(TheConservativeTimes.org) – With the holidays over and the cold winter months commencing, there has been an increase in respiratory illnesses, including COVID. We recently saw an increase in COVID cases through the holidays, but now with a new strain of COVID-19 that has taken over.
This COVID variant is called JN.1 and it was first seen in September, however, it’s rapidly spreading and has made up 39% of COVID cases so far this season. Experts are saying that it “does not appear to pose additional risks to public health beyond that of other recent variants” and that the previous COVID vaccines and tests do work on this variant.
With this being said, COVID cases are still on the rise as there were 34,000 hospitalizations during the week of December 30th. Doctors also spoke out about the Flu and RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus), which have also surged over the past couple of weeks alongside COVID.
The Chief of the Research and Development service at the Veterans Affairs St. Louis Healthcare System, Ziyad Al-Aly, spoke out by saying “The numbers so far are definitely going in the not-so-good direction,” and that we can expect to see an increase in January as people head home from holiday travel.
The sickness itself presents just as it did last year and previous years with a runny nose, cough, sore throat, fatigue, soreness, and a fever. Although COVID isn’t as serious as it once was at its inception, it’s still a cause for concern, and even those who have “mild COVID” could be miserable and sick for three to five days.
The Chief medical officer of the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials, Marcus Plesia, said to stay home if you feel sick because it can “make a big difference.” It’s important to note that symptoms can vary from person to person and the most likely to be affected are the elderly, young, pregnant women, and those who already have respiratory issues.
Experts also said that a mask mandate might not take effect, but wearing them could be a big help to you and your family. Take COVID tests often, especially if your symptoms seem mild, and be sure to get up to date on your COVID vaccine to help protect against the COVID illness.
Copyright 2024, TheConservativeTimes.org
