among the best methods of protection.
Covid’s condition has not disappeared, but it is no longer as difficult to manage as in the past, and at present everyone has a certain level of immunity.
“Either you were vaccinated and you made Booster, or you had the disease, or both. So, now the chances of killing you are much lower than five years ago.” states the expert virus Donald Milton, a public health professor at the University of Maryland. However, tens of thousands of Americans are still dying annually because of the Covid, he warns.
According to the specialist, coronavirus can still cause a serious disease, which will affect people for several days, and the risk of long -term Covid has remained, especially for vulnerable people.
There is also the possibility that a large wave of cases will no longer occur, because the activity of the virus is still low in a period when, in previous years, their number was already beginning to increase.
The new forms of coronavirus
Specialists quoted by the American publication offer a guide to protect the risk of illness.
There are many variants of coronavirus, but two of them have received names, because they are in danger of dominating the landscape: nb. 1.8.1 and XFG are currently competing for global supremacy, says Peter Chin-Hong, professor of medicine and specialist in infectious diseases at the University of California. The World Health Organization lists them as variants under monitoring, he says.
Variant NB. 1.8.1 became known by what is described as a “Blade Throat Razor”, the specialist shows. It adds that, from the omicron version, several cases have been reported with sore throat and symptoms without pneumonia, so about 70 percent of people with Covid, even before the new variants, had neck pain, and some of these cases involved severe neck pain.
However, other health experts show that they do not know any scientific data to support this symptom associated with the coronavirus.
Symptoms common to all variants include nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, muscle pain, fatigue and congestion, says medicine teacher Peter Chin-Hong.
But each variant has different symptoms for different people, shows Daniel Griffin, a specialist in infectious diseases at Colombia University.
“Some people have a terrible sore throat and is not Covid. Others have only clogged nose and breathing difficulties, and yet it is Covid. And everyone with Covid will be different every time you do it,” he said.
Current vaccines provide some protection
Vaccines provide a certain protection against new coronavirus variants, remaining important defense, says the experts quoted by The Washington Post.
The recommendation of the specialists is for adults to receive an updated Covid vaccine, and parents talk to doctors if their children should be vaccinated. However, American health officials have reported that they will probably limit the recommendation of the next version of Covid vaccine in people aged 65 or older or those who have a condition that puts them at a severe risk of the disease.
Wearing the mask, effective solution
US health specialists recommend that people ensure that the home and places they attend have good ventilation. They also advise wearing the protective mask when traveling, especially in spaces where ventilation is weak.
“If you are truly vulnerable, it would be good to consider wearing the mask in public, for example when you go shopping or other crowded places”, Said Dean Blumbberg, teacher and head of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Section.
Covid tests continue to be precise in detection of current stems, as well as previous ones, experts say. They warn that people should check if tests are not expired. Testing recommendations remain unchanged.
“If the symptoms do not pass in a day, test the next day, first in the morning. If the result is negative, repeat the test at 24 to 48 hours.”says Daniel Griffin, a specialist in infectious diseases.
If the test result is positive, experts recommend staying at home, so as not to expose others. And wearing the mask is indicated to those who have symptoms, even if they have been tested negatively.
People at high risk, respectively those 65 years of age or older and those with conditions that tell the risk of severe forms should take into account early antivirals, some experts say.
A commonly used drug is Paxlovid, which must be given in the first five days. Another medicine is ReMdesivir, recommended if you are following treatments that interact with Paxlovid.
Those who have a very inflamed neck are advised to use a liquid formula of paracetamol, similar to the one for children, but at the dose of adult, said Chin-Hong. Ice cream, hot soups or menthol pills can also help relieve pain in the throat.
