Category: Covid-19

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More free home COVID-19 tests available from US government – KMBC Kansas City

November 21, 2023

FROM SELLING TOBACCO, RESTOCKING YOUR SUPPLY OF COVID 19 TESTS BEGINNING ON MONDAY, HOUSEHOLDS HERE CAN ORDER FOR FREE KITS THROUGH A FEDERAL WEBSITE HERE I MEAN IN THE UNITED STATES. HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, DR. KRISTIN MOFFAT, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT BOSTON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, GREAT TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO. YEAH. HI, DR. MOFFAT. YOU KNOW, ITS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE SOME OF US HAVE EVEN LOOKED AT OUR STOCKPILE OF TESTS AT HOME. RIGHT. PROBABLY IN THE CLOSET. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THEYRE ALL EXPIRED? YEAH, ITS A REALLY GOOD POINT TO BRING UP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY ARE EXPIRED, SO EVERYBODY SHOULD CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THEIR COVID TESTS. BUT DONT THROW THEM OUT IF YOU SEE THAT THE DATE SHOWS THAT ITS EXPIRED BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT BRANDS WERE DOING SORT OF POST DISTRIBUTION TESTING TO SEE IF THEY WERE STILL EFFECTIVE BEYOND THE EXPIRATION DATES. AND INDEED, A LOT OF THESE EXPIRATION DATES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED BY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 AND 10 MONTHS. SO THERE IS AN FDA WEBSITE THAT LISTS THESE EXPIRATION DATE EXTENSIONS BY BRAND. SO I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND CHECKING THAT OUT BEFORE YOU TOSS ANY TESTS. I ACTUALLY DID THAT AND THEYRE ALL EXPIRED. SO THATS THAT IS ITS GREAT ADVICE. SO LETS TALK ABOUT THESE NEW ROUNDS OF FREE TESTS THE WEBSITE TO ORDER THEM COVID TESTS.GOV. IT OPENS ON MONDAY. WHY WHY IS THIS BEING OFFERED NOW? YEAH, I THINK ITS GREAT THAT THIS IS BEING OFFERED. AGAIN, IF YOU MAY REMEMBER, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN INSURANCE DID COVER THIS OR THESE WERE BEING OFFERED AT NO COST AND THEYRE EXPENSIVE. WHEN WE GO AND BUY THESE OUT OF POCKET DRUGSTORE, THEYRE NOT CHEAP CASES ARE RISING RIGHT NOW. HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE BEEN RISING. AND ITS CONCEIVABLE IN THE COMING MONTHS AS PEOPLE SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER INDOORS WITH HOLIDAYS COMING UP TOGETHER IN THE COMING MONTHS, TRANSMISSION COULD INCREASE EVEN MORE. AND IT REMAINS TRUE THAT TESTING FOR COVID, IF YOUVE GOT SYMPTOMS OF COVID AND ISOLATING IF YOURE POSITIVE, IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF KEEPING ANOTHER SURGE FROM HAPPENING. SO I THINK ITS A GREAT MOVE TO MAKE THESE AVAILABLE AGAIN, AT NO COST SO THAT EVERYBODY WHO WANTS THEM HAS ACCESS TO THEM. I THINK ITS ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WEVE GOT TREATMENTS AVAILABLE NOW LIKE PAXLOVID, THAT WE DIDNT HAVE AVAILABLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND TREATMENTS LIKE THAT ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IF THEYRE STARTED AS SOON AS SOMEBODY KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE AN INFECTION DUE TO COVID. SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE TESTS AT HOME AND CONFIRM THAT YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE DUE TO COVID, ITS REALLY HELPFUL IN A LOT OF WAYS. OKAY. AND OF COURSE, THE VIRUS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS KEEPS CHANGING BECAUSE THATS WHAT VIRUSES DO. THIS ONE HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS. ANY CONCERNS ABOUT NEW VARIANTS DOWN THE ROAD OR TESTING OF ANY OF THAT? YEAH, ITS A GREAT QUESTION. IT ALWAYS WOULD BE OF CONCERN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TESTS WE HAVE, IF THEYRE NEGATIVE, CAN WE TRUST THEM? AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE FDA AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE REGULARLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY DOING FOR ALL OF THE AUTHORIZED TESTS. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INSTANCES OF TESTS THAT ARE NOT THE ONES AS BROADLY AVAILABLE WHERE THEIR PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DECREASED WITH SOME OF THE VARIANTS. BUT ITS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE MONITORED. FOR THE MOST PART, THE ONES THAT REMAIN BROADLY AVAILABLE HAVE NOT EXHIBITED ANY DECREASED PERFORMANCE WITH VARIANTS THAT HAVE EMERGED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED. ALL RIGHT, DR. MOFFITT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US.

More free home COVID-19 tests available for order from US government

Updated: 1:15 PM CST Nov 20, 2023

U.S. households are now eligible to order an additional four at-home COVID-19 tests free of cost through the government.As of Monday, residential households in the U.S. can submit an order through Covidtests.gov for four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Orders will start to ship on Nov. 27, according to USPS. People without an internet connection can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to request tests.The U.S. government had suspended the rapid test distribution program earlier in May, then reopened it in September. Residents who havent placed an order since the program reopened can place two orders, which will provide eight tests in total, according to USPS.COVID-19 rapid tests can be taken at home and can be used regardless of whether someone has symptoms. The tests should work through the end of the year; some of the dates on the tests may show that they are expired, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended those dates.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people test if they have any COVID-19-like symptoms including a sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, or a fever. People may also want to test before they are going to be a part of a large event, like a concert or a conference, particularly if people are not up-to-date on their vaccines. Antivirals are available to treat COVID-19 and flu, and testing can help determine which medication is needed.COVID-19 hospital admissions and emergency department visits are once again on the rise after a few weeks of downturn, according to the CDC. For the week ending Nov. 11, the percentage of COVID-related emergency department visits was 1.4%, or just over 16,200 people similar to rates seen throughout this month and last month.Overall, outpatient visits for flu-like illness are lower than they were at this time last year but higher than in the previous four seasons. CDC forecasting suggests that this respiratory virus season will result in about the same number of hospitalizations as last season.Seasonal flu activity is also increasing in most parts of the country with flu-like activity labeled as high in New Mexico, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, according to the CDC. There have been at least 780,000 illnesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths from flu so far this season, the agency estimates.More than a third of adults and nearly a third of children have gotten their flu shot this year, CDC data shows. About 14% of adults and 5% of children have gotten the new COVID-19 vaccine while 14% of older adults ages 60 and up have gotten the new RSV vaccine.

U.S. households are now eligible to order an additional four at-home COVID-19 tests free of cost through the government.

As of Monday, residential households in the U.S. can submit an order through Covidtests.gov for four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Orders will start to ship on Nov. 27, according to USPS. People without an internet connection can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to request tests.

The U.S. government had suspended the rapid test distribution program earlier in May, then reopened it in September. Residents who havent placed an order since the program reopened can place two orders, which will provide eight tests in total, according to USPS.

COVID-19 rapid tests can be taken at home and can be used regardless of whether someone has symptoms. The tests should work through the end of the year; some of the dates on the tests may show that they are expired, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended those dates.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people test if they have any COVID-19-like symptoms including a sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, or a fever. People may also want to test before they are going to be a part of a large event, like a concert or a conference, particularly if people are not up-to-date on their vaccines. Antivirals are available to treat COVID-19 and flu, and testing can help determine which medication is needed.

COVID-19 hospital admissions and emergency department visits are once again on the rise after a few weeks of downturn, according to the CDC. For the week ending Nov. 11, the percentage of COVID-related emergency department visits was 1.4%, or just over 16,200 people similar to rates seen throughout this month and last month.

Overall, outpatient visits for flu-like illness are lower than they were at this time last year but higher than in the previous four seasons. CDC forecasting suggests that this respiratory virus season will result in about the same number of hospitalizations as last season.

Seasonal flu activity is also increasing in most parts of the country with flu-like activity labeled as high in New Mexico, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, according to the CDC. There have been at least 780,000 illnesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths from flu so far this season, the agency estimates.

More than a third of adults and nearly a third of children have gotten their flu shot this year, CDC data shows. About 14% of adults and 5% of children have gotten the new COVID-19 vaccine while 14% of older adults ages 60 and up have gotten the new RSV vaccine.

Read more from the original source:

More free home COVID-19 tests available from US government - KMBC Kansas City

More free home COVID-19 tests available from US government – 4029tv

November 21, 2023

FROM SELLING TOBACCO, RESTOCKING YOUR SUPPLY OF COVID 19 TESTS BEGINNING ON MONDAY, HOUSEHOLDS HERE CAN ORDER FOR FREE KITS THROUGH A FEDERAL WEBSITE HERE I MEAN IN THE UNITED STATES. HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, DR. KRISTIN MOFFAT, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT BOSTON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, GREAT TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO. YEAH. HI, DR. MOFFAT. YOU KNOW, ITS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE SOME OF US HAVE EVEN LOOKED AT OUR STOCKPILE OF TESTS AT HOME. RIGHT. PROBABLY IN THE CLOSET. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THEYRE ALL EXPIRED? YEAH, ITS A REALLY GOOD POINT TO BRING UP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY ARE EXPIRED, SO EVERYBODY SHOULD CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THEIR COVID TESTS. BUT DONT THROW THEM OUT IF YOU SEE THAT THE DATE SHOWS THAT ITS EXPIRED BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT BRANDS WERE DOING SORT OF POST DISTRIBUTION TESTING TO SEE IF THEY WERE STILL EFFECTIVE BEYOND THE EXPIRATION DATES. AND INDEED, A LOT OF THESE EXPIRATION DATES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED BY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 AND 10 MONTHS. SO THERE IS AN FDA WEBSITE THAT LISTS THESE EXPIRATION DATE EXTENSIONS BY BRAND. SO I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND CHECKING THAT OUT BEFORE YOU TOSS ANY TESTS. I ACTUALLY DID THAT AND THEYRE ALL EXPIRED. SO THATS THAT IS ITS GREAT ADVICE. SO LETS TALK ABOUT THESE NEW ROUNDS OF FREE TESTS THE WEBSITE TO ORDER THEM COVID TESTS.GOV. IT OPENS ON MONDAY. WHY WHY IS THIS BEING OFFERED NOW? YEAH, I THINK ITS GREAT THAT THIS IS BEING OFFERED. AGAIN, IF YOU MAY REMEMBER, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN INSURANCE DID COVER THIS OR THESE WERE BEING OFFERED AT NO COST AND THEYRE EXPENSIVE. WHEN WE GO AND BUY THESE OUT OF POCKET DRUGSTORE, THEYRE NOT CHEAP CASES ARE RISING RIGHT NOW. HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE BEEN RISING. AND ITS CONCEIVABLE IN THE COMING MONTHS AS PEOPLE SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER INDOORS WITH HOLIDAYS COMING UP TOGETHER IN THE COMING MONTHS, TRANSMISSION COULD INCREASE EVEN MORE. AND IT REMAINS TRUE THAT TESTING FOR COVID, IF YOUVE GOT SYMPTOMS OF COVID AND ISOLATING IF YOURE POSITIVE, IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF KEEPING ANOTHER SURGE FROM HAPPENING. SO I THINK ITS A GREAT MOVE TO MAKE THESE AVAILABLE AGAIN, AT NO COST SO THAT EVERYBODY WHO WANTS THEM HAS ACCESS TO THEM. I THINK ITS ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WEVE GOT TREATMENTS AVAILABLE NOW LIKE PAXLOVID, THAT WE DIDNT HAVE AVAILABLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND TREATMENTS LIKE THAT ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IF THEYRE STARTED AS SOON AS SOMEBODY KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE AN INFECTION DUE TO COVID. SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE TESTS AT HOME AND CONFIRM THAT YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE DUE TO COVID, ITS REALLY HELPFUL IN A LOT OF WAYS. OKAY. AND OF COURSE, THE VIRUS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS KEEPS CHANGING BECAUSE THATS WHAT VIRUSES DO. THIS ONE HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS. ANY CONCERNS ABOUT NEW VARIANTS DOWN THE ROAD OR TESTING OF ANY OF THAT? YEAH, ITS A GREAT QUESTION. IT ALWAYS WOULD BE OF CONCERN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TESTS WE HAVE, IF THEYRE NEGATIVE, CAN WE TRUST THEM? AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE FDA AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE REGULARLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY DOING FOR ALL OF THE AUTHORIZED TESTS. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INSTANCES OF TESTS THAT ARE NOT THE ONES AS BROADLY AVAILABLE WHERE THEIR PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DECREASED WITH SOME OF THE VARIANTS. BUT ITS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE MONITORED. FOR THE MOST PART, THE ONES THAT REMAIN BROADLY AVAILABLE HAVE NOT EXHIBITED ANY DECREASED PERFORMANCE WITH VARIANTS THAT HAVE EMERGED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED. ALL RIGHT, DR. MOFFITT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US.

More free home COVID-19 tests available for order from US government

Updated: 1:15 PM CST Nov 20, 2023

U.S. households are now eligible to order an additional four at-home COVID-19 tests free of cost through the government.As of Monday, residential households in the U.S. can submit an order through Covidtests.gov for four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Orders will start to ship on Nov. 27, according to USPS. People without an internet connection can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to request tests.The U.S. government had suspended the rapid test distribution program earlier in May, then reopened it in September. Residents who havent placed an order since the program reopened can place two orders, which will provide eight tests in total, according to USPS.COVID-19 rapid tests can be taken at home and can be used regardless of whether someone has symptoms. The tests should work through the end of the year; some of the dates on the tests may show that they are expired, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended those dates.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people test if they have any COVID-19-like symptoms including a sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, or a fever. People may also want to test before they are going to be a part of a large event, like a concert or a conference, particularly if people are not up-to-date on their vaccines. Antivirals are available to treat COVID-19 and flu, and testing can help determine which medication is needed.COVID-19 hospital admissions and emergency department visits are once again on the rise after a few weeks of downturn, according to the CDC. For the week ending Nov. 11, the percentage of COVID-related emergency department visits was 1.4%, or just over 16,200 people similar to rates seen throughout this month and last month.Overall, outpatient visits for flu-like illness are lower than they were at this time last year but higher than in the previous four seasons. CDC forecasting suggests that this respiratory virus season will result in about the same number of hospitalizations as last season.Seasonal flu activity is also increasing in most parts of the country with flu-like activity labeled as high in New Mexico, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, according to the CDC. There have been at least 780,000 illnesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths from flu so far this season, the agency estimates.More than a third of adults and nearly a third of children have gotten their flu shot this year, CDC data shows. About 14% of adults and 5% of children have gotten the new COVID-19 vaccine while 14% of older adults ages 60 and up have gotten the new RSV vaccine.

U.S. households are now eligible to order an additional four at-home COVID-19 tests free of cost through the government.

As of Monday, residential households in the U.S. can submit an order through Covidtests.gov for four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Orders will start to ship on Nov. 27, according to USPS. People without an internet connection can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to request tests.

The U.S. government had suspended the rapid test distribution program earlier in May, then reopened it in September. Residents who havent placed an order since the program reopened can place two orders, which will provide eight tests in total, according to USPS.

COVID-19 rapid tests can be taken at home and can be used regardless of whether someone has symptoms. The tests should work through the end of the year; some of the dates on the tests may show that they are expired, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended those dates.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people test if they have any COVID-19-like symptoms including a sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, or a fever. People may also want to test before they are going to be a part of a large event, like a concert or a conference, particularly if people are not up-to-date on their vaccines. Antivirals are available to treat COVID-19 and flu, and testing can help determine which medication is needed.

COVID-19 hospital admissions and emergency department visits are once again on the rise after a few weeks of downturn, according to the CDC. For the week ending Nov. 11, the percentage of COVID-related emergency department visits was 1.4%, or just over 16,200 people similar to rates seen throughout this month and last month.

Overall, outpatient visits for flu-like illness are lower than they were at this time last year but higher than in the previous four seasons. CDC forecasting suggests that this respiratory virus season will result in about the same number of hospitalizations as last season.

Seasonal flu activity is also increasing in most parts of the country with flu-like activity labeled as high in New Mexico, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, according to the CDC. There have been at least 780,000 illnesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths from flu so far this season, the agency estimates.

More than a third of adults and nearly a third of children have gotten their flu shot this year, CDC data shows. About 14% of adults and 5% of children have gotten the new COVID-19 vaccine while 14% of older adults ages 60 and up have gotten the new RSV vaccine.

Excerpt from:

More free home COVID-19 tests available from US government - 4029tv

More free home COVID-19 tests available from US government – KOCO Oklahoma City

November 21, 2023

FROM SELLING TOBACCO, RESTOCKING YOUR SUPPLY OF COVID 19 TESTS BEGINNING ON MONDAY, HOUSEHOLDS HERE CAN ORDER FOR FREE KITS THROUGH A FEDERAL WEBSITE HERE I MEAN IN THE UNITED STATES. HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, DR. KRISTIN MOFFAT, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT BOSTON CHILDRENS HOSPITAL, GREAT TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO. YEAH. HI, DR. MOFFAT. YOU KNOW, ITS BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE SOME OF US HAVE EVEN LOOKED AT OUR STOCKPILE OF TESTS AT HOME. RIGHT. PROBABLY IN THE CLOSET. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THEYRE ALL EXPIRED? YEAH, ITS A REALLY GOOD POINT TO BRING UP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY ARE EXPIRED, SO EVERYBODY SHOULD CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THEIR COVID TESTS. BUT DONT THROW THEM OUT IF YOU SEE THAT THE DATE SHOWS THAT ITS EXPIRED BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT BRANDS WERE DOING SORT OF POST DISTRIBUTION TESTING TO SEE IF THEY WERE STILL EFFECTIVE BEYOND THE EXPIRATION DATES. AND INDEED, A LOT OF THESE EXPIRATION DATES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED BY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 AND 10 MONTHS. SO THERE IS AN FDA WEBSITE THAT LISTS THESE EXPIRATION DATE EXTENSIONS BY BRAND. SO I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND CHECKING THAT OUT BEFORE YOU TOSS ANY TESTS. I ACTUALLY DID THAT AND THEYRE ALL EXPIRED. SO THATS THAT IS ITS GREAT ADVICE. SO LETS TALK ABOUT THESE NEW ROUNDS OF FREE TESTS THE WEBSITE TO ORDER THEM COVID TESTS.GOV. IT OPENS ON MONDAY. WHY WHY IS THIS BEING OFFERED NOW? YEAH, I THINK ITS GREAT THAT THIS IS BEING OFFERED. AGAIN, IF YOU MAY REMEMBER, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN INSURANCE DID COVER THIS OR THESE WERE BEING OFFERED AT NO COST AND THEYRE EXPENSIVE. WHEN WE GO AND BUY THESE OUT OF POCKET DRUGSTORE, THEYRE NOT CHEAP CASES ARE RISING RIGHT NOW. HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE BEEN RISING. AND ITS CONCEIVABLE IN THE COMING MONTHS AS PEOPLE SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER INDOORS WITH HOLIDAYS COMING UP TOGETHER IN THE COMING MONTHS, TRANSMISSION COULD INCREASE EVEN MORE. AND IT REMAINS TRUE THAT TESTING FOR COVID, IF YOUVE GOT SYMPTOMS OF COVID AND ISOLATING IF YOURE POSITIVE, IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF KEEPING ANOTHER SURGE FROM HAPPENING. SO I THINK ITS A GREAT MOVE TO MAKE THESE AVAILABLE AGAIN, AT NO COST SO THAT EVERYBODY WHO WANTS THEM HAS ACCESS TO THEM. I THINK ITS ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WEVE GOT TREATMENTS AVAILABLE NOW LIKE PAXLOVID, THAT WE DIDNT HAVE AVAILABLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND TREATMENTS LIKE THAT ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IF THEYRE STARTED AS SOON AS SOMEBODY KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE AN INFECTION DUE TO COVID. SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE TESTS AT HOME AND CONFIRM THAT YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE DUE TO COVID, ITS REALLY HELPFUL IN A LOT OF WAYS. OKAY. AND OF COURSE, THE VIRUS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS KEEPS CHANGING BECAUSE THATS WHAT VIRUSES DO. THIS ONE HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS. ANY CONCERNS ABOUT NEW VARIANTS DOWN THE ROAD OR TESTING OF ANY OF THAT? YEAH, ITS A GREAT QUESTION. IT ALWAYS WOULD BE OF CONCERN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TESTS WE HAVE, IF THEYRE NEGATIVE, CAN WE TRUST THEM? AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE FDA AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE REGULARLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY DOING FOR ALL OF THE AUTHORIZED TESTS. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INSTANCES OF TESTS THAT ARE NOT THE ONES AS BROADLY AVAILABLE WHERE THEIR PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DECREASED WITH SOME OF THE VARIANTS. BUT ITS REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE MONITORED. FOR THE MOST PART, THE ONES THAT REMAIN BROADLY AVAILABLE HAVE NOT EXHIBITED ANY DECREASED PERFORMANCE WITH VARIANTS THAT HAVE EMERGED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED. ALL RIGHT, DR. MOFFITT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US.

More free home COVID-19 tests available for order from US government

Updated: 1:15 PM CST Nov 20, 2023

U.S. households are now eligible to order an additional four at-home COVID-19 tests free of cost through the government.As of Monday, residential households in the U.S. can submit an order through Covidtests.gov for four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Orders will start to ship on Nov. 27, according to USPS. People without an internet connection can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to request tests.The U.S. government had suspended the rapid test distribution program earlier in May, then reopened it in September. Residents who havent placed an order since the program reopened can place two orders, which will provide eight tests in total, according to USPS.COVID-19 rapid tests can be taken at home and can be used regardless of whether someone has symptoms. The tests should work through the end of the year; some of the dates on the tests may show that they are expired, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended those dates.The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people test if they have any COVID-19-like symptoms including a sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, or a fever. People may also want to test before they are going to be a part of a large event, like a concert or a conference, particularly if people are not up-to-date on their vaccines. Antivirals are available to treat COVID-19 and flu, and testing can help determine which medication is needed.COVID-19 hospital admissions and emergency department visits are once again on the rise after a few weeks of downturn, according to the CDC. For the week ending Nov. 11, the percentage of COVID-related emergency department visits was 1.4%, or just over 16,200 people similar to rates seen throughout this month and last month.Overall, outpatient visits for flu-like illness are lower than they were at this time last year but higher than in the previous four seasons. CDC forecasting suggests that this respiratory virus season will result in about the same number of hospitalizations as last season.Seasonal flu activity is also increasing in most parts of the country with flu-like activity labeled as high in New Mexico, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, according to the CDC. There have been at least 780,000 illnesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths from flu so far this season, the agency estimates.More than a third of adults and nearly a third of children have gotten their flu shot this year, CDC data shows. About 14% of adults and 5% of children have gotten the new COVID-19 vaccine while 14% of older adults ages 60 and up have gotten the new RSV vaccine.

U.S. households are now eligible to order an additional four at-home COVID-19 tests free of cost through the government.

As of Monday, residential households in the U.S. can submit an order through Covidtests.gov for four individual rapid antigen COVID-19 tests. Orders will start to ship on Nov. 27, according to USPS. People without an internet connection can call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to request tests.

The U.S. government had suspended the rapid test distribution program earlier in May, then reopened it in September. Residents who havent placed an order since the program reopened can place two orders, which will provide eight tests in total, according to USPS.

COVID-19 rapid tests can be taken at home and can be used regardless of whether someone has symptoms. The tests should work through the end of the year; some of the dates on the tests may show that they are expired, but the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has extended those dates.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends people test if they have any COVID-19-like symptoms including a sore throat, runny nose, loss of smell or taste, or a fever. People may also want to test before they are going to be a part of a large event, like a concert or a conference, particularly if people are not up-to-date on their vaccines. Antivirals are available to treat COVID-19 and flu, and testing can help determine which medication is needed.

COVID-19 hospital admissions and emergency department visits are once again on the rise after a few weeks of downturn, according to the CDC. For the week ending Nov. 11, the percentage of COVID-related emergency department visits was 1.4%, or just over 16,200 people similar to rates seen throughout this month and last month.

Overall, outpatient visits for flu-like illness are lower than they were at this time last year but higher than in the previous four seasons. CDC forecasting suggests that this respiratory virus season will result in about the same number of hospitalizations as last season.

Seasonal flu activity is also increasing in most parts of the country with flu-like activity labeled as high in New Mexico, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, according to the CDC. There have been at least 780,000 illnesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths from flu so far this season, the agency estimates.

More than a third of adults and nearly a third of children have gotten their flu shot this year, CDC data shows. About 14% of adults and 5% of children have gotten the new COVID-19 vaccine while 14% of older adults ages 60 and up have gotten the new RSV vaccine.

Original post:

More free home COVID-19 tests available from US government - KOCO Oklahoma City

More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail – Bangor Daily News

November 21, 2023

WASHINGTON (AP) Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery.

The U.S. government is offering to send another round of four at-home virus tests ahead of the typical surge in cases during the winter holiday season.

Anyone who did not order a batch of four COVID-19 tests in September can secure up to eight of them this time around starting Monday at COVIDtests.gov. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver them for free.

The government is mailing out the coronavirus tests as the the flu season kicks off and a spike in RSV cases has been reported in some spots around the country. Hospitalizations for COVID-19, which has killed more than 1 million people in the United States, were on the rise this fall but have stayed steady in recent weeks. Immunity from previous vaccinations and infections has kept case counts lower compared with other years.

The new release of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests also comes ahead of the first winter since the pandemic started that insurers are no longer required to cover the cost of them. On average, at-home tests now cost $11 out of pocket, according to an analysis by the nonprofit health research firm KFF.

The Food and Drug Administration also approved updated COVID-19 vaccines in September in the hopes of revving up protection for Americans this winter. The shots target an omicron descendant named XBB.1.5, replacing older vaccines that targeted the original coronavirus strain and a much earlier omicron version. Shots are recommended for everyone age 6 months or older, but uptake has been slow.

U.S. taxpayers have spent tens of billions of dollars to develop COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments in the three years since the pandemic started.

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More free COVID-19 tests from the government are available for home delivery through the mail - Bangor Daily News

Government offering more free COVID-19 tests for home delivery through the mail – FOX 2 Detroit

November 21, 2023

FILE-A woman gets a COVID-19 test done by a healthcare worker on January 13, 2022 in North Miami, Florida. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)

WASHINGTON - Americans can order more free COVID-19 tests online for home delivery.

The U.S. government is offering to send another round of four at-home virus tests ahead of the typical surge in cases during the winter holiday season.

Anyone who did not order a batch of four COVID-19 tests in September can secure up to eight of them this time around starting Monday at COVIDtests.gov. The U.S. Postal Service will deliver them for free.

RELATED: Researchers identify amino acid that may play role for predicting, treating long COVID

The government is mailing out the coronavirus tests as the the flu season kicks off and a spike in RSV cases has been reported in some spots around the country. Hospitalizations for COVID-19, which has killed more than 1 million people in the United States, were on the rise this fall but have stayed steady in recent weeks. Immunity from previous vaccinations and infections has kept case counts lower compared with other years.

The new release of free COVID-19 nasal swab tests also comes ahead of the first winter since the pandemic started that insurers are no longer required to cover the cost of them. On average, at-home tests now cost $11 out of pocket, according to an analysis by the nonprofit health research firm KFF.

RELATED: New COVID booster coming soon: Who should get it and how much will it cost?

The Food and Drug Administration also approved updated COVID-19 vaccines in September in the hopes of revving up protection for Americans this winter. The shots target an omicron descendant named XBB.1.5, replacing older vaccines that targeted the original coronavirus strain and a much earlier omicron version. Shots are recommended for everyone age 6 months or older, but uptake has been slow.

U.S. taxpayers have spent tens of billions of dollars to develop COVID-19 tests, vaccines and treatments in the three years since the pandemic started.

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Government offering more free COVID-19 tests for home delivery through the mail - FOX 2 Detroit

Even more free home Covid-19 tests are available for order from the US government – KAKE

November 21, 2023

Seasonal flu activity is also increasing in most parts of the country with flu-like activity labeled as high in New Mexico, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, according to the CDC. There have been at least 780,000 illnesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths from flu so far this season, the agency estimates.

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Even more free home Covid-19 tests are available for order from the US government - KAKE

COVID-19 update 11-20-23 – Suffolk County Government (.gov)

November 21, 2023

Suffolk County reported the following information related to COVID-19 on November 15, 2023

According to CDC, hospital admission rates and the percentage of COVID-19 deaths among all deaths are now the primary surveillance metrics.

COVID-19 Hospitalizations for the week ending November 11, 2023

Daily Hospitalization Summary for Suffolk County From November 17, 2023

NOTE: HOSPITALS ARE NO LONGER REPORTING DATA TO NYSDOH ON WEEKENDS OR HOLIDAYS.

Fatalities 11/17/23

COVID-19 Case Tracker November 17, 2023

Note: As of May 11, 2023, COVID-19 Community Levels (CCLs) and COVID-19 Community Transmission Levels are no longer calculatable, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

* As of 4/4/22, HHS no longer requires entities conducting COVID testing to report negative or indeterminate antigen test results. This may impact the number and interpretation of total test results reported to the state and also impacts calculation of test percent positivity. Because of this, as of 4/5/22, test percent positivity is calculated using PCR tests only. Reporting of total new daily cases (positive results) and cases per 100k will continue to include PCR and antigen tests.

COVID-19 Vaccination Information

Last updated 5/12/23

Vaccination Clinics

As of September 12, 2023, the Suffolk County Department of Health Services is not authorized to offer COVID-19 vaccines to ALL Suffolk County residents.

The department will offer the updated vaccine to only uninsured and underinsured patients through New York State's Vaccines for Children program and Vaccines for Adults program, also known as the Bridge Access Program.

Those with insurance that covers the COVID-19 vaccine are encouraged to receive their vaccines at their local pharmacies, health care providers offices, or local federally qualified health centers.

The department has ordered the updated COVID-19 vaccine and will announce when the vaccine becomes available.

FOR HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS

New York State Links

CDC COVID Data Tracker Rates of laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations by vaccination status

For additional information or explanation of data, click on the links provided in throughout this page.

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COVID-19 update 11-20-23 - Suffolk County Government (.gov)

Cautious Kansans understand severity of COVID-19 and care about … – Kansas Reflector

November 21, 2023

Opinion editor Clay Wirestone recently called those who mitigate against COVID-19 infection terrified, comparing them to vaccine skeptics in their rejection of science. On the contrary, we are acting with caution because we understand science and because we care about our neighbors.

I moderate Still COVIDing in Kansas, a Facebook group for people who work to avoid getting or spreading COVID-19. In addition to geographic groups, there are online groups for parents, religious believers, people in specific occupations, singles, medically fragile people, and more. Some groups have a few dozen members, and others have thousands. Members share reviews of respirators and air purifiers items every Kansan should have ready in case they test positive for COVID-19. We read reports about wastewater levels of COVID-19 so that we can plan hospitalizations and medical appointments a common place for infections to occur for times when were less likely to be treated by contagious health care workers. We share advice for managing vaccination side effects and COVID-19 infection symptoms. We plan funerals for loved ones, knowing that mourners infectious with the illness that killed the deceased might attend. We help each other navigate travel, work, and worship alongside people who mistakenly think COVID-19 is akin to a cold, when, in reality, it can so severely damage your mitochondria as to kill you.

We also advocate for vaccinations and other mitigation strategies. This fall, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices considered not authorizing the most recent vaccine for those not deemed at risk, but because of the work of people who are COVID-cautious, every Kansan more than 6 months old was able to get vaccinated. Without us, those who, like the opinion editor, choose to vax and relax might not even have the choice to be vaccinated.

We also discuss peer-reviewed scholarly research published in journals like Science, Nature, Cell, and JAMA. From the work of scientists, weve learned to respect this virus. It is not seasonal but is high year-round, with further spikes in the summer, after the return to in-person schooling, and throughout the winter holidays. It doesnt affect only the elderly and infirm(and, even if it did, that would be a reason for the rest of us to take it seriously, not a reason to ignore it). Earlier this fall, hospitalizations from COVID-19 increased three-fold among adults but nearly five fold among children. The rate of children dying of acute COVID-19 has increased over time, and all children who are infected face a 78% increase in the chance of new health problems after the acute infection period ends.

Thankfully, researchers have done the difficult work of digging through statistics and case studies, and the findings are clear: acute COVID-19 infections were the fourth-leading cause of death in the U.S. in 2022, killing or contributing to the deaths of 7.5% of those who died. And because COVID-19 increases risk of heart disease and may increase the risk of cancer, it is a contributor to the top two killers of Americans. The third-leading cause of death? Unintentional injuries, like drug overdoses and accidents. We dont yet have firm data on how the neurological damage caused by COVID-19 infection sometimes dismissively called brain fog contributes to unintentional injuries, but illicit drug use and alcohol use disorders, contributors to unintentional deaths, both increase in risk after infection.

As terrible as every one of the U.S.s nearly 1.2 million confirmed deaths from acute COVID-19 is, the long-term consequences of rampant infection are likely to be worse for our society. Because COVID-19 can harm the lining of your blood vessels and alter the functioning of the blood cells in your bone marrow, it can harm every system of your body. After infection, you face an increased risk of diabetes (both type 1, for children, and type 2); kidney damage; neurological damage; hearing loss; stroke; cardiac arrest; stillbirth; prematurity, infant mortality, and maternal death; infertility for males and for females; autoimmune diseases; acute appendicitis; acute behavioral changes; an array of mental health disorders; and reactivation of the tics, obsessions, and mood instability associated with PANDAS/PANS. This list is only a fraction of the damage associated with COVID-19 infection, with each additional infection increasing the overall risk to our health.

As early as Spring 2020, scientists posited that this aerosol-spread disease damaged the immune system itself, so that we would be less able to fend off infections that we otherwise wouldnt even notice. Three years later, we see the result: a drop in life expectancy for Americans not seen in a century, continued excess deaths compared to pre-pandemic life, and the disabling of our workforce that has led both to worker shortages and record-high disability claims. And all of this continues after our inaction already killed more than a million people, a result not near any of our peer nations. A future of frequent reinfection which is the result of our current vaccination-only policy is grim and, frankly, unforgivable.

The science is conclusive that we can reduce the chance that well become infected or infect others by wearing respirators, cleaning indoor air, testing, and getting vaccinated. Enacting these simple measures is not living in fear its accepting the reality that COVID-19 is here to stay for at least a bit longer and we dont want to injure others by spreading it.

The opinion editor suggests that if the average person just got boosted, the pandemic would end. Thats been the strategy for nearly three years now, and it hasnt worked. In fact, more people died after vaccinations became available than before in Kansas, about twice as many people. Thats not because vaccines contribute to an increased death rate (adverse responses to vaccinations are rare) but because, unfortunately, vaccines arent currently highly effective at preventing infection or spread and dont work well for long, and infection-derived immunity wanes as well, with neither vaccines nor infection conferring protection for a full year, which is the length of time between approved vaccines. By the time you get your next vaccination, any protection you have will be from the COVID-19 infection last years vaccine didnt prevent. In short, if vaccination is your only strategy, youll likely be infected as often as your protection wears off or when a new variant evolves that can evade current vaccination. We hope for sterilizing vaccines, which would prevent infection, but, while scientists work for that, if the only measure you take to prevent infection is vaccination, you will probably be spreading COVID-19 before you realize youre contagious.

Most of us who mitigate know its unlikely that we will die from acute COVID-19 but we also want to avoid the short-term disruption of illness for our families, especially if, like many workers, we lack paid sick leave, which was only briefly part of our national COVID-19 response but ended when vaccinations were more promising in their effectiveness. But most importantly we protect ourselves from COVID-19 because we want to break the chain of transmission that disproportionately hospitalizes children, elders, and disabled people and has killed, widowed, and orphaned the poor and people of color at such a dramatically higher rate than affluent white people. We mitigate because we love Kansas and know that COVID-19 kills rural people at a higher rate than those in urban areas. We mitigate in solidarity and because it is practice for caring for each other when even harder crises strike.

Readers who want to reduce the chance that theyll get or spread COVID-19 will find themselves welcomed and encouraged among COVID-cautious groups, and I hope they will join us.

Rebecca Barrett-Fox is an author and activist in Harvey County. Through its opinion section, the Kansas Reflector works to amplify the voices of people who are affected by public policies or excluded from public debate. Find information, including how to submit your own commentary,here.

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Cautious Kansans understand severity of COVID-19 and care about ... - Kansas Reflector

Research Shows Wastewater Testing Improves Predictions for … – Syracuse University News

November 21, 2023

Testing wastewater for COVID-19 provides a better forecast of new COVID hospital admissions than clinical data, according to a Syracuse University research team led by postdoctoral researcher Dustin Hill.

Department of Public Health postdoctoral researcher Dustin Hill.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a burden on the U.S. health care system since its arrival in early 2020. COVID remains a threat to our communities, particularly during the winter months when new cases and hospitalizations are likely to surge. The ability to predict where and when new patients will be admitted to hospitals is essential for planning and resource allocation.

Our findings indicate that wastewater surveillance improves prediction models for hospitalizations by 11 percent over models that use case data at the county level and by 15 percent for regional hospitalization estimates, says Hill, an environmental data scientist and epidemiologist who works in the Department of Public Health in the Falk College of Sport and Human Dynamics. When looking at how many beds a hospital has available, those percentages can make a big difference in whether that hospital is going to have space for new patients or not, and this data can help them get ready for changes.

Hill led a project that used wastewater surveillance data in predictive models to improve estimates for new COVID hospital admissions in New York state. The research teams results were published recently in the peer-reviewed journal Infectious Disease Modeling and were gathered in collaboration with State University of New York at Albany, University at Buffalo, State University of New York College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Stony Brook University and the New York State Department of Health.

Throughout the pandemic, hospitalization forecasting models have relied heavily on clinical data collected from polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antigen tests. But this data can be biased because of a lack of widespread testing and may not be quick enough to indicate a surge.

In their study, the researchers combined wastewater surveillance data (how much SARS-CoV-2 is found in wastewater) with clinical case and comorbidity data to predict the seven-day average of new hospital admissions 10 days after the wastewater sample collection.

Pruthvi Kilaru, who earned his masters of public health in 2020 and is now a third-year medical student at Des Moines University in Iowa, is shown here in 2020 collecting wastewater near the Womens Building for COVID-19 testing.

Wastewater data are being collected across New York state through the New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network, and that data can be used to continuously update forecasting predictions each week. According to the research, the average difference between predicted hospitalizations and observed hospitalizations was 0.013 per 100,000 population, or 1.3 in 10,000,000 population, providing high accuracy.

The New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network is testing for COVID in at least one wastewater treatment plant in each of the states 62 counties, covering a population of more than 15.3 million. The New York State Wastewater Surveillance Network dashboard provides the most recent statistics regarding the network.

The research team is exploring how their methods to predict COVID hospitalizations can be further refined and applied to other infectious diseases such as RSV and influenza as wastewater surveillance expands to cover these public health threats.

Predicting future hospitalizations using wastewater data helps get our public health partners in front of surges before they happen so they are prepared when new patients need to be admitted and can distribute resources accordingly, Hill says. The methods we developed here are going to be instrumental for tracking the diseases we already know about, and perhaps even more important for the diseases that could arise in the future.

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Research Shows Wastewater Testing Improves Predictions for ... - Syracuse University News

Navigating the Tripledemic: Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 in the … – Infection Control Today

November 21, 2023

Medical team in the operating room, dark background.

(Adobe Stock 332342621 ByGeorgii)

The health care sector is preparing to grapple with a particular challenge this fall and winter: the simultaneous surge of three significant respiratory diseasesInfluenza, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), and COVID-19. As these diseases collide, they form what experts call a "tripledemic," intensifying the burden on health care providers and institutions. This triple threat becomes particularly concerning in areas like the operating room, where the stakes are high, and the margin for error is low.

At first glance, Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 might appear similar; they all manifest as respiratory illnesses ranging from mild to severe. [1] https://www.nfid.org/resource/how-to-tell-the-difference-between-flu-rsv-covid-19-and-the-common-cold/ Common symptoms like fever, cough, and shortness of breath overlap among these diseases, adding complexity to diagnosis and treatment.

However, these viruses differ in key ways. For example, influenza generally has a shorter incubation period than COVID-19 and RSV. COVID-19 can manifest with a more diverse range of symptoms, including the loss of taste or smell. RSV, on the other hand, is particularly dangerous for infants and older persons, often resulting in severe respiratory issues like bronchiolitis and pneumonia.

Prevention strategies also vary. Influenza and COVID-19 have regularly updated vaccines, and a new vaccine and monoclonal antibody has just been approved for RSV, mainly intended for vulnerable groups such as infants and older people. While these prophylactic measures can help limit the spread and severity of the viruses, health care providers still must equip themselves with the right tools to forge a strong defense against a potential tripledemic.

The operating room (OR) is an environment where precision, sterility, and expertise converge to save lives. Yet, these life-altering invasive procedures make the OR a hotspot for potential infections. Every incision, every intubation, and every implantation opens up opportunities for viral particles to enter the body's sterile core. Surgical teams go to great lengths to maintain a clean and sterile environment. Still, contagious respiratory viruses like influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 pose an elevated risk that can't be ignored.

Complicating the situation further is the high turnover rate of patients in the operating room. Surgeries are often scheduled back-to-back, each with required instruments, surgical teams, and preparatory procedures. In many health care settings, staff resources are stretched thin, sometimes leading to corner-cutting in cleaning protocols or personal protective equipment (PPE) procedures. Even when unintentional, such oversights can dramatically increase the risk of cross-contamination and disease transmission among patients and health care providers.

The convergence of the tripledemic and the unique environmental factors of the OR creates a complex and challenging landscape. Health care providers' risks are manifold: increased exposure to infected patients, the physical strain of long hours in PPE, and the mental toll of high-stakes decision-making. For patients, the risks include the potential for postoperative complications due to undiagnosed respiratory infections and the possibility of contracting a different respiratory illness while in recovery.

Navigating the tripledemic in the OR requires an all-hands-on-deck approach. It demands rigorous infection control measures, enhanced staff training, and a high level of vigilance from every health care team member. It may appear daunting, but with preparation and awareness, it is manageable.

As mentioned above, vaccines and treatments are intended to limit the impact of these viruses. But their abilities can only go so far, so the importance of rigorous cleaning and disinfection protocols in the OR during this potential tripledemic cannot be overstated.

Proper disinfection is crucial for patient safety and infection control, especially in a high-risk environment like the operating room. Traditional disinfection methods can be labor-intensive and prone to error. However, a solution is available for autonomous UV disinfection robots, which can streamline the process while maintaining the highest levels of efficacy and thoroughness.

One of the most encouraging advancements in infection control has been the advent of autonomous UV disinfection systems. The effectiveness of these systems is not just anecdotal; it is well-supported by scientific studies. Ultraviolet (UV) light effectively kills or deactivates many pathogens, including those causing the tripledemic. For instance, studies have shown that UV-C is effective at inactivating RSV. Other studies have found similar results against influenza and coronavirus.

One of the most appealing aspects of autonomous UV disinfection systems is their ability to operate independently. Once set up, these machines can disinfect an area without a human operator. This is a critical advantage in health care settings where staff can already be stretched thin, and resources are often limited.

In a world where operating rooms and other health care settings are preparing for the challenges of a tripledemic, innovations like autonomous UV disinfection offer a glimpse of hope. Their effectiveness and self-operating ability make them a valuable addition to any infection control toolkit.

Navigating the health care landscape during a tripledemic of Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 is a daunting task that brings unprecedented challenges, particularly in the operating room. However, with a multi-faceted approach that includes technological innovations like autonomous UV disinfection, we can fortify our defenses against this triple threat. The stakes are high, but with vigilant preparation, thorough understanding, and proactive measures, health care providers can safeguard themselves and their patients during these complex times. Embracing these tools and strategies will be crucial in maintaining the integrity and safety of the operating room.

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Navigating the Tripledemic: Influenza, RSV, and COVID-19 in the ... - Infection Control Today

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