LAS VEGAS President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while traveling Wednesday in Las Vegas and is experiencing mild symptoms including general malaise from the infection, the White House said.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden will fly to his home in Delaware, where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The news had first been shared by UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murgua, who told guests at the groups convention in Las Vegas that president had sent his regrets and could not appear because he tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Kevin OConnor, the presidents physician, said in a note that Biden, 81, presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise. After the positive COVID-19 test, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, OConnor said.
Biden was slated to speak at the UnidosUS event in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Instead, he departed for the airport to fly to Delaware, where he had already been planning to spend a long weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach.
The presidents diagnosis comes amid intense scrutiny of his health and stamina after a disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump that sparked aflurry of concernamong Democrats that Biden is not up to the rigors of winning another presidential term.
Biden gingerly boarded Air Force One and told reporters traveling with him, I feel good. The president was not wearing a mask as he walked onto Air Force One.
The president had previously been at the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas, where he was greeting diners and sat for an interview with Univision.
Biden has been vaccinated and is current on his recommended annual booster dose for COVID-19. The vaccines have proven highly effective at limiting serious illness and death from the virus, which killed more than 1 million people in the U.S. since the pandemic began in 2020. Paxlovid has been proven to curtail the chances of serious illness and death from COVID-19 when prescribed in the early days of an infection, but has also been associated with rebound infections, where the virus comes back a few days after clearing up.
Biden last tested positive for COVID-19 twice in the summer of 2022, when he had a primary case and a rebound case of the virus.
Health officials have reported recent upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19. There has also been a pronounced increase in positive test results in much of the country particularly the southwestern U.S.
Originally Published: July 17, 2024 at 5:43 p.m.
COVID cases are on the rise once again, with President Joe Biden among those recently testing positive for the virus, but what symptoms are associated with the newest variants and what should you do if you test positive?
Health officials have reported recent upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19. There has also been a pronounced increase in positive test results in much of the country, including Illinois. Still, health experts say the numbers aren't as high as recent surges.
"The number of cases remains lower than the number counted during the most recent fall peak or during the small peak we saw last summer in Chicago," Dr. Mary Hayden, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rush University System for Health, told NBC Chicago.
The White House announced that President Joe Biden began experiencing mild symptoms on Wednesday after testing positive for the coronavirus.
A new series of COVID variants, nicknamed the "FLiRT" variants, are dominating across the U.S., according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The variants, identified as KP.1.1, KP.3 and KP.2, collectively make up more than 55% of COVID cases in the U.S., per the CDC's most recent variant tracking data. KP.3, in particular, made up the most cases of any variant at 24.5% of cases, according to the latest forecasting data.
Similarly, emergency room visits measured through June 29 showed COVID-related visits were up 18% from the previous week. Illinois was among states seeing a "substantial change" in metrics week-over-week, the data showed. The state's COVID-related emergency room visits were up 29.7% from the previous week, though the total percent of emergency room visits deemed to be COVID visits still remained "minimal," at 0.8%.
So what can you expect with the latest strains?
The variants are subvariants of JN.1, which rose to dominance in December 2023 and was labeled a "variant of concern," though the "FLiRT" variants have two changes in the spike protein compared to JN.1.
"The two changes in spike have been observed in earlier lineages, including XBB.1.5 lineages, which were dominant throughout 2023 and the basis for the 20232024 vaccine formulation," the CDC reported.
Health officials said that while there are no indicators the new strains cause more severe illness than other strains, the "CDC will continue to monitor community transmission of the virus and how vaccines perform against this strain."
Megan L. Ranney, dean of the Yale School of Public Health, told WebMD the spike protein changes are concerning.
The KP.3 variant quickly rose to dominance, overtaking KP.2 as the most prevalent strain in the U.S. in a matter of weeks, the CDC reported.
Its still early days, but the initial impression is that this variant is rather transmissible, Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, told TODAY.com.
Some lab studies suggest the FLiRT variants may be mutated enough that previous vaccination or immunity from prior infection likely won't provide total protection, Schaffner said.
"We'll have to see how true that is, but it appears, over time to be becoming a more prominent variant," he told TODAY.
According to Hayden, common symptoms continue to be similar to those associated with a number of viral respiratory infections.
"Common symptoms continue to be fever, sore throat, runny nose, cough, headache, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of the sense of smell, nausea, diarrhea and bloating," she said. "These symptoms can also occur with other viral respiratory infections such as the common cold. Severe symptoms that warrant medical attention include shortness of breath, but these symptoms are uncommon."
Dr. Lakshmi Halasyamani, the Chief Clinical Officer at Endeavor Health, said despite the spread of the newest variant, the main symptoms associated with COVID remain unchanged
The most common symptoms Halasyamani reported seeing are largely respiratory-related.
If you do suspect you've contracted COVID, here are some symptoms you might experience, according to the CDC:
Last year, a Chicago-area doctorsaid she's noticed shifts in the most common symptomsher patients reported as the JN.1 variant rose to dominance.
Dr. Chantel Tinfang, a family medicine physician with Sengstacke Health Center at Provident Hospital of Cook County,noted at the time that many of the cases she saw reported less of the fever, body aches and chills, and presented more with sore throat, fatigue and coughing.
"We still see some patients experiencing decreased appetite, a loss of taste or smell. So it kind of depends," she said. "One patient was just very, very tired. Like she couldn't really do much. And that's when you know ... it's different. It's not just coughing and shortness of breath. We still see that though."
She suggested consulting with your doctor if your symptoms don't begin to improve outside of the recommended isolation period.
As for timing, symptoms can last for several days, but in some cases, even longer.
"Some people who have been infected with the virus that causes COVID-19 can experience long-term effects from their infection, known as Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions (PCC)," according to the CDC.
Such symptoms can last for weeks and possibly even years.
According to the Illinois Department of Public Health, the federal ICATT program offers no-cost COVID-19 testing for uninsured people: here is a locator that folks can use to find places near them.
Dr. Mary Hayden, director of the Division of Infectious Diseases at Rush University System for Health, also noted that free options remain available for those who are uninsured through local health departments and community health clinics.
In March, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its COVID guidelines to mirror guidance for other respiratory infections. Those who contracted COVID-19 no longer need to stay away from others for five days, the CDC said, effectively nixing the five-day isolation recommendation.
People can return to work or regular activities if their symptoms are mild and improving and it's been a day since they've had a fever, but the CDC still recommends those with symptoms stay home.
"The recommendations suggest returning to normal activities when, for at least 24 hours, symptoms are improving overall, and if a fever was present, it has been gone without use of a fever-reducing medication," the guidance states.
Once activities are resumed, the CDC still recommends "additional prevention strategies" for an additional five days, including wearing a mask and keeping distance from others.
The agency is emphasizing that people should still try to prevent infections in the first place, by getting vaccinated, washing their hands, and taking steps to bring in more outdoor fresh air.
As part of the guidance, the CDC suggests:
The number of coronavirus cases is increasing. The number of virus particles in the sewage water has increased for the ninth week in a row and is now at its highest level since the beginning of the year. For the last nine weeks, the so-called virus load has increased tenfold, according to the weekly numbers from the health institute the RIVM showed.
The number of virus particles in the sewage water is considerably higher than in the same period last year. However, the concentrations are still lower than in July 2022. Sewage water measurements are currently the only way to follow the spread of the coronavirus now that the central coronavirus test locations have been closed.
According to research institution Nivel, a relatively high number of people aged 65 and older have been going to the general practitioner with complaints connected to the coronavirus over the last few weeks. This started midway through June.
Older adults are more at risk of becoming severely ill when becoming infected with the coronavirus than others. This is why they can get a vaccine against the virus in the autumn of this year.
President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while traveling Wednesday in Las Vegas and is experiencing mild symptoms including general malaise from the infection, the White House said.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden will fly to his home in Delaware, where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time." The news had first been shared by Unidos US President and CEO Janet Murgua, who told guests at the group's convention in Las Vegas that president had sent his regrets and could not appear because he tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Kevin O'Connor, the president's physician, said in a note that Biden presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise. After the positive COVID-19 test, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, O'Connor said.
Biden was slated to speak at the Unidos event in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Instead, he departed for the airport to fly to Delaware, where he had already been planning to spend a long weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach.
Biden gingerly boarded Air Force One and told reporters traveling with him, I feel good. The president was not wearing a mask as he walked onto Air Force One.
The president had previously been at the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas, where he was greeting diners and sat for an interview with Univision.
Biden has been vaccinated and is current on his recommended annual booster dose for COVID-19. The vaccines have proven highly effective at limiting serious illness and death from the virus, which killed more than 1 million people in the U.S. since the pandemic began in 2020. Paxlovid has been proven to curtail the chances of serious illness and death from COVID-19 when prescribed in the early days of an infection, but has also been associated with rebound infections, where the virus comes back a few days after clearing up.
Biden last tested positive for COVID-19 twice in the summer of 2022, when he had a primary case and a rebound case of the virus.
Health officials have reported recent upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19. There has also been a pronounced increase in positive test results in much of the country particularly the southwestern U.S.
FILE - President Joe Biden speaks at a 2024 Prosperity Summit, July 16, 2024, in North Las Vegas, Nev. Nearly two-thirds of Democrats say President Joe Biden should withdraw from the presidential race and let his party select a different candidate, according to a new poll by the AP-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research. It sharply undercuts his post-debate claim that average Democrats are still with him even if some big names are turning on him. (AP Photo/Ronda Churchill, File)
President Biden has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to a speaker at the UnidosUS annual conference broadcast on the White Houses YouTube channel.
Biden was slated to speak at the event in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Unidos US President and CEO Janet Murgua told the guests that the president had sent his regrets and could not appear because he tested positive for the virus.
The president had previously been at the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas, where he was greeting diners and was scheduled to have an interview with Univision.
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LAS VEGAS President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while traveling Wednesday in Las Vegas and is experiencing mild symptoms including general malaise from the infection, the White House said.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden will fly to his home in Delaware, where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The news had first been shared by UnidosUS president and CEO Janet Murgua, who told guests at the groups convention in Las Vegas that the president had sent his regrets and could not appear because he tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Kevin OConnor, the presidents physician, said in a note that Biden, 81, presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise. After the positive COVID-19 test, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, OConnor said.
Biden was slated to speak at the Unidos event in Las Vegas on Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Instead, he departed for the airport to fly to Delaware, where he had already been planning to spend a long weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach.
The presidents diagnosis comes amid intense scrutiny of his health and stamina after a disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump that sparked aflurry of concernamong Democrats that Biden is not up to the rigors of winning another presidential term.
Biden gingerly boarded Air Force One and told reporters traveling with him, I feel good. The president was not wearing a mask as he walked onto Air Force One.
The president had previously been at the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas, where he was greeting diners and sat for an interview with Univision.
Biden has been vaccinated and is current on his recommended annual booster dose for COVID-19. The vaccines have proven highly effective at limiting serious illness and death from the virus, which killed more than 1 million people in the U.S. since the pandemic began in 2020. Paxlovid has been proven to curtail the chances of serious illness and death from COVID-19 when prescribed in the early days of an infection, but has also been associated with rebound infections, where the virus comes back a few days after clearing up.
Biden last tested positive for COVID-19 twice in the summer of 2022, when he had a primary case and a rebound case of the virus.
Health officials have reported recent upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19. There has also been a pronounced increase in positive test results in much of the country particularly the southwestern U.S.
By AAMER MADHANI, Associated Press
Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Stephanie Nano and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
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Posted: July 17, 2024 Last Updated: July 18, 2024
U.S. President Joe Biden, under fire from fellow Democrats to drop his re-election campaign, tested positive for COVID-19 while on a trip to Las Vegas on Wednesday and is self-isolating after experiencing mild symptoms, the White House said.
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre announced the positive test for the 81-year-old Democrat after Biden canceled a speech due to the diagnosis.
"He is vaccinated and boosted and experiencing mild symptoms," Jean-Pierre said.
As he boarded Air Force One to depart Las Vegas to recuperate in Delaware, Biden told reporters: "Good, I feel good."
The illness comes at a crucial time for Biden, who has been losing ground in battleground states against Republican Donald Trump, who is headlining a triumphant convention this week after he survived an assassination attempt on Saturday.
The White House said Biden planned to spend a long weekend at his Delaware beach house. It was unclear how long the sickness would keep him for the campaign trail.
Minutes after the announcement, the president's motorcade was on the move from taping a radio interview in Las Vegas to the Las Vegas airport. The president was returning to Delaware to isolate, the White House said.
Biden had greeted a couple of dozen people at a Mexican restaurant prior to going into the radio interview. He was running late to deliver a speech to Latino civil rights group UnidosUS when the organizer, Janet Murguia, announced he had tested positive for COVID-19.
There were groans in the conference room at the news.
"He said to tell my folks that we're not going to get rid of him that quickly, we're going to have a chance to hear from him in the future directly," Murguia said.
The White House cited Biden's doctor as saying he had been suffering from upper respiratory symptoms earlier in the afternoon.
"He felt OK for his first event of the day, but given that he was not feeling better, point-of-care testing for COVID-19 was conducted and the results were positive for the COVID-19 virus," the statement said.
The White House said Biden will be self-isolating in according withthe U.S.Centers for Disease Control guidelines.
His symptoms are mild and he has received an initial dose of Paxlovid, the doctor said.
Biden,who had spent two nights in Vegas on the campaign trail, is locked in a battle with some fellow Democrats who worry he is too old to seek re-election and want him to step aside in favour of another candidate.
He has been defiant in the face of the calls to quit the race, telling one interviewer that only the "Lord Almighty" could persuade him to go.
"He will be returning to Delaware, where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time," said Jean-Pierre.
WATCH | Another Democrat speaks against Biden's re-election bid:
Biden suffered a blow earlier in the day when a prominent Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives, Adam Schiff of California, said it was time for Biden to "pass the torch" to someone else.
Later on Wednesday, ABC News reported thatChuck Schumer, the Democratic Senate leader,told Biden in a meeting on Saturday that it would be better for the country and the Democratic Party if he ended his re-election campaign.
LAS VEGAS President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 while traveling Wednesday in Las Vegas and is experiencing mild symptoms including general malaise from the infection, the White House said.
Press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Biden will fly to his home in Delaware, where he will self-isolate and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time. The news had first been shared by UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murgua, who told guests at the groups convention in Las Vegas that president had sent his regrets and could not appear because he tested positive for the virus.
Dr. Kevin OConnor, the presidents physician, said in a note that Biden, 81, presented this afternoon with upper respiratory symptoms, to include rhinorhea (runny nose) and non-productive cough, with general malaise. After the positive COVID-19 test, Biden was prescribed the antiviral drug Paxlovid and has taken his first dose, OConnor said.
Biden was slated to speak at the UnidosUS event in Las Vegas Wednesday afternoon as part of an effort to rally Hispanic voters ahead of the November election. Instead, he departed for the airport to fly to Delaware, where he had already been planning to spend a long weekend at his home in Rehoboth Beach.
The presidents diagnosis comes amid intense scrutiny of his health and stamina after a disastrous debate with former President Donald Trump that sparked a flurry of concern among Democrats that Biden is not up to the rigors of winning another presidential term.
Biden gingerly boarded Air Force One and told reporters traveling with him, I feel good. The president was not wearing a mask as he walked onto Air Force One.
The president had previously been at the Original Lindo Michoacan restaurant in Las Vegas, where he was greeting diners and sat for an interview with Univision.
Biden has been vaccinated and is current on his recommended annual booster dose for COVID-19. The vaccines have proven highly effective at limiting serious illness and death from the virus, which killed more than 1 million people in the U.S. since the pandemic began in 2020. Paxlovid has been proven to curtail the chances of serious illness and death from COVID-19 when prescribed in the early days of an infection but has also been associated with rebound infections, where the virus comes back a few days after clearing up.
Biden last tested positive for COVID-19 twice in the summer of 2022, when he had a primary case and a rebound case of the virus.
Health officials have reported recent upticks in emergency room visits and hospitalizations from COVID-19. There has also been a pronounced increase in positive test results in much of the country particularly the southwestern U.S.
Associated Press writers Josh Boak, Stephanie Nano and Zeke Miller contributed to this report.
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Originally Published: 16 JUL 24 11:01 ET
Updated: 16 JUL 24 11:35 ET
By Katia Hetter, CNN
(CNN) Covid-19 levels have been rising in the United States again.
Emergency department visits associated with Covid-19 have been trending up for weeks, according to theUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The most recent data shows that during the week ending July 6 there was a 23.5% increase in emergency visits for Covid-19compared with the previous week. The CDC also reports the viral activity level for Covid-19 in wastewater is high nationally as of July 6.
I have seen these trends reflected in my own social group. Two friends have gotten Covid-19 this month while traveling. And weve seen more coronavirus infections being reported in public figures, with second gentlemanDoug Emhoff recently testing positive and major sporting events such as theTour de Franceaffected with riders being diagnosed.
Its time to reset our understanding about Covid-19s summer spread. Why is this summer wave happening, and do I really have to worry about infection again? What should people do to reduce their chance of infection while living their normal life? What if Im traveling? Should I get the vaccine now versus waiting for an updated one? Do tests still work? And what should I do if I get Covid-19 do I still have to sequester myself and stay away from family?
To guide us through these questions, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously was Baltimores health commissioner.
CNN:How much should people worry about Covid-19 infection now that there is a resurgence of cases?
Dr. Leana Wen:Based on CDC numbers, it does appear that we are in the midst of asummer waveof Covid-19 infections. This shouldnt be a surprise. Ever since the start of the pandemic, we have seen multiple waves of infections every year, including one that peaks in the summer. This could be due to increased travel as well as more people gathering indoors due to hot weather.
Whether people should worry about Covid-19 infection depends on their specific medical circumstances. People who should be especially concerned are those who are older orimmunocompromised or those with multiple underlying heart, lung, kidney and other medical conditions. They should be sure they are up-to-date with vaccines, have a plan foraccessingantiviraltreatmentand consider additional precautions such as masking in crowded indoor spaces and trying to gather outdoors instead of indoors.
CNN:What should people do to reduce their chance of infection while living their normal life around town?
Wen:Many people have returned to their full pre-pandemic lives and are thinking of Covid-19 the way they consider other respiratory viruses:They dont want to get these viruses, but they also dont want to stop socializing and going to restaurants, the theater and religious services. I think the risk calculation will depend on the individual and their personal medical circumstances.
One thing to consider is to reduce your chance of infection prior to visiting an especially vulnerable family or friend. For the week or so before that visit, you could avoid indoor gatherings and mask while on public transit and in other crowded spaces. Taking a rapid test just before the visit can also reduce your risk of infecting that vulnerable person.
CNN: Speaking of tests, are home tests still a good way to diagnose Covid-19 if someone develops symptoms?
Wen:Rapid antigen home tests are not as accurate as laboratory PCR testing, but they are a convenient way to screen for Covid-19. People who have symptoms and could be eligible for antiviral treatment should take the rapid test. If its initially negative, take it again the next day to be sure. Remember that this test only looks for the coronavirus. You could haveone ofa whole host of other viruses that cause respiratory symptoms. If you have symptoms, you should stay away from vulnerable people, even if you test negative for Covid-19.
CNN: Do you have any recommendations for reducing risk while traveling?
Wen:While in crowded spaces that arent well-ventilated, consider wearing an N95 or equivalent mask. For instance, mask while boarding the plane and on standing-room-only trains. Also, try to dine outdoors rather than indoors when possible. Bring rapid tests with you. And always have a plan for what happens if you get Covid-19. How will you access antiviral treatments if you are eligible for them? Where will you stay? Travel insurance is something I highly recommend; it can help with medical care and with allaying costs if plans must change.
CNN: A lot of people are eager to get another Covid-19 vaccine to best protect them during the summer wave. But there is anew vaccine coming out in the fall. Who should get the vaccine now, and who can wait to get the new one?
Wen:There is a new formulation of the Covid-19 vaccine coming out soon. It should be available in September and could be available as early as August. TheCDC has recommendedthat everyone 6 months and older receive this vaccine when its out.
Since we are so close to the release of the new vaccine, I think its reasonable to wait for the new formulation. This one should more closely target the variants currently circulating and, ideally, be a better match for the strains expected to be dominant in the fall and winter.
People should keep in mind that the primary purpose of the vaccine is to reduce the chance of severe illness of needing hospitalization and of dying. The vaccine is not as effective at reducing infection. It does have some effectiveness at reducing the infection rate, but that effectiveness wanes quickly. People who need additional protection against infection which always carries the risk of severe illness as well as of long Covid should take additional precautions as we discussed.
CNN: Finally, at this point, what should I do if I get Covid-19 do I still have to isolate and stay away from family?
Wen:Several months ago, theCDC droppedits five-day isolation requirement. Now, the recommendation is that people diagnosed with Covid-19 stay home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours and their symptoms are improving. For the next five days, they should still try to take additional precautions such as masking and limiting close contact with others.
The way I interpret this is that it depends on the medical situation of other members of your family. If others are generally healthy and not taking additional precautions to reduce their risk of Covid-19, I think you could follow the advice from the CDC as above.
However, in my view, if you live at home with someone who is extremely vulnerable for instance, an older parent who has had a kidney transplant you should really avoid that person until you test negative for Covid-19. That means not dining indoors with them and not sharing common spaces during that period.
The bottom line is that while many people can go about living their lives during this summer wave, people who are vulnerable to severe illness still should take additional precautions. Those around them should also take precautions to help protect those at highest risk.
The-CNN-Wire & 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
(CNN) Covid-19 levels have been rising in the United States again.
Emergency department visits associated with Covid-19 have been trending up for weeks, according to theUS Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.The most recent data shows that during the week ending July 6 there was a 23.5% increase in emergency visits for Covid-19compared with the previous week. The CDC also reports the viral activity level for Covid-19 in wastewater is high nationally as of July 6.
I have seen these trends reflected in my own social group. Two friends have gotten Covid-19 this month while traveling. And weve seen more coronavirus infections being reported in public figures, with second gentlemanDoug Emhoff recently testing positive and major sporting events such as theTour de Franceaffected with riders being diagnosed.
Its time to reset our understanding about Covid-19s summer spread. Why is this summer wave happening, and do I really have to worry about infection again? What should people do to reduce their chance of infection while living their normal life? What if Im traveling? Should I get the vaccine now versus waiting for an updated one? Do tests still work? And what should I do if I get Covid-19 do I still have to sequester myself and stay away from family?
To guide us through these questions, I spoke with CNN wellness expert Dr. Leana Wen. Wen is an emergency physician and clinical associate professor at George Washington University. She previously was Baltimores health commissioner.
CNN:How much should people worry about Covid-19 infection now that there is a resurgence of cases?
Dr. Leana Wen:Based on CDC numbers, it does appear that we are in the midst of asummer waveof Covid-19 infections. This shouldnt be a surprise. Ever since the start of the pandemic, we have seen multiple waves of infections every year, including one that peaks in the summer. This could be due to increased travel as well as more people gathering indoors due to hot weather.
Whether people should worry about Covid-19 infection depends on their specific medical circumstances. People who should be especially concerned are those who are older orimmunocompromised or those with multiple underlying heart, lung, kidney and other medical conditions. They should be sure they are up-to-date with vaccines, have a plan foraccessingantiviraltreatmentand consider additional precautions such as masking in crowded indoor spaces and trying to gather outdoors instead of indoors.
CNN:What should people do to reduce their chance of infection while living their normal life around town?
Wen:Many people have returned to their full pre-pandemic lives and are thinking of Covid-19 the way they consider other respiratory viruses:They dont want to get these viruses, but they also dont want to stop socializing and going to restaurants, the theater and religious services. I think the risk calculation will depend on the individual and their personal medical circumstances.
One thing to consider is to reduce your chance of infection prior to visiting an especially vulnerable family or friend. For the week or so before that visit, you could avoid indoor gatherings and mask while on public transit and in other crowded spaces. Taking a rapid test just before the visit can also reduce your risk of infecting that vulnerable person.
CNN: Speaking of tests, are home tests still a good way to diagnose Covid-19 if someone develops symptoms?
Wen:Rapid antigen home tests are not as accurate as laboratory PCR testing, but they are a convenient way to screen for Covid-19. People who have symptoms and could be eligible for antiviral treatment should take the rapid test. If its initially negative, take it again the next day to be sure. Remember that this test only looks for the coronavirus. You could haveone ofa whole host of other viruses that cause respiratory symptoms. If you have symptoms, you should stay away from vulnerable people, even if you test negative for Covid-19.
CNN: Do you have any recommendations for reducing risk while traveling?
Wen:While in crowded spaces that arent well-ventilated, consider wearing an N95 or equivalent mask. For instance, mask while boarding the plane and on standing-room-only trains. Also, try to dine outdoors rather than indoors when possible. Bring rapid tests with you. And always have a plan for what happens if you get Covid-19. How will you access antiviral treatments if you are eligible for them? Where will you stay? Travel insurance is something I highly recommend; it can help with medical care and with allaying costs if plans must change.
CNN: A lot of people are eager to get another Covid-19 vaccine to best protect them during the summer wave. But there is anew vaccine coming out in the fall. Who should get the vaccine now, and who can wait to get the new one?
Wen:There is a new formulation of the Covid-19 vaccine coming out soon. It should be available in September and could be available as early as August. TheCDC has recommendedthat everyone 6 months and older receive this vaccine when its out.
Since we are so close to the release of the new vaccine, I think its reasonable to wait for the new formulation. This one should more closely target the variants currently circulating and, ideally, be a better match for the strains expected to be dominant in the fall and winter.
People should keep in mind that the primary purpose of the vaccine is to reduce the chance of severe illness of needing hospitalization and of dying. The vaccine is not as effective at reducing infection. It does have some effectiveness at reducing the infection rate, but that effectiveness wanes quickly. People who need additional protection against infection which always carries the risk of severe illness as well as of long Covid should take additional precautions as we discussed.
CNN: Finally, at this point, what should I do if I get Covid-19 do I still have to isolate and stay away from family?
Wen:Several months ago, theCDC droppedits five-day isolation requirement. Now, the recommendation is that people diagnosed with Covid-19 stay home until they are fever-free for at least 24 hours and their symptoms are improving. For the next five days, they should still try to take additional precautions such as masking and limiting close contact with others.
The way I interpret this is that it depends on the medical situation of other members of your family. If others are generally healthy and not taking additional precautions to reduce their risk of Covid-19, I think you could follow the advice from the CDC as above.
However, in my view, if you live at home with someone who is extremely vulnerable for instance, an older parent who has had a kidney transplant you should really avoid that person until you test negative for Covid-19. That means not dining indoors with them and not sharing common spaces during that period.
The bottom line is that while many people can go about living their lives during this summer wave, people who are vulnerable to severe illness still should take additional precautions. Those around them should also take precautions to help protect those at highest risk.
The-CNN-Wire
& 2024 Cable News Network, Inc., a Warner Bros. Discovery Company. All rights reserved.
