Category: Corona Virus

The COVID-19 pandemic may be largely in the rear view mirror for most of us, but its still causing thousands of hospitalizations and hundreds of deaths each month in the United States. Recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggests the latest vaccine is still pretty effective, but the percentage of those who are up to date of their COVID-19 boosters here and across the country remains really low.

And now, county public health officials are warning residents that an international visitor to Arizona was diagnosed with measles and could have exposed people in public late last month. And Arizonas high rate of unvaccinated children puts us at increased risk of an outbreak.

Dr. Nick Staab is assistant medical director for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health, and he joined The Show to tell us more.

Nick Staab

Nick Staab

LAUREN GILGER:Good morning, Dr. Staab.

DR. NICK STAAB:Good morning, Lauren.

GILGER:Let's begin with the vaccination rates here in our county.When we say there's a low child vaccination rate here.What does that mean?How low is it?

STAAB:So when we're looking at vaccination rates, what we're really trying to aim for is that rate that gives us community immunity or a herd immunity and, and really protects those who for a variety of reasons can't be vaccinated or their immune systems have not responded to vaccination.So we're looking to reach that level. Each disease that we can vaccinate against kind of has a different level that you need to reach.And so when we're looking at something like measles, it's a very infectious disease.So we need a, a high degree of community immunity and we've fallen well below that, especially amongst our school age children that we really need to protect against severe disease with measles.

GILGER:So what does that mean when it comes to this measles case that was in, I believe, parts of Chandler and a few public places late last month.What should people know?

STAAB:What we want people to know is that measles is spreading both nationally, globally and, and with this case here in our community.And so we really need to increase that vaccination rate so that we can stop that transmission when we have these single cases that pop up here and there.And so this is really an opportunity to remind folks the best way we can prevent transmission, prevent disease with measles is that vaccination and people should be up to date on their vaccination.

GILGER:What about COVID vaccination rates?Do we know how many people here are vaccinated against COVID?And how many are even up to date on those, those boosters?

STAAB:Yeah.Our, our data our data on COVID vaccine is not what it was during the pandemic.We don't have as strong data but we, what we do know is that the rates are very low.So even compared to flu vaccine, we know that the updated COVID vaccine, that one that came out for this respiratory season 2023-24,we're looking at 10% or lower of eligible individuals who have gotten that updated vaccine.So we have lots of room to improve there.

GILGER:That's interesting.So I wonder like it's so low, does it start to raise concerns about sort of the public trust in public health and institutions and authorities like you and, and like the CDC in general?

STAAB:There's, there's a lot of conversation in public health about that in our communications throughout the pandemic and then following.So we will continue to do what we do, which is try and get the best information out to people in a way that they can understand.And certainly in the area of immunizations and vaccines. That is that is our goal.So we work with a lot of community partners to make sure that they have the best information they can, they can to reach their memberswith the message that, that the best way to protect ourselves and protect our community is to be vaccinated.

GILGER:The CDC is now loosening some of its guidelines on COVID.Its new guidance it sounds like we take away the five day isolation period for people who test positive for COVID.Can you tell us what the guidance will look like instead?Like if you don't need to stay home for five days alone, what do you do instead if you test positive for COVID?

STAAB:So the report out this week is, is kind of a leak of a plan to change that guidance. So we have not received that guidance from CDC or from our State Health Department.It is an eventuality, we expected that we would lower that isolation period to, to look more like what we recommend for flu or RSV or other respiratory viruses,but we don't have that guidance just yet.So, from a public health perspective, we are still recommending COVID isolation as it's recommended by CDC.But eventually we expect that it will look more like that 24 hour fever free, improving symptoms and that kind of thing, but again, not quite there yet.

GILGER:It's interesting is it just because there's so much immunity built up in the community, we don't need to be concerned in that way or is this something, you know, more people who are at risk should be concerned about?

STAAB:So the risk is still there.And certainly if you are at increased risk for severe disease from COVID, there are extra steps that you should takebeyond what is kind of that basic recommendation.It's not really that anything has changed.It's kind of like what do, what we know people are doing.And so if, if the if the guidance is not really being followed, if it's not effective, then I think we, we try to in public health meet people where they are to, to have the greatest benefit.We know that there's a lot of difficulty in isolating for five days if you are a working parent or a single income household.So many things go into that to make it really difficult to follow that five day isolation.

GILGER:Yeah.So practicality is a factor there.Last question for you, Dr. Staab about home tests.There are lots of questions out there about whether or not they still work or if they're maybe just taking longer to come up with a positive result.What's the status there?

STAAB:So, based on what we know about current circulating variants and what we're told by the manufacturers and the FDA about how these tests are working, we believe that the home tests are still effective and accurate.I think the bigger question is, you know, how are we distributing them?How are they accessible to everyone in the community and, and how are people using them if they have symptoms?And I think that those practices have all changed a lot in the last couple of months.So that we just have fewer people testing. And again, the reason why from a messaging standpoint kind of having isolation recommendations that are more, they're applied more evenly across these respiratory infections.The easier it will be for people to follow.

GILGER:Makes sense.All right, we'll leave it there for now.Dr. Nick Staab, assistant medical director for the Maricopa County Department of Public Health.Dr. Staab, thank you for coming back on.I appreciate it.

STAAB:Thank you.

Originally posted here:

How low vaccination rates are raising concerns with measles outbreaks and COVID-19 - KJZZ

People who test positive for Covid should still isolate for five days, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, even though many Americans are already ignoring the policy. That guidance is likely to change at some point, however.

Following reports that the CDC was considering easing Covid isolation restrictions including guidelines that people can leave their homes after being fever-free for 24 hours the agency refused to confirm that such plans were in the works. The potential change was first reported by The Washington Post.

But an official at the Department of Health and Human Services who asked not to be identified said federal health officials are considering relaxing Covid isolation guidelines, although the discussions are at an early stage and no definitive decisions have been made.

Its way too preliminary, the source said. Theres lots more consultation to be had.

The CDC is looking at changes to its overall Covid guidance, which could include recommendations about masking as well as isolation, said a public health official who was involved with a recent call with the CDC. The CDC currently recommends masking for 10 days following a Covid diagnosis.

Theres no evidence that the virus that causes Covid has evolved to become less dangerous or contagious. What has changed is Americans attitudes about Covid restrictions. People are no longer willing or able to spend a week out of work or school because of Covid, experts say.

Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious diseases expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee, said he and his colleagues have privately encouraged the CDC to drop the five-day isolation period, in part because theres little evidence its stopping the spread of Covid.

The rigorous recommendations that are currently in place do not reflect common practice, Schaffner said. Its difficult to demonstrate that strict isolation has had a notable impact on transmission.

California and Oregon have already broken with the CDC, suggesting that people don't need to stay home if they've been fever-free for 24 hours without medication.

With each day, the risk of communicability diminishes, Schaffner said. Public health recommendations have to be practical. That is, people may stay home for a few days if they have a fever and feel achy and fatigued. After that, its back to business as usual.

Dr. David Margolius, the public health director for the city of Cleveland, said he was also in favor of easing isolation restrictions.

For a couple years, people really associated public health with the elimination of Covid, Margolius said. But public health is about increasing life expectancy for our residents. Its about improving quality of life. And that is more than just controlling one virus.

Covid is still contagious, said Dr. Abraar Karan, an infectious disease physician at Stanford Medicine. What the CDC and health departments are trying to say is that we need to have policies that people are going to actually follow, Karan said.

As of this month, emergency room visits, hospitalizations and deaths from Covid are down, according to the latest CDC data.

In a statement, the CDC said it had no updates to Covid guidelines to announce at this time, adding that it would continue to make decisions based on the best evidence and science to keep communities healthy and safe.

Erika Edwards is a health and medical news writer and reporter for NBC News and "TODAY."

Berkeley Lovelace Jr. is a health and medical reporter for NBC News. He covers the Food and Drug Administration, with a special focus on Covid vaccines, prescription drug pricing and health care. He previously covered the biotech and pharmaceutical industry with CNBC.

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CDC hasn't changed Covid guidelines yet: Heres what you need to know - NBC News

ICYMI - Governor Murphy Announces Allocation of $95 Million from New Jerseys Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund

Governor Phil Murphy today announced the allocation of over $95 million from New Jerseys Opioid Recovery and Remediation Fund to support critical programs tackling the opioid crisis, connecting New Jerseyans with tools to reduce overdoses and other harms of substance use, and supporting the treatment and recovery of residents struggling with substance use disorders. At the recommendation of the States Opioid Recovery and Remediation Advisory Council and with extensive input from the public, six programs addressing four priority areas harm reduction, prevention and recovery support, treatment, and housing have been identified to receive funding over the next two to three years.

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Department of Health for the State of New Jersey | Homepage - NJ.gov

Fewer nursing facility residents and staff are getting COVID-19 vaccines, according to a new KFF analysis of federal data. Only 38% of residents and 15% of staff have received the latest vaccine. In comparison, 50% of residents and 22% of staff received updated vaccines in 2022 and 87% of residents and 88% of staff completed the initial vaccination series.

The percentage of residents who received the latest COVID-19 vaccine varies by state and type of facility. Vaccination rates range from 20% in Arizona to 63% in Vermont and North Dakota and were higher in nonprofit facilities (46%) than in for-profit (35%) or government (43%) facilities. Nursing staff had less variation and lower vaccination rates across states and in all facilities.

Residents and staff vaccination rates have declined with the release of each new COVID-19 shot for a variety of reasons, including fewer federal initiatives aimed at increasing vaccinations, the end of vaccine mandates for health care workers, and declining concerns about COVID-19 risks. Recent KFF polling shows that more than half of previously vaccinated adults are not worried about getting COVID-19.

Variation in nursing facility vaccine rates across states may be affected by several factors, including ownership patterns and partisanship, with higher rates in states that have more non-profit facilities and states that voted for President Biden in 2020, as well as whether facilities have established successful vaccination programs.

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Few Nursing Facility Residents and Staff Have Gotten the Latest COVID-19 Vaccines - KFF

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is considering loosening its recommendations regarding how long people should isolate after testing positive for the coronavirus, another reflection of changing attitudes and norms as the pandemic recedes.

Under the proposed guidelines, Americans would no longer be advised to isolate for five days before returning to work or school. Instead, they might return to their routines if they have been fever free for at least 24 hours without medication, the same standard applied to the influenza and respiratory syncytial viruses.

The proposal would align the C.D.C.s advice with revised isolation recommendations in Oregon and California. The shift was reported earlier by The Washington Post, but it is still under consideration, according to two people with knowledge of the discussions.

The C.D.C. last changed its policy on isolation in late 2021, when it scaled down the recommended period to five days from 10. If adopted, the new approach would signal that Covid has taken a place alongside other routine respiratory infections.

But by focusing on the isolation policy for Covid, the agency is squandering an opportunity to foster better public health policies, several experts said.

From a long-term public health perspective, I think this sets really an unfortunate precedent, said Dr. Syra Madad, senior director of the special pathogens program at NYC Health and Hospitals.

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C.D.C. Considers Ending 5-Day Isolation Period for Covid - The New York Times

By Michael E. Newman

In a study involving nearly 1,000 patients seen at a Baltimore field hospital during a five-month period in 2022, researchers at Johns Hopkins Medicine, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and five other collaborators report that a rapid antigen test for detecting SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, can be used at home with accuracy comparable to the same test being administered by a health care professional.

The study was first posted online on Feb. 13 in the American Society for Microbiology journal Microbiology Spectrum.

Zishan Siddiqui

Assistant professor of medicine, Johns Hopkins

The researchers say their findings, based on patients seen at the Baltimore Convention Center field hospital, show that self-administered rapid tests rivaled the clinician-administered tests in both:

They added that both the self-administered and clinician-administered rapid tests evaluated in the study were comparable to the sensitivity and specificity of the established standard test for COVID-19the polymerase chain reaction, or PCR, assay.

"We found the results between the self- and clinician-administered rapid tests were statistically similar in sensitivity83.9% to 88.2%, respectivelyand specificity99.8% to 99.6%, respectively," says study senior author Zishan Siddiqui, assistant professor of medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "We believe this is an important finding because it suggests physicians can feel confident prescribing treatment based on patient-reported, self-administered tests with positive results."

The first step for both the PCR and rapid antigen tests is obtaining a sample from a patient, either by nasal swab or collected saliva. The difference lies in how the sample is processed and analyzed. A PCR test takes a tiny bit of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material from a sample and reproduces it thousands of times so it can be more easily detected.

A rapid antigen test uses laboratory-produced antibodies to seek out and latch onto proteins on the surface of SARS-CoV-2 particles in the sample. The PCR test requires a skilled laboratory technician, special equipment, and up to an hour or more to process. Testing on a massive scale can only be conducted at a large, centralized testing facility, such as a hospital laboratory.

On the other hand, rapid antigen testing uses a premade kit with a reagent that contains antibodies specific for SARS-CoV-2. The test can be conducted by anyone, administered anywhere, and provides results in approximately 15 minutes.

For their study, the researchers enrolled 953 adult patients being seen at the Baltimore Convention Center between Feb. 12 and July 15, 2022. The study group was 60.6% female, 58.6% white, and 98.2% English-speaking. The median age was 34.

Participants reporting at least one COVID-19 symptom were categorized as symptomatic, while those reporting no symptoms were marked asymptomatic. Attending staff conducted both rapid antigen and PCR tests on the participants, and then had them independently perform a rapid test as well. The patients were asked to report their own results, which the researchers re-read and assessed.

In an earlier study at the Convention Center, the researchers showed that rapid tests could be broadly, quickly, and effectively applied to a large community such as Baltimore.

"What we determined from our previous work was that while the PCR test may be a better test from a clinical perspectiveas it's basically 100% accurate at detecting SARS-CoV-2the rapid antigen test provided significant advantages from a public health standpoint because of its ease of use, and the fact that it proved to have sufficient accuracy, specificity, and reliability for detecting the coronavirus in a high-volume setting," says study lead author Mary Jane Vaeth, a clinical assistant at the field hospital, which is now closed.

Added Siddiqui: "The first study suggested that a health care system can provide an equitable response to COVID-19, with [rapid antigen tests] making it possible to test all socioeconomic levels of a large population quickly and repeatedl. The new study bolsters that belief by showing comparable accuracy between self- and physician-performed [rapid antigen tests] and, therefore, helping build clinician confidence in patient-reported results from at-home tests."

The rapid antigen test used in this study is the BinaxNOW COVID-19 test manufactured by Abbott and supplied at no cost by the Maryland Department of Health.

"Despite the robust findings of our latest study, there were some limitations," Vaeth says. "The main one, of course, was the fact that we evaluated the self- and clinician-administered accuracy of only one brand of RAT, and therefore, future studies should look at an array of brands across a broader demographic spectrum so that our results can hopefully be confirmed and amplified."

Along with Siddiqui and Vaeth, the members of the study team from Johns Hopkins Medicine are Ishaan Gupta, Melinda Kantsiper, Charles Locke, Yukari Manabe, Henry Mitchtalik, Sophia Purekal, Resham Rahat,and Matthew Robinson.

Study co-authors from other institutions are Charles Callahan (BCCFH co-director), James Campbell, Minahil Cheema, E. Adrianne Hammershaimb and J. Kristie Johnson from the University of Maryland School of Medicine; Maisha Foyez, Asia Mitchell and Sarah Omer from the BCCFH; Maryam Elhabashy and Lucy Wilson from the University of Maryland Baltimore County; Aamna Cheema from the University of Maryland College Park; Kristie Sun from the Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine; Binish Javed from the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital; and the CONQUER COVID Consortium.

No funding support was received for this study.

Manabe receives salary support from National Institutes of Health grants U54EB007958, A1272201400007C and 3U54HL143541. The other study authors do not have financial or conflict of interest disclosures.

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Rapid COVID-19 tests done at home are reliable, study finds - The Hub at Johns Hopkins

A loss of smell (anosmia) is a common COVID-19 symptom, and researchers are just starting to understand why COVID-19 causes a loss of smell and when and how this sensation returns. The data support theories that loss of smell results from an immune response, inflammation, and a disruption of nerve signals. As many as 86% of people with mild or moderate COVID-19 experience this symptom.

This article reviews some of the factors behind a loss of smell and what steps you can take to restore your sense of smell after recovering from COVID-19.

fotostorm / Getty Images

There are still a lot of unanswered questions about COVID-19. As new variants of the coronavirus emerge and researchers collect more data about the infection, the virus's short- and long-term effects become more apparent. While the topic is still under review, the following recommendations have emerged as ways to help people regain their sense of smell following a COVID-19 infection.

Time is a great healer for many ailments, and COVID-19 is no exception. In many cases of COVID-19, where smell or taste is affected, senses return to normal within weeks to months. A 2022 report found that 88% of people who lost their sense of smell during a COVID-19 infection regained it within two years.

Olfactory training is one way to treat anosmia. With this therapy, you use daily exposure to common odors to help retrain your sense of smell.

The key with this treatment is to breathe in certain scents twice daily for 10 to 20 seconds at a time, focusing only on the scent in front of you. You can use multiple scents, but pause for a few clear breaths between each.

According to experts at the American Academy of OtolaryngologyHead and Neck Surgery, you may have to try this treatment for as long as three months before noticing improvement.

Some of the best scents to use to retrain your sense of smell include:

You can use the natural object for your scent testing, but many people prefer to use essential oils.

You can also use various strong-smelling items or scents tied to pleasant memories. One expert suggests that because smell is so closely linked to memory, scents like peanut butter or peppermint candies, which often are prominent in childhood, are especially useful in helping to regain some strength of smell.

When inflammation and other conditions damage the neurons that power your sense of smell, it takes time for them to recover and return to their pre-illness state. Neurons regenerate very slowly, but researchers are studying additional therapiesperhaps even stem cell therapiesthat could help expedite the process.

Some medications that reduce inflammation in your nasal passages may help restore some of your sense of smell. One study showed that glucocorticoids (steroid medications) like Nasacort Allergy 24HR (triamcinolone) and Flonase (fluticasone) nasal spray help significantly improve the sense of smell for people recovering from COVID-19. Some study participants reported a restored sense of smell within a week.

Nasal hygiene is another method that may help you restore your sense of smell. Often recommended as part of the treatment strategy for allergies and other forms of nasal irritation, daily nasal lavageor rinsingwith saline or an added steroid may offer relief.

More research is needed to determine the best way to treat anosmia related to COVID-19. However, if you notice a loss of smell after COVID-19, schedule an appointment with a healthcare provider to ensure no underlying problems contribute to your loss of smell.

Conditions such as nasal polyps or allergic rhinitis can diminish the sense of smell and require additional or separate treatment from your COVID-related issues.

The onset and duration of the loss of smell can vary from one person to another, but research suggests it's an early and short-term symptom for most people. In one report from 2021, loss of smell and taste happened about four to five days after the onset of other symptoms at the start of a COVID-19 infection. The same study revealed that smell and taste usually returned within seven to 14 days.

However, a newer report, from 2023, found that a loss of taste or smell could last nine months or more after a COVID-19 infection.

Your ability to smell may not seem like the most important function of your bodyat least until it's gonebut a sense of smell contributes to quality of life and helps you appreciate the tastes and scents of the world around you.

In some professions, like cooking, a sense of smell is crucial. In otherssuch as firefighters or emergency respondersa sense of smell is needed to detect dangerous situations or conditions.

See a healthcare provider if olfactory training and other simple at-home methods aren't working after several months. They may refer you to an ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialist (otolaryngologist) for additional treatment.

There is still a lot of ongoing research on COVID-19-related anosmia, but a specialist can guide you toward prescription medications, additional testing, or other therapies that may help.

Loss of smell has been highlighted as one of the most noticeable symptoms of COVID-19and one that takes quite a bit of time for some people to recover from. No single therapy or treatment alone is proven to restore your sense of smell after a COVID-19 infection. Still, you can try various at-home therapies and seek advice from a qualified healthcare provider.

Duke Health. Scientists find key reason why loss of smell occurs in long COVID-19.

Boscolo-Rizzo P,Fabbris C,Polesel J, et al. Two-year prevalence and recovery rate of altered sense of smell or taste in patients with mildly symptomatic COVID-19.JAMA Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg. 2022;148(9):889891. doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2022.1983

Huynh PP,Ishii LE,Ishii M. What Is anosmia?JAMA. 2020;324(2):206. doi:10.1001/jama.2020.10966

ENT Health. Smell retraining therapy.

UC Health. How to regain your sense of taste and smell after COVID-19.

Kurtenbach S, Goss GM, Goncalves S, et al. Cell-based therapy restores olfactory function in an inducible model ofhyposmia.Stem Cell Reports. 2019;12(6):1354-1365. doi:10.1016/j.stemcr.2019.05.001

Singh CV, Jain S, Parveen S. The outcome of fluticasone nasal spray on anosmia and triamcinolone oral paste in dysgeusia in COVID-19 patients. Am J Otolaryngol. 2021;42(3):102892. doi: 10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102892

BJC Healthcare. After COVID-19: will I get my sense of smell back?

Santos REA, da Silva MG, do Monte Silva MCB, et al. Onset and duration of symptoms of loss of smell/taste in patients with COVID-19: A systematic review.Am J Otolaryngol. April 2021;42(2):102889. doi:10.1016/j.amjoto.2020.102889

Stankevice D, Fjaeldstad AW, Agergaard J, Ovesen T. Long-term COVID-19 smell and taste disorders differ significantly from other post-infectious cases. Laryngoscope. 2023;133(1):169-174. doi:10.1002/lary.30453

National Institutes of Health. Smell disorders.

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How to Smell Again After COVID-19: 6 Steps to Take - Verywell Health

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. At New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church, Pastor Toby Philpart and Dr. Dwight Reynolds have been working on a big project.

"You don't have to die because of COVID," Philpart told WPTV.

With special permission from the state of Florida, they're giving away thousands of doses of Paxlovid, which is used to treat COVID during the first five days of symptoms, every Sunday to those who can't afford the medication.

One dose of Paxlovid typically costs around $1,390 for those without health insurance.

"The major need that we're trying to address are those in neighborhoods typically, people that look like Pastor Toby and myself, that do not have access to it, do not have vehicles to drive to a doctor's office or go to a pharmacist to get the medication," Reynolds said.

WPTV

It's a message that Dr. Imran Ali, assistant professor of medicine at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, echoes.

"Paxlovid is a breakthrough antiviral treatment for coronavirus," Ali told WPTV.

Ali said research shows the coronavirus is still greatly impacting many vulnerable communities in Florida.

"COVID can particularly be difficult for those who are, you know, not having health insurance, who have not seen a doctor, those who may be in a lower socioeconomic class," Ali said. "From the data, even from different Florida counties from last year, we can see that those who have been hospitalized and have succumbed to COVID fit into these categories."

That's what Philpart and Reynolds are hoping to help fight, by making life-saving drugs, like Paxlovid, more accessible.

WPTV

"One in three people that get COVID happen to be African American," Reynolds said. "They will have severe disease, hospitalizations, intensive care unit and perhaps, death. So, there's been such an outcry."

The giveaway is taking place every Sunday at New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in West Palm Beach starting at 8:45 a.m. The church will host these events while supplies last.

Reynolds said each box of Paxlovid has a special label on it, directing people to call doctors at the Centers for Health Promotion before they take their first dose.

Each person must also provide all of their information to the doctors at the event before going home with the medication.

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West Palm Beach church giving away thousands of doses of COVID medication - WPTV News Channel 5 West Palm

CLEVELAND, Ohio The number of new COVID-19 cases in Ohio barely changed this week, going from 7,197 last week to 7,199 this week.

The slight uptick halted a five-week run of falling weekly case numbers.

As recently as early January, weekly case numbers hit 15,046.

At least 1,289,693 Ohioans have received the updated one-dose COVID-19 vaccine, an increase of 13,715 people from the prior week, the state reported. This represents 11.0% of the states population.

The total COVID-19 case count since early 2020 in Ohio has reached 3,712,548.

There were 270 Ohioans newly hospitalized in the last week, raising the total since the beginning of the pandemic in 2020 to 149,913. There were 12 people admitted into the ICU, bringing the total since 2020 to 15,734.

There were also 60 Ohioans who died from COVID-19-related issues, raising the total since the beginning of the pandemic to 43,668. Death reporting sometimes lags by weeks.

Feb. 15 recap

* Total reported cases: 3,712,548, up 7,199.

* Total individuals with updated vaccine: 1,289,693, up 13,715.

* Total reported deaths: 43,668, up 60.

* Total reported hospitalizations: 149,913, up 270.

* Total reported ICU admissions: 15,734, up 12.

Feb. 8 recap

* Total reported cases: 3,705,349, up 7,197.

* Total individuals with updated vaccine: 1,275,978, up 11,638.

* Total reported deaths: 43,608, up 91.

* Total reported hospitalizations: 149,643, up 236.

* Total reported ICU admissions: 15,722, up 12.

Julie Washington covers healthcare for cleveland.com. Read previous stories at this link.

Original post:

Weekly COVID-19 cases stay steady from last week: Coronavirus update for Thursday, Feb. 15, 2024 - cleveland.com

Coronavirus

People who are fever-free for one day could reportedly return to regular routines, in change that White House has not signed off on

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is reportedly planning to eliminate its recommendation that people testing positive for Covid-19 should isolate for five days the first time its guidelines on Covid-19 have changed since December 2021.

People with mild symptoms would be able to return to school or work if they are fever-free for at least 24 hours, the Washington Post reported, citing three people familiar with internal discussions on the policy change.

The Biden administration has not signed off on the changes, with the updated policy expected to be publicized in April for public comment. One official told the Post that timing around announcing the updated policy could move around a bit.

The CDC said that there were no updates to Covid guidelines to announce at this time, in a statement shared with the Guardian.

We will continue to make decisions based on the best evidence and science to keep communities healthy and safe, the CDC spokesperson said.

Other states have already loosened their Covid-19 isolation policies, such as Oregon and California, the New York Times reported.

Both states have said that infected people who are asymptomatic are able to return to their school or work without any isolation period.

Changes to the CDCs isolation policy have been in the works since August, the Post reported. They were temporarily paused when Covid-19 cases rose in the fall.

Infections and hospitalizations from respiratory viruses, including Covid, rose in the US during December and January, largely fueled by travel and gatherings during the holiday season.

The rise in illness caused some hospitals and healthcare facilities to bring back mask mandates and limited-visitation policies.

As of 5 February, more than 90% of Covid-infections are caused by the JN.1 variant, CBS News reported. New data from the CDC showed that the most updated Covid-19 vaccines are only 49% effective against the symptomatic JN.1 variant for those who have received their shots within two to four months, CBS reported.

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CDC plans to end five-day Covid isolation guidelines report - The Guardian