{p}Amid news that President Joe Biden has COVID-19, health experts in Western North Carolina say they are seeing more interactions related to the virus in the summer months this year. (Photo credit: WLOS Staff){br}{/p}
BUNCOMBE COUNTY, N.C. (WLOS)
In Western North Carolina, health experts are seeing more interactions related to COVID-19 in the summer months.
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Weve had inquiries about testing, the vaccine and when the new vaccine is coming out, said Jane Maney, pharmacist manager at Weaverville Prescription Pad. Weve had several calls today. They asked if we had COVID tests.
Were starting to go through more tests, said Sarah Banks, health director for Haywood County. Were starting to get more phone calls. If there is positivity, the first thing we think about is educating the community. In the last couple of weeks, weve seen an increase in phone calls from the community about signs and symptoms and isolating themselves when they test positive.
With more people reaching out, is there a new outbreak of the virus?
There is a little bit of an uptick in COVID, Maney said. I dont think its widespread, but its out there.
The Buncombe and Haywood County Health Departments would agree. Both agencies confirmed to News 13 that there is no breakout.
While health departments stopped tracking COVID-19 by cases in 2023, the virus that caused a global pandemic is being talked about more than usual. The reason could be the same for the average person, and the President.
Yes, the president is just one case, but where has he been in the last few days?" Banks asked. Those large gatherings thats where our minds go to. If you were to have around 50 positive cases, the question is: 'How many people were exposed to those positive cases?'"
Large gatherings like summer barbeques, parties and Fourth of July celebrations are looked at as events for spreading.
The latest version of the COVID-19 vaccine is offered at local pharmacies and health departments, with the newest iteration being available sometime in the fall.
A lot of people think they have a summer cold, Maney added. They may not even test, then they may expose some people unintentionally. You have to be mindful of crowds. If you dont feel great, dont go in those crowds.
Take-home tests are available at local grocery stores, pharmacies and county health departments.
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Key Takeaways
President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 yesterday, according to a White House statement. This is the third bout of COVID for the 81-year-old.
Biden tested for COVID after a campaign event in Las Vegas. He is already taking the antiviral medication Paxlovid and will self-isolate in Delaware.
The White House physician said Bidens symptoms remain mild. Biden presented with upper respiratory symptoms, including a runny nose and dry cough, as well as general malaise. His symptoms are mild, and his respiratory rate, body temperature, and blood oxygen level are normal, according to the statement.
The news comes as the U.S. experiences a summer uptick in COVID cases.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is no longer tracking COVID case counts, only hospitalizations and deaths from the virus. However, the agency recently said that infection rates are growing or likely growing in 45 states and territories. Wastewater surveillance also indicates that cases are on the rise nationwide, especially in the West, where levels are high.
COVID cases tend to spike in the summer, according to William Schaffner, MD,a professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University and spokesperson for the National Foundation for Infectious Diseases.
Omicron subvariants are very contagious and are spreading rather widely, creating a fair amount of relatively mild infection. But in that context, it will strike some people such as the president, who are older, some who are frail, some who are immune compromised, who then stand an increased risk of hospitalization, Schaffner told Verywell.
Throughout the pandemic, older adults have faced an outsized risk of becoming severely sick and dying compared to younger adults.
According to CDC data from June, per every 100,000 Americans older than 75, about four died with COVID, and 66 were hospitalized. For all other age groups, the COVID death rate last month was less than 1 per 100,000. The risk of severe COVID is still significantly lower today than it was in 2020, thanks to vaccines and antiviral medications.
Even though the total risk is down, the age-related risk of older persons, people with underlying chronic medical conditions, and the like is always higher than for young, healthy adults, Schaffner said.
People are more likely to face serious complications of COVID if they have certain other medical conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and stroke. As adults age, they are more likely to develop multiple comorbidities like these.
The White House said Biden is up-to-date on his vaccines and got his most recent shot in September. Vaccination can protect against serious illness and help prevent long-term complications.
Even a mild COVID infection can cause long-lasting effects. After an acute illness subsides, the virus can cause lingering problems throughout the body. These include brain fog, muscle and joint pain, chronic fatigue, loss of smell, and chest pain.
According to a study published Wednesday, nearly 7.8% of Americans experienced long COVID when Omicron was the dominant variant. During that time, individuals who were vaccinated against COVID were about half as likely to develop long COVID than unvaccinated people.
Its not possible to predict whether Biden will experience lasting cognitive or other health effects from his current infection, and the White House hasnt shared whether hes experiencing long-term effects of his past COVID bouts.
The next round of updated COVID-19 vaccines is expected to roll out in the fal. They are being updated to protect against the current circulating COVID variants.
Schaffner said older adults who did not receive an updated COVID vaccine last year should get the updated shot as soon as possible.
The antiviral medication Paxlovid is still considered the best way to minimize the symptoms of an acute COVID infection and reduce the risk of being hospitalized or dying.
If older adults are traveling, if they go to concerts, religious services, or even if they go to the supermarket, all these are indoor venues where there are a lot of people," Schaffner said. "Take out your mask and use it again. I would recommend an N95 or K95 mask."
The CDC recommends that older adults who have had a primary vaccination series get one or more additional doses of the COVID vaccine that was updated in 2023. If its been a while since your last COVID vaccination, talk to a health provider about whether you should get another dose.
The information in this article is current as of the date listed, which means newer information may be available when you read this. For the most recent updates on COVID-19, visit ourcoronavirus news page.
By Claire Bugos Bugos is a senior news reporter at Verywell Health. She holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Northwestern University.
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A study yesterday in the New England Journal of Medicine from long-COVID researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis shows the risk of long COVID has decreased over time, most likely due to the impact of vaccination.
"We had a hunch that things have changed during the pandemic after the initial couple years, which were brutal," said Ziyad Al-Aly, MD, senior author of the study, in an interview. "But a hunch is not data. This study now shows COVID is dynamic, and I was pleasantly surprised by how much vaccines made a dent in preventing long COVID."
Al-Aly is the chief of research and development at the VA St. Louis Health Care System and a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis.
As with his prior work, Al-Aly and colleagues mined data from the Veteran's Affairs (VA) health system to look at the risk of developing long COVID over the past 4 years. The study involved data on 441,583 veterans with SARS-CoV-2 infections and more than 4.7 million uninfected veterans, with accompanying health records from March 1, 2020, through January 31, 2022.
The study assessed long-COVID symptoms 1-year post COVID-19 infection in one of five groups: unvaccinated veterans infected with either the original strain in 2020, the Delta variant in 2021, or the Omicron variant in 2022, and vaccinated veterans infected with either the Delta variant or Omicron variant.
The highest risk of developing long COVID was seen among patients infected with the original strain of the virus, when no vaccines were available. Those case-patients had a cumulative incidence of long COVID symptoms 1-year post infection of 10.42 per 100 people (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.22 to 10.64), or 10.4%.
Among the unvaccinated, long-COVID prevalence dropped with each subsequent variant, to 9.51 events per 100 people (95% CI, 9.26 to 9.75) in the Delta era and to 7.76 events per 100 people (95% CI, 7.57 to 7.98) in the Omicron era.
Overall, vaccinated VA patients had significantly lower incidences of long COVID. Among vaccinated patients, the cumulative incidence of long COVID symptoms at 1 year was 5.34 events per 100 people (95% CI, 5.10 to 5.58) during the Delta era and 3.50 events per 100 people (95% CI, 3.31 to 3.71) during the Omicron era.
Despite the significant reduction, Al-Aly warned that 3.5 people developing long COVID out of every 100 infected still poses a significant public health threat as the pandemic wanes. He said the findings are of particular interest during the current summer surge of virus activity, which sees many Americans being reinfected with the virus.
"Every time you get COVID is a chance to get long COVID," Al-Aly said.
In decomposition analyses, researchers found that 28.11% (95% CI, 25.57% to 30.50%) of the decrease in long COVID incidence was attributable to variant strain-related effects and that 71.89% (95% CI, 69.50% to 74.43%) was attributable to COVID-19 vaccines.
"The lion's share of the reduction is attributed to vaccination, with a 30% reduction to viral characteristics over time," said Al-Aly.
The lion's share of the reduction is attributed to vaccination.
Of note, Al-Aly said the study did not assess what role booster vaccines played in preventing long COVID. For the study, being vaccinated meant completing just the initial series of mRNA vaccines. He said the role of boosters in offering further long-COVID protection is an important question.
In an editorial on the study, Clifford Rosen, MD, from the MaineHealth Institute for Research in Scarborough, Maine, writes, "What are the messages from this study? First, vaccinations can prevent many but not all cases of long Covid. Second, viral variants influence the risk of PASC [post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection]. Third, the study suggests that new cases of PASC may continue unabated, owing to a potentially greater prevalence of metabolic dysfunction and its associated coexisting conditions among persons infected during the omicron era."
He adds, "Changes in the clinical presentation of long COVID are a function of 'points in time' and must be considered in any future trial or study design, as well as in clinical assessments."
A new COVID-19 variant is leading an increase in cases nationwide and President Joe Biden is among those who tested positive. Most of the cases being seen in emergency departments are a variant known as KP.3 and a new vaccine is expected, perhaps as early as August, public health officials say.
As The Hill reported, For many Americans its been more than six months since theyve had a booster shot or a recent infection, leaving them vulnerable to getting sick again.
Emergency department visits related to COVID-19 increased 23.5% last week, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, though that is far below the level seen during the core of the pandemic.
CDC data using the Nowcast data tracker shows that in a two-week period from June 23 to July 6, KP.3 accounts for nearly 37% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. Other variants of the virus still account for infections of COVID-19 in the U.S., including KP.2 and FLiRT, per USA Today.
The article noted that KP.3 variant symptoms are identical to those of the JN.1 variant from which it evolved, including muscle aches, congestion, headache, respiratory problems, fatigue, loss of taste or smell, brain fog, cough, fever and chills, sore throat and gastrointestinal symptoms.
The CDC separately reported that the wastewater viral activity level for COVID-19 is high. And the West is the part of the country with the highest activity level for wastewater viral load especially Nevada and Oregon. Levels in Utah are considered high.
The good news is that the odds of developing long COVID appear to have decreased some, especially for those who have been vaccinated, according to Science News, based on research in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, told The New York Times that a COVID-19 infection could have stronger symptoms than during a previous bout and that the immune system could rev up faster. This can trigger symptoms before enough virus has built up to produce a positive result on a rapid test, the Times article noted.
Meanwhile, research published by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute indicates that reinfections from the virus that causes COVID-19 will probably be about as severe as an original infection. That means a severe first infection is likely to lead to severe reinfection, based on the study, which was originally published in Communications Medicine. Nearly 9 in 10 of those with mild symptoms the first time around had mild reinfections, though there were exceptions.
Scientists also discovered that regardless of the variant, long COVID cases were more likely to occur after a first infection compared to a reinfection. Long COVID was defined in the review as those experiencing long-term COVID-19 symptoms, such as feeling tired, coughing, or having problems sleeping, breathing or thinking after an acute coronavirus infection, the study found.
In late June, the CDC announced its updated COVID-19 vaccine recommendations for fall and winter, noting its safe to get both flu and COVID-19 vaccines at the same time.
In 2023, the CDC said that more than 916,300 people in the U.S. were hospitalized from COVID-19 and that 75,500 died. Additionally, nearly 45,000 people in the U.S. died from flu complications, according to the news release.
The public health giant recommends that everyone at least 6 months old be given an updated 2024-25 COVID-19 vaccine, which should be available starting sometime in August. That recommendation holds even if a person has had a previous COVID-19 vaccine. Moderna, Novavax and Pfizer all have vaccines that will be available.
Receiving an updated 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine can restore and enhance protection against the virus variants currently responsible for most infections and hospitalizations in the United States. COVID-19 vaccination also reduces the chance of suffering the effects of Long COVID, which can develop during or following acute infection and last for an extended duration, per the release.
The notice said that September and October are the best time to receive an influenza vaccine for most people. Exceptions are pregnant women in their third trimester, who should get one in July or August to protect their babies, who will be too young to receive a vaccine; children who need two doses; and children receiving health care visits who might not go back in September and October. For adults (especially those 65 years old and older) and pregnant people in the first and second trimester, vaccination in July and August should be avoided unless it wont be possible to vaccinate in September or October, per CDC.
After testing positive this week, the president was forced to cancel upcoming events, including campaign events, but the White House said his symptoms have been mild so far, according to The New York Times.
If Mr. Biden continues to test positive for the next week or more, it could keep him off the campaign trail. And if he continues to have congestion and a cough, as his doctor reported on Wednesday, it could hamper his ability to perform well in any interviews that his campaign could schedule from his home, per the article.
The White House said Biden planned to recuperate at his beach house in Rehoboth, Delaware, and will carry out his presidential duties from there. Its the third time Biden has tested positive for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
CLEVELAND, Ohio The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio increased for the seventh week in a row, moving from 3,153 last week to 3,896 this week, the state reported Thursday.
Cases have been steadily rising since the start of June. Before that, cases numbers had moved downward since spring.
At least 1,378,991 Ohioans have received the updated one-dose COVID-19 vaccine, an increase of 1,397 people from the prior week, the state reported. This represents 11.8% of the states population.
The total COVID-19 case count since early 2020 in Ohio has reached 3,764,178.
There were 124 Ohioans newly hospitalized in the last week, raising the total since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 to 152,128. Seven people were admitted into the ICU, raising the total since 2020 to 15,831.
The state health department reported an additional 10 deaths from COVID-19, raising the total to 44,030. Death reporting sometimes lags by weeks.
July 18 recap
Total reported cases: 3,764,178, up 3,896.
Total individuals with updated vaccine: 1,378,991, up 1,397.
Total reported deaths: 44,030, up 10.
Total reported hospitalizations: 152,128, up 124.
Total reported ICU admissions: 15,831, up 7.
July 11 recap
Total reported cases: 3,760,282, up 3,153.
Total individuals with updated vaccine: 1,377,594, up 1,172.
Total reported deaths: 44,020, up 2.
Total reported hospitalizations: 152,004, up 108.
Total reported ICU admissions: 15,824, up 3.
Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.
Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.
Kaleida Health and Catholic Health System are in line for nearly $140 million in federal funding, long-awaited money that could put Western New Yorks two largest health systems on an accelerated path to recovery from the lingering financial effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Kaleida will receive a total allocation of more than $65.4 million, while Catholic Health will get nearly $74.2 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Securitys Federal Emergency Management Agency, U.S. Sens. Chuck Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Thursday.
The two senators have been making regular announcements this year of FEMA relief to Western New Yorks hospitals, but Thursdays eye-popping figure was by far the largest amount to date. The senators said that the federal relief, which comes from provisions in the American Rescue Plan, will help hospitals recover costs from the pandemic, which included staffing and overtime expenses, along with other emergency protective measures.
Today, with a whopping nearly $140 million starting to flow to Kaleida Health and Catholic Health System in Western New York, the federal government is keeping good on its promise to our hospitals and their workers, who heroically stepped up to protect public health, said Schumer, the Senate majority leader. This major federal boost to help reimburse costs associated with hiring more nurses, staff and purchasing personal protective equipment to provide around the clock care will ensure the hospitals have the funding they need, and deserve, to support their incredible medical staff, care for patients and continue to provide lifesaving care to Western NY communities.
Western New York hospitals, like many others across the state and country, were battered financially by a pandemic that upended the health care system. Operationally, hospitals fully pivoted to care for Covid-19 patients Catholic Health, for example, turned St. Joseph Campus in Cheektowaga into a Covid-19-only hospital for a time. In addition, occasional state moratoriums on elective surgeries delayed massive moneymaking operations for hospitals, which only deepened their financial hole.
As the pandemic dragged on and hospitals struggled with staffing, they poured tens of millions of dollars into high-priced staffing agencies to make up the difference and provide care. Many are now seeing improvements in recruitment and retention efforts.
The health systems are forever changed, but recovering now, seeing volume return and financial projections improve. But the FEMA money coming through will provide a big boost.
We are incredibly grateful that Sens. Schumer and Gillibrand have answered the call to help hospitals here in Western New York that were financially battered by the COVID-19 impact, Kaleida President and CEO Don Boyd said in a statement. Their relentless advocacy with FEMA will help us recapture precious resources and reinvest back into the health system, which ultimately will positively impact patient care.
Kaleida Health posted a $30 million operating loss on revenues of $2.3 billion in 2023. The operating loss was less than half of the $80.6 million operating loss Kaleida posted in 2022, while revenues were up 12% from $2.05 billion.
Kaleida Health has posted more than $250 million in losses since 2020, but its performance is improving.
The health system reported a $30 million operating loss on revenues of $2.3 billion in 2023. The operating loss was less than half of the $80.6 million operating loss Kaleida posted in 2022, while revenues were up 12% from $2.05 billion.
Kaleidas main competitor, Catholic Health, also has sustained huge losses in 2022 alone, Catholic Health recorded a $190 million loss.
Last year, Catholic Health recorded a better-than-expected operating loss of $42.5 million on revenues of $1.4 billion.
In an update to its bond investors earlier this year, Catholic Health said it had submitted $113 million in FEMA funding applications for potential reimbursement.
That money is now arriving. In addition to the $74.2 million for Catholic Health announced Thursday, Schumer and Gillibrand also announced more than $35 million in FEMA grants to Catholic Health nearly two months ago.
Catholic Health System is getting two grants one for $15.2 million and another for $20.2 million from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency for the health system's response to the Covid-19 pandemic, U.S. Sens. Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand announced Thursday.
The personal and financial impact of COVID-19 on our community and health system will be felt for years to come, Catholic Health President and CEO Joyce Markiewicz said in a statement. Despite the monumental challenges and great cost to our system, associates in our hospitals and nursing homes delivered the highest quality care to our community throughout the pandemic. We work hard every day to rebuild financially, and American Rescue Plan funds received in the past have helped immensely. The ongoing support of Majority Leader Schumer, Senator Gillibrand, FEMA, and the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services to ensure these COVID costs are reimbursed will go a long way in our post-pandemic recovery efforts.
Erie County Medical Center also has gotten FEMA funds. The areas primary trauma center logged an operating loss of more than $100 million last year before government grants significantly reduced the deficit.
In late February, Schumer announced Erie County Medical Center would receive $14.6 million from FEMA to reimburse the provider for Covid-19-related costs. A month later, ECMC got an additional $13.6 million in FEMA funding to upgrade its emergency infrastructure to help the Buffalo hospital maintain services during extreme weather events, like the blizzard that hit the area in December 2022.
Schumers office said Kaleidas funds announced Thursday include $37.1 million that will be awarded at a 90% federal cost share, while $28.3 million will be at a 100% cost share.
At Catholic Health, $6.5 million will be at a 90% federal cost share, while nearly $67.7 million is at a 100% federal cost share.
Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, the staff at Kaleida Health and Catholic Health System stepped up to provide life-saving care for countless patients across Western New York, Gillibrand said in a statement. These federal dollars will reimburse Kaleida Health and Catholic Health System for costs associated with the emergency protective measures taken during the pandemic to protect the health and safety of Western New Yorkers.
Jon Harris can be reached at 716-849-3482 or jharris@buffnews.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ByJonHarris .
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President Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Wednesday following his first event in Las Vegas and will self-isolate in Delaware, the White House said.
Biden tested positive for the virus on Wednesday, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. She said the president was "vaccinated and boosted" and was experiencing mild symptoms.
"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," Jean-Pierre said. "The White House will provide regular updates on the Presidents status as he continues to carry out the full duties of the office while in isolation."
A maskless Biden arrived at Harry Reid International Airport in Nevada on Wednesday afternoon, following the announcement of his diagnosis. Reporters questioned him about his condition as he walked to Air Force One.
COVID VACCINE COMPANIES TOLD TO FOCUS ON KP.2 FOR FALL SHOTS, PER FDA ANNOUNCEMENT
President Biden gives a thumbs up to reporters as he boards Air Force One in Nevada on Wednesday. The president said he "feels good" following his COVID diagnosis. (POOL)
"I feel good," he told reporters.
In a post on X, Biden acknowledged his COVID diagnoses.
"I will be isolating as I recover, and during this time I will continue to work to get the job done for the American people," he wrote.
Biden's doctor said the president came down with upper respiratory symptoms, a runny nose and non-productive cough, with general mailaise.
"He felt okay 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 physician said in a statement shared by the White House. "Given this, the President will be self-isolating in accordance with CDC guidance for symptomatic individuals."
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His temperature was at 97.8 degrees, which is normal, the doctor said.
"The President has received his first dose of Paxlovid," the White House said. "He will be self-isolating at his home in Rehoboth."
Biden was slated to speak at the UnidosUS Annual Conference in Las Vegas, which draws thousands of Latino advocates to Nevada, a crucial swing-state.
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"I was just on the phone with President Biden. And he shared his deep disappointment at not being able to join us this afternoon," UnidosUS President and CEO Janet Murgua told attendees. "The president has been at many events as we all know and he just tested positive for COVID."
The illness comes as Biden faces mounting pressure from within the Democratic Party, as well as donors, to drop out of the presidential race amid concerns about his physical and mental state.
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(NewsNation) An infectious disease specialist says President Joe Bidens COVID-19 diagnosis needs to be taken very seriously.
Dr. Amesh Adalja of Johns Hopkins University told NewsNation Now that despite being vaccinated and boosted, the 81-year-old Biden fits into the demographic of people that tend to be hospitalized or die from COVID-19.
It will be very important to monitor his symptoms to make sure that he doesnt have a bad bout with it, Adalja said. The fact is, though, that hes had a couple bouts with this already, its unlikely that hes going to have a severe case, but you have to be prepared for that.
Adalja also said that high-risk people should avoid crowded indoor places, especially with the new variants.
Were kind of at a new normal with it, but its still going to kill tens of thousands of people, Adalja said.
Donald Trump, during the final night of the Republican National Convention, revived a controversial term from the Covid-19 pandemic by referring to the disease as the "China virus". The statement elicited a significant cheer from the audience. "Probably the best trade deal was the deal I made with China, where they buy 50 billion dollars' worth of our product. I don't even mention it, frankly, because of what happened with the China virus," Trump said while recalling his time as the US President. Trump's critics argue that using the term "China virus" could incite bigotry against Asian Americans, especially during the pandemic. However, his supporters maintain that the phrase merely refers to the geographical origin of the virus. In 2020, Trump defended his use of the term, stating, "'Cause it comes from China. It's not racist at all, no, not at all. It comes from China, that's why. I want to be accurate." He claimed that he used the term because China attempted to blame the virus on US soldiers. During his speech accepting the Republican presidential nomination, Trump, 78, called on Americans to support his bid for the White House on November 5. He highlighted his claim of being the first president in modern times to start no new wars. Trump also reiterated his belief that the ongoing wars in Europe and the Middle East would not have occurred under his presidency. However, he did not provide details on how he would resolve these conflicts. Both Trump and his running mate have exhibited isolationist tendencies, proposing to limit or completely cut off US aid to foreign countries. At TOI World Desk, our dedicated team of seasoned journalists and... Read More At TOI World Desk, our dedicated team of seasoned journalists and passionate writers tirelessly sifts through the vast tapestry of global events to bring you the latest news and diverse perspectives round the clock. With an unwavering commitment to accuracy, depth, and timeliness, we strive to keep you informed about the ever-evolving world, delivering a nuanced understanding of international affairs to our readers. Join us on a journey across continents as we unravel the stories that shape our interconnected world.Read Less
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