Toward the end of the summer and the start of the school year, COVID-19 cases were high across the country, with lots of people dealing with fatigue, congestion, headache, sore throat and other bothersome symptoms.
This is all part of the predictable COVID pattern, but what about cases now?
“COVID has a summer peak, and then it wanes a little bit, and then … what it has been doing is picking up again around Thanksgiving and Christmas, as people start gathering,” said Dr. Jill Foster, a professor at the University of Minnesota Medical School.
At the moment, we’re in a lull from COVID-19, Foster said. This may feel like a breath of fresh air for those afraid of catching the virus, but this doesn’t mean COVID cases aren’t around at all.
According to Suruchi Sood, an assistant professor at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, there are some Centers for Disease Control COVID tracking delays partly because of the government shutdown. But from the data that is available and anecdotally in her own practice, “We don’t seem to be seeing, thankfully, yet, an uptick of COVID.”
COVID tracking data isn’t as detailed or accurate as it was earlier in the pandemic because of a variety of factors, including less testing and funding changes. However, between what doctors who spoke to HuffPost are observing in their clinics ― along with the data available ― it does appear that we are beyond the late-summer, early fall peak.
We may not have another peak this year, but “my guess is that it’ll pick back up again when people start gathering, staying indoors more, being in close proximity to each other,” Foster said.
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While COVID-19 may be low, there appears to be one illness that’s increasing right now.
You may be surprised to hear that COVID-19 cases are dipping, especially if you’re one of the many people fighting congestion and a sore throat this week.
“If we look at our own data from Northeast Ohio … if we looked at this most recent week from our data, and this is specimens that are collected in our lab, the SARS-CoV-2 activity continued to decline from its ‘summer peak,’” said Dr. Steven Gordon, the chairman of the Department of Infectious Disease at the Cleveland Clinic.
At the Cleveland Clinic, COVID positivity rate was 5% last week, he noted.
“What is higher up, and has been for the past few weeks, is the rhinovirus, which causes the traditional cold, as well as other enterovirus [which also cause cold symptoms] — and those are at 20% positivity,” Gordon said.
While Gordon is specifically referring to cases in Northeast Ohio, his findings align with the CDC data that’s available, which shows cases of rhinovirus and enterovirus were increasing as of the end of September.
There are steps you can take to stay healthy this fall.
As we head into virus season, now’s the time to think about the steps you can take to stay healthy this fall and winter, Gordon said.
“We’d rather prevent, obviously, than treat,” said Gordon. The best protection against the flu is the flu shot, “and it’s still recommended for anyone greater than six months of age,” he added.
The best way to prevent a severe COVID-19 infection and hospitalization is by getting the COVID shot, too.
“Now that we have COVID vaccination available and influenza vaccination available, it takes several weeks for us to develop immunity, so now is a really great time to get vaccinated,” Sood said.
COVID vaccination is still a safe and effective way to reduce how sick you get. “There was a study that just came out … showing that in the VA [Veterans] Health Systems, that even in this last season, COVID-19 vaccination reduced hospitalizations, deaths and ER visits in the VA population,” Sood explained.
You can get your flu shot and COVID shot at the same time, and they’re available at pharmacies throughout the country. It’s best to talk to your doctor or local pharmacy about COVID shot eligibility in your area.
It’s also important to take care of your health overall by exercising and eating nutritious meals, Sood said. This can help protect you from respiratory viruses. Washing your hands is also a good way to stay well.
“Another thing people can do is stay away from people that are sick,” said Foster.
If you’re at the airport and notice someone is coughing and sneezing near you, get up and move. Or if you’re the one sneezing and coughing, stay home or wear a mask if you have to be around other people.
“That’s part of good citizenship, of trying to protect other people,” Foster said.
At-home COVID-19 (or flu) tests are also important tools for respiratory virus season. If you test positive, stay away from other people and let your doctor know to see if you’re eligible for certain medications.
“I think we’ve sort of lost that sense of community a little bit … what I do impacts others,” Foster said.
You never know if the person you’re sitting next to at a restaurant or passing by at the office has a problem with their immune system. “You might be giving them a death sentence when what you needed to do was either stay home or at least wear a mask when you went out in public. And that’s not that hard to do,” Foster said.
While COVID-19 cases aren’t high right now, that can change at any moment, which makes it important to take steps to stop the spread of the virus and to protect those around you.
