COVID Cases on the Rise: What to Know About the FLiRT Variants – Health Matters

What is the current recommended treatment for COVID? Dr. Sobieszczyk: Antivirals like Paxlovid, as well as others like molnupiravir and remdesivir, continue to be effective against the latest strains of COVID. We recommend these medications to people who are more likely to get sick from COVID, such as older individuals especially those who are over 65 years old, since risk for severe illness increases with advancing age unvaccinated people, and those with certain medical conditions like chronic lung disease or weakened immune systems.

How can people stay safe and prevent infection amid the spike in cases this summer? Dr. Furuya: How best to protect yourself against COVID has not changed and involves everything we have already learned over the past few years, including wearing a mask and avoiding crowded, poorly ventilated settings. It is important for everyone to stay up to date with their vaccinations as well.

If you are feeling sick, stay home. Even though the CDC has relaxed its guidance around returning to work as early as 24 hours after you are feeling better and you have had no fevers (without fever-reducing medication like Tylenol, Motrin, or Advil), they still recommend taking extra precautions around other people for five days thereafter, including wearing a mask indoors around others. Guidelines are more stringent for healthcare settings.

Is COVID considered a summer virus or a year-round virus? Dr. Furuya: At this point, we see that COVID numbers can go up and down at any time of the year, usually increasing when new variants seem to arise. The bigger COVID spikes seem to mainly happen in the wintertime, but we are seeing upticks at other times of the year as well. Summer spikes could also happen when people gather indoors in air conditioning when it is especially hot outside.

Will there be an updated COVID vaccine and will they protect against new variants? Dr. Sobieszczyk: Vaccine manufacturers are currently working on an updated formulation of the COVID vaccine for fall 2024 based on more recently circulating strains.

As of June 13, the FDA issued new guidance to vaccine manufacturers advising them to base the new formulation on the KP.2 strain if feasible, since it is one of the currently circulating FLiRT variants. And because the FLiRT variants, as well as the newest variant, LB.1, are all descendants of a strain known as JN.1, a vaccine based on KP.2 should protect against any of the currently circulating strains, and most likely it should provide protection against new strains that may arise this fall and winter. We expect these vaccines will be available in the fall.

Does Long COVID remain a concern? Dr. Sobieszczyk: Long COVID continues to be a concern. As of May 2024, the CDC estimates that 6% of all U.S. adults are currently experiencing Long COVID. While Long COVID is defined as symptoms that last for at least three months, some people can suffer from these symptoms for years. We are continuing to learn how best to help and care for people with Long COVID. At Columbia, we have specialists in this area and are also doing research to understand what causes Long COVID and what are the best treatments for it.

What should the public keep in mind as COVID continues to evolve? Dr. Furuya: While we all understandably want to move on from worrying about COVID, unfortunately we know that it is here to stay. Cases will continue to go up and down, and probably not just in the wintertime like flu. When COVID numbers rise, it is important for us to take the appropriate measures to protect ourselves, especially if we or our household members have anything that puts us at higher risk for severe illness. Thankfully, we now have a healthy arsenal of effective antiviral treatments and vaccines that can protect us from getting sick enough to be hospitalized, but it is important for people to stay updated on the current recommendations and vaccines.

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COVID Cases on the Rise: What to Know About the FLiRT Variants - Health Matters