Editorial: Officials have been relaxing some COVID protocols, leaving the public dazed and confused
2 years, 11 months ago

Editorial: Officials have been relaxing some COVID protocols, leaving the public dazed and confused

LA Times  

Even as COVID-19 cases spiked last month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cut in half the amount of time that people should remain in isolation after infection if they are without symptoms — and eliminated the recommendation that they get a negative test before they start interacting with other people. We’re told that our old loose-fitting cloth masks are inadequate to protect us from the Omicron variant, but entering a store wearing a gauzy bandana across the lower face is still allowed. Omicron passes from person to person with terrifying speed and yet the public may be more confused now than at any time in the last year about how to prevent a COVID-19 infection — or what vaccinated people can reasonably do to protect themselves. The shifting protocols may make sense, given all the factors public health officials need to balance.

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History of this topic

Highly contagious new Covid variant HV.1 spreading across US: All you need to know
1 year, 1 month ago

Highly contagious new Covid variant HV.1 spreading across US: All you need to know

Hindustan Times  

HV.1, the new highly contagious Covid-19 variant is sweeping through the United States. According to the data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the variant was responsible for an estimated 25.2% of all the newly diagnosed cases during the two-week period ending on October 28. Dr. William Schaffner, professor of infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center …

5 Things COVID Experts Personally Won't Do Right Now In This Latest Surge
1 year, 3 months ago

5 Things COVID Experts Personally Won't Do Right Now In This Latest Surge

Huff Post  

andreswd via Getty Images Here's how infectious disease experts are managing their COVID-19 risk. “As I have gray hair, I’m in a higher-risk group just on the basis of age, so I’ve been wearing my mask at indoor events continuously,” Schaffner said. “My wife and I are major caregivers for a family member who is receiving cancer chemotherapy, so we’re …

CBS News poll finds less concern about new COVID variants now than with Omicron
1 year, 3 months ago

CBS News poll finds less concern about new COVID variants now than with Omicron

CBS News  

Despite a recent rise in COVID cases and new variants, most Americans aren't concerned about getting COVID. There is less concern specifically about new variants today than there was about the Omicron variant as it was emerging in late 2021. As has long been the case with the coronavirus, concern, attention and action are all connected: 40% report following news …

Conspiracy theorist spreads false information about the return of COVID-19 mandates
54 years, 11 months ago

Conspiracy theorist spreads false information about the return of COVID-19 mandates

Associated Press  

CLAIM: Transportation Security Administration managers were told on Aug. 15 that by mid-September they, along with airport employees, will again be required to wear face masks and by mid-October the policy will apply to travelers as well. A spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which issued a now-expired travel mask mandate in 2021, confirmed that such rumors …

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the US are on the rise again, but not like before
1 year, 4 months ago

COVID-19 hospitalizations in the US are on the rise again, but not like before

Associated Press  

Here we go again: COVID-19 hospital admissions have inched upward in the United States since early July in a small-scale echo of the three previous summers. But it’s a far cry from past peaks, like the 44,000 weekly hospital admissions in early January, the nearly 45,000 in late July 2022, or the 150,000 admissions during the omicron surge of January …

US study finds 1 in 10 get long COVID after omicron, starts identifying key symptoms
1 year, 6 months ago

US study finds 1 in 10 get long COVID after omicron, starts identifying key symptoms

Associated Press  

WASHINGTON — About 10% of people appear to suffer long COVID after an omicron infection, a lower estimate than earlier in the pandemic, according to a study of nearly 10,000 Americans that aims to help unravel the mysterious condition. Early findings from the National Institutes of Health’s study highlight a dozen symptoms that most distinguish long COVID, the catchall term …

US study finds 1 in 10 get long COVID after omicron, starts identifying key symptoms
1 year, 6 months ago

US study finds 1 in 10 get long COVID after omicron, starts identifying key symptoms

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Early findings from the National Institutes of Health’s study …

Long COVID research after the public health emergency ends : Short Wave : NPR
1 year, 7 months ago

Long COVID research after the public health emergency ends : Short Wave : NPR

NPR  

Long COVID scientists try to unravel blood clot mystery Enlarge this image toggle caption Anil Oza/NPR Anil Oza/NPR Listen to Short Wave on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and Google Podcasts. But for others, those microclots hang around and they can damage blood vessels as well as block blood flow to many organs — which could help explain long COVID's wide-ranging symptoms. …

WHO: COVID still an emergency but nearing ‘inflection’ point
1 year, 10 months ago

WHO: COVID still an emergency but nearing ‘inflection’ point

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The coronavirus remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization chief said Monday, after a key advisory panel found the pandemic may be nearing an “inflexion point” where higher levels of immunity can lower virus-related deaths. Speaking at the opening of WHO’s annual executive board meeting, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “there is no doubt that …

COVID is still a global emergency but may be nearing an ‘inflection point,’ WHO says
1 year, 10 months ago

COVID is still a global emergency but may be nearing an ‘inflection point,’ WHO says

LA Times  

COVID-19 remains a global health emergency, the World Health Organization’s chief said Monday, after a key advisory panel found that the pandemic may be nearing an “inflection point” where higher levels of immunity can lower coronavirus-related deaths. Speaking at the opening of the WHO’s annual executive board meeting, Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that “there is no doubt that we’re …

US extends Covid public health emergency as Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 spreads; how will it benefit Americans?
1 year, 11 months ago

US extends Covid public health emergency as Omicron subvariant XBB.1.5 spreads; how will it benefit Americans?

Firstpost  

The Covid-19 public health emergency was first declared during the Trump administration in January 2020 when the coronavirus pandemic began Washington: The highly transmissible XBB.1.5 Omicron sub-variant has stoked concern that the US may face another wave of hospitalisation from the disease this winter. The Covid-19 public health emergency was first declared during the Trump administration in January 2020 when …

World Health Organization restates call for COVID-19 data from China as US provides 'radical transparency' on Omicron outbreak
1 year, 11 months ago

World Health Organization restates call for COVID-19 data from China as US provides 'radical transparency' on Omicron outbreak

ABC  

The World Health Organization has reiterated the need for China to share more data on its explosive COVID-19 outbreak, while praising the United States for "radical transparency" in its efforts to battle a new sub-variant. Key points: The World Health Organization says COVID-19 deaths in China remain heavily under-reported Meanwhile, the US has been praised for its transparency as Omicron …

Only concerted efforts can end virus rumors
1 year, 11 months ago

Only concerted efforts can end virus rumors

China Daily  

Medical workers run intravenous drips for patients at the fever clinic of China-Japan Friendship hospital in Beijing on Tuesday. First, timely detection of false information is necessary to prevent people from spreading more disinformation and rumors. The Criminal Law, on its part, stipulates that anyone fabricating false stories and disseminating them through information or social media platforms, or a person …

Doctors: Ignore all Covid \'news\' on social media
1 year, 11 months ago

Doctors: Ignore all Covid \'news\' on social media

Deccan Chronicle  

HYDERABAD: Several fake and misleading pieces of information regarding Covid-19 pandemic have been making their way to people’s social media handles for over a week now. The messages started after an alert was issued in the country following a rise in Covid cases in China, South Korea, Japan, Brazil and the United States. Such messages had been rampant even during …

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is
1 year, 11 months ago

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is

Live Mint  

Covid-19’s rapid spread in China has prompted reports of crowded hospitals and inundated crematoria. China is meeting the Omicron variant with less exposure to the virus and lower vaccination rates among the elderly, public-health experts said. Covid-19’s spread there will help explain to what extent lower rates of severe disease and death are influenced by Omicron’s nature compared with a …

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is
2 years ago

Covid-19’s spread in China might tell us how deadly Omicron really is

Live Mint  

Covid-19’s rapid spread in China has prompted reports of crowded hospitals and inundated crematoria. China is meeting the Omicron variant with less exposure to the virus and lower vaccination rates among the elderly, public-health experts said. Covid-19’s spread there will help explain to what extent lower rates of severe disease and death are influenced by Omicron’s nature compared with a …

COVID-19: no need for scaremongering, precautions needed, say health experts
2 years ago

COVID-19: no need for scaremongering, precautions needed, say health experts

The Hindu  

Even as the Central and State governments have called for a general alert over a possible rise in COVID-19 cases, public health experts have warned against scaremongering over COVID-19. Public health experts point out that as the new virus variants coming into circulation are the sub variants of Omicron, which in itself was less lethal than Delta, there was no …

With detection of Omicron sub-variant in India, medical experts sound an alarm, insist on adhering to COVID-19 protocols
2 years ago

With detection of Omicron sub-variant in India, medical experts sound an alarm, insist on adhering to COVID-19 protocols

The Hindu  

Going by the media reports on the COVID-19 situation in China, Japan and the U.S., the situation once again looks grim, and it appears that the world is heading back to square one. With reports on detection of three cases of Omicron sub-variant — two in Gujarat and one in Odisha, it is even more pertinent that we go back …

Next Covid-19 Strain May Be More Dangerous, Says New Study
2 years ago

Next Covid-19 Strain May Be More Dangerous, Says New Study

News 18  

While China is experiencing a sudden surge in COVID cases, the rest of the world is comparatively doing better with the current Omicron strain in retreat mode. However, our concerns may be far from over as a new lab report says that the next COVID-19 variant may be way more dangerous than the Omicron strain. This study has been conducted …

After a year, omicron still driving COVID surges and worries
2 years ago

After a year, omicron still driving COVID surges and worries

Associated Press  

A year after omicron began its assault on humanity, the ever-morphing coronavirus mutant drove COVID-19 case counts higher in many places just as Americans gathered for Thanksgiving. “It’s making a clear comeback.” Nationally, new COVID cases averaged around 39,300 a day as of Tuesday — far lower than last winter but a vast undercount because of reduced testing and reporting. …

Long COVID: How clusters of symptoms have emerged and changed over the pandemic
2 years, 1 month ago

Long COVID: How clusters of symptoms have emerged and changed over the pandemic

ABC  

Since the first COVID "long haulers" were reported in 2020, millions of people have experienced long COVID. But under that broad "long COVID" umbrella, clusters of symptoms have emerged, and as the pandemic's worn on, those symptoms have shifted. And while she still sees these symptoms in patients now, she "If they're going from sitting to standing, their heart rate …

Omicron’s staying power is key to mild winter as cases rise
2 years, 2 months ago

Omicron’s staying power is key to mild winter as cases rise

Hindustan Times  

The rhythm of pre-pandemic life is back around much of the world. “It’s totally possible that some strange new combination of mutations is emerging in some person who is chronically infected and that could spark a new variant,” he said, “but we don’t have the ability to predict that.” The more infections there are, the higher the chances of unpredictable …

You may have been spreading the omicron variant without knowing it
2 years, 4 months ago

You may have been spreading the omicron variant without knowing it

Salon  

While omicron subvariant BA.5 has revealed itself to be the most contagious and immune-evasive iteration of COVID-19 yet, scientists have known for a long time that many cases of COVID-19, regardless of variant, are completely asymptomatic. As the recent study published in the medical journal JAMA Network Open makes clear, more than half of the people who contracted the omicron …

COVID-19 pandemic 'nowhere near over', says World Health Organization
2 years, 5 months ago

COVID-19 pandemic 'nowhere near over', says World Health Organization

India TV News  

Highlights The number of new Covid-19 cases worldwide has risen by 30 per cent in the last two weeks: WHO I am concerned about the increasing trend of deaths, says WHO DG Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus Recent changes in testing policies have also been hindering the detection of new cases, says WHO Covid-19 news updates : The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic is …

Confusion prevails over covid protocols as public fears wane
2 years, 6 months ago

Confusion prevails over covid protocols as public fears wane

Live Mint  

We’re now in a weird phase of the covid pandemic. Danish social scientist Michael Bang Petersen of Aarhus University told me that familiarity with covid is changing people’s attitudes. And that means it’s hard to adapt our behaviour to the situation—the way public health officials urged us to do during previous waves. “We know from research that social isolation is …

The Omicron subvariant spreading across the U.S. shares an ominous trait with Delta
2 years, 6 months ago

The Omicron subvariant spreading across the U.S. shares an ominous trait with Delta

LA Times  

Coronavirus particles are seen under a microscope. A genetic trait that harks back to the pandemic’s past, known as a Delta mutation, appears to allow the virus “to escape preexisting immunity from vaccination and prior infection, especially if you were infected in the Omicron wave,” said Dr. Wesley Long, a pathologist at Houston Methodist in Texas. The Omicron subvariant gaining …

Long Covid risk worse after Delta than Omicron, shows data
2 years, 7 months ago

Long Covid risk worse after Delta than Omicron, shows data

Hindustan Times  

The risk of lingering symptoms after Covid-19 appears influenced by the strain of coronavirus that caused the infection, according to an analysis from the U.K., where an estimated 1.8 million people reported experiencing long Covid in early April. A health worker shows the collected swab sample The odds of reporting fatigue, shortness of breath, difficulty concentrating and other persistent symptoms …

Netherlands not prepared for Covid-19 outbreak in the fall: experts
2 years, 7 months ago

Netherlands not prepared for Covid-19 outbreak in the fall: experts

NL Times  

With hardly any restrictions in place, the coronavirus seems to have slipped from public consciousness. I don’t think that new structure will be in place this fall,” Anja Schreijer, former Outbreak Management Team member and former Head of the Infectious Disease Control Department at the GGD Amsterdam explained. “The demand is 600 million euros, the Cabinet has promised 300 million.” …

Omicron infection induces limited immune response in unvaccinated: Study
2 years, 8 months ago

Omicron infection induces limited immune response in unvaccinated: Study

Hindustan Times  

The following is a summary of some recent studies on Covid-19. Omicron infection induces limited immune response Unvaccinated people infected with the Omicron variant are unlikely to develop immune responses that will protect them against other variants of the coronavirus, a new study suggests. Unlike antibodies induced by Covid-19 vaccines or infections with earlier SARS-CoV-2 variants, antibodies induced by the …

Why do some people not catch COVID? What do we know about long COVID? Here are some of your common questions answered
2 years, 8 months ago

Why do some people not catch COVID? What do we know about long COVID? Here are some of your common questions answered

ABC  

Every month the ABC receives thousands of questions about COVID-19 from our readers, and this month has been no exception. Many of you have asked questions about the new BA.2 Omicron variant, and why some people just don't seem to catch COVID-19 despite being exposed. "Some people might generate an immune response that just makes better antibodies … and we …

What do we know about “stealth omicron” so far?
2 years, 8 months ago

What do we know about “stealth omicron” so far?

Associated Press  

What do we know about “stealth omicron” so far? It was given the “stealth” nickname because it looks like the earlier delta variant on certain PCR tests, says Kristen Coleman at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. In rare cases, early research indicates BA.2 can infect people even if they’ve already had an omicron infection. Health officials also …

Booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine needed to fight against Omicron, says study
2 years, 8 months ago

Booster dose of COVID-19 vaccine needed to fight against Omicron, says study

Firstpost  

New Delhi: Neutralising antibody levels waned after six months in those who were fully vaccinated against the coronavirus with Covishield, Covaxin and a mix of both — Covishield as the first dose and Covaxin as the second dose with regard to Omicron variant, a study done by the National Institute of Virology in Pune has indicated. The heterologous vaccination regimen …

Beware! WHO lists 3 misleading facts brewing around COVID and Omicron
2 years, 9 months ago

Beware! WHO lists 3 misleading facts brewing around COVID and Omicron

India TV News  

Highlights New COVID cases in the world jumped by 8% last week WHO’s Maria Van Kerkhove stated that a lot of misleading information is making people confused Well, all of this is actually not true! Looking at the new surge in coronavirus cases in South Korea, China and Europe, the World Health Organisation has listed various misinformation that is creating …

Is omicron leading us closer to herd immunity against COVID?
2 years, 10 months ago

Is omicron leading us closer to herd immunity against COVID?

Associated Press  

Is omicron leading us closer to herd immunity against COVID-19? Experts say it’s not likely that the highly transmissible variant — or any other variant — will lead to herd immunity. “ Herd immunity is an elusive concept and doesn’t apply to coronavirus,” says Dr. Don Milton at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. Herd immunity is when …

What Omicron taught us about Covid-19
2 years, 10 months ago

What Omicron taught us about Covid-19

India Today  

The Omicron variant hit the global radar in November last year when South African health authorities reported a complicated new variant to the World Health Organization. India reported the first Omicron in late November and Delhi saw its first case in December, within weeks India braced for one of the fastest jumps in cases as people feared a Delta-like situation …

Will COVID-19 long-haulers push outpatient medical system to breaking point?
2 years, 10 months ago

Will COVID-19 long-haulers push outpatient medical system to breaking point?

LA Times  

Carolina Nieto, right, with respiratory therapist Suzanne Pruitt during her first visit to the COVID-19 recovery clinic at the Sharp Allison deRose Rehabilitation Center in San Diego. The question quickly becomes: If new long COVID cases are still surfacing from exposures that occurred as long as a year ago, will persistent Omicron symptoms push the outpatient medical system beyond the …

New Covid variants complicate the question of vaccine mandates
2 years, 10 months ago

New Covid variants complicate the question of vaccine mandates

Hindustan Times  

Post-infection immunity might be a strange topic for political strife, but it touches on Covid vaccine mandates and whether those who’ve had the virus should be exempt. “But I think it’s more nuanced now, and a lot of people think natural immunity gives you a substantial level of protection.” But how much protection, compared to vaccination? “That’s not clear.” Barouch …

As COVID curbs are lifted, experts call for clear messaging
2 years, 10 months ago

As COVID curbs are lifted, experts call for clear messaging

Al Jazeera  

The Netherlands, Germany, South Africa and the United Kingdom are among several countries which have announced plans to lift the majority of COVID restrictions, despite the continuing spread of the highly contagious Omicron coronavirus variant. The raft of announcements, including plans to scrap COVID self-isolation for those who test positive in England and an end to social distancing rules in …

America's top medical expert Antony Fauci hints at need for fourth-dose to battle COVID-19 variant Omicron
2 years, 10 months ago

America's top medical expert Antony Fauci hints at need for fourth-dose to battle COVID-19 variant Omicron

Firstpost  

The fourth-dose boost for an individual could be based on age, as well as underlying conditions, explained the White House chief medical advisor Washington: White House chief medical advisor Antony Fauci hinted that there may be the need for the fourth-dose boost in the United States to battle with COVID-19 variant Omicron, adding that the booster could be based on …

Hospitals begin to limp out of the latest COVID-19 surge
2 years, 10 months ago

Hospitals begin to limp out of the latest COVID-19 surge

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “What we want to see …

Omicron rips through remote Aboriginal communities, as leaders say governments' COVID response 'too late'
2 years, 10 months ago

Omicron rips through remote Aboriginal communities, as leaders say governments' COVID response 'too late'

ABC  

As much of the nation begins to look beyond a summer of rising COVID-19 infection rates and hospitalisations, the pandemic has just arrived at the doorstep of many remote Aboriginal communities. Key points: COVID has started ripping through many remote Aboriginal communities Some communities say they don't have the resources to deal with the outbreak Aboriginal health, legal and land …

A dose of realism: The Hindu Editorial on COVID-19 surge post Omicron
2 years, 10 months ago

A dose of realism: The Hindu Editorial on COVID-19 surge post Omicron

The Hindu  

The World Health Organization chief, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, in a recent briefing, noted that 90 million cases of coronavirus have been reported since the Omicron variant was first identified 10 weeks ago. From WHO’s perspective, the blanket lifting of restrictions poses a problem as most people appear to believe that Omicron is less threatening compared to previous variants and that …

WHO: In 10 weeks, omicron surge causes COVID cases to soar
2 years, 10 months ago

WHO: In 10 weeks, omicron surge causes COVID cases to soar

Associated Press  

GENEVA — The World Health Organization chief said Tuesday that 90 million cases of coronavirus have been reported since the omicron variant was first identified 10 weeks ago — amounting to more than in all of 2020, the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. With many countries easing their restrictive measures amid public fatigue about them, WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom …

Coronavirus cases since Omicron exceed those in all of 2020, WHO says
2 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus cases since Omicron exceed those in all of 2020, WHO says

LA Times  

The head of the World Health Organization says 90 million coronavirus cases have been reported since the Omicron variant was first identified 10 weeks ago. The World Health Organization chief said Tuesday that 90 million coronavirus cases have been reported since the Omicron variant was first identified 10 weeks ago — amounting to more cases than in all of 2020, …

Omicron amps up concerns about long COVID and its causes
2 years, 10 months ago

Omicron amps up concerns about long COVID and its causes

Associated Press  

More than a year after a bout with COVID-19, Rebekah Hogan still suffers from severe brain fog, pain and fatigue that leave her unable to do her nursing job or handle household activities. In her lab at Stellenbosch University in South Africa, scientist Resia Pretorius has found microclots in blood samples from patients with COVID-19 and in those who later …

Omicron amps up concerns about long COVID and its causes
2 years, 10 months ago

Omicron amps up concerns about long COVID and its causes

Firstpost  

While there’s no firm list of symptoms that define long COVID, the most common include fatigue, problems with memory and thinking, loss of taste and smell, shortness of breath, insomnia, anxiety and depression More than a year after a bout with COVID-19, Rebekah Hogan still suffers from severe brain fog, pain and fatigue that leave her unable to do her …

Outbreak Team members and other experts call for long-term plan to tackle Covid
2 years, 10 months ago

Outbreak Team members and other experts call for long-term plan to tackle Covid

NL Times  

A group of members of the Outbreak Management Team, scientists and administrators, wrote a joint advice on tackling the Covid-19 pandemic. "From fighting a pandemic to living in an endemism" was the outcome of a discussion last week between virologist Marion Koopmans, ICU doctor Diederik Gommers and microbiologist Jan Kluytmans. However, experts from other fields also took part in the …

Why omicron is crushing hospitals — even though cases are often milder than delta
2 years, 10 months ago

Why omicron is crushing hospitals — even though cases are often milder than delta

NPR  

Why omicron is crushing hospitals — even though cases are often milder than delta Enlarge this image toggle caption Will Stone/NPR Will Stone/NPR Omicron has filled up U.S. hospitals with more COVID-19 patients than any other surge of the pandemic. "If you look at the ones who're in the ICU or need to be on a ventilator, it's much more …

Covid-19 is less severe with Omicron than Delta, suggests US study
2 years, 10 months ago

Covid-19 is less severe with Omicron than Delta, suggests US study

Live Mint  

The Omicron variant appears to result in less severe COVID-19 than seen during previous periods of high coronavirus transmission including the Delta wave, with shorter hospital stays, less need for intensive care and fewer deaths, according to a new U.S. study. Despite the steep spike in COVID cases, the percentage of hospitalized patients admitted to intensive care units during the …

Optimism as Omicron peaks in California, but new BA.2 subtype raises questions
2 years, 10 months ago

Optimism as Omicron peaks in California, but new BA.2 subtype raises questions

LA Times  

There is growing optimism that the overall Omicron surge has peaked in California, but progress across the state remains uneven. “This downward trend is encouraging, and it signals that we’re likely to have passed the peak of Omicron transmission and are beginning to see a real decline in the number of newly infected individuals,” L.A. County Public Health Director Barbara …

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