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Editor’s Note: BenitoLink Intern Kaitlyn Martinez contributed to this article.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), respiratory virus illnesses in the U.S. typically peak during the fall and winter. These peaks are due to several factors, including human behaviors and environmental conditions that can affect the ability of viruses to survive and spread. But the CDC notes that COVID-19 infections can peak at any time of the year.
Periodic COVID surges are due in part to the emergence of new variants and decreasing immunity from previous infections and vaccinations. Because the evolution of new variants remains unpredictable, SARS-CoV-2 is not a typical “winter” respiratory virus.
There’s been a recent uptick in COVID cases in San Benito County. Mallory Schmitt, epidemiologist and spokesperson for the San Benito Public Health Department, told BenitoLink it’s difficult to determine an accurate number of COVID cases in the area because not all cases are reported to healthcare facilities. Many people are doing at-home tests and do not report when they test positive for the virus.
Although she could not give a specific number, Schmitt said that during the first three weeks of July, COVID cases in the county increased. She added the state is no longer testing wastewater in the county so data from that source is no longer available. Wastewater was last tested in late June.
She advises those who have severe COVID symptoms or have higher risk of developing serious health issues due to the virus to take a COVID antiviral medication such as Paxlovid within the first few days of testing positive or having symptoms.
According to the CDC, home tests can be purchased online or in pharmacies and retail stores. Health insurers may reimburse the cost of these tests. Visit the Food and Drug Administration website for a list of authorized tests.
New vaccine available soon
Schmitt said an updated vaccine will be available and is safe to get at the same time as the flu vaccine. Though there is no exact date yet for the release of the 2024-25 vaccine, Shcmitt said she expects pharmacies in the county to have it by the end of August. The county Public Health Department will not have it until some time in September and will only administer it to children. The CDC recommends that everyone age six months and older receive an updated vaccine to protect against the potentially serious symptoms of COVID this fall and winter, whether or not they have been previously vaccinated. Updated COVID vaccines will be available from Moderna, Novavax, and Pfizer.
In addition to vaccination the CDC recommend the following protective measures:
- Cover your mouth and nose when you cough or sneeze.
- Wash your hands often and scrub for at least 20 seconds.
- Bring as much fresh air into your home as possible by opening doors and windows and/or using exhaust fans.
- If your home has a central heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system that has a filter, set the fan to the “on” position instead of “auto” when you have visitors and use pleated filters. Change your filter every three months or according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Use a portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaner.
Risk factors for serious illness from COVID
- Older adults are at highest risk of getting very sick from COVID. More than 81% of COVID deaths occur in people over age 65. The number of deaths among people over age 65 is 97 times higher than among people ages 18 to 29.
- Risk of severe illness from COVID increases with the number of underlying medical conditions.
- Some people are at increased risk of becoming very ill or dying from COVID-19 because of where they live or work, or because they cannot get health care. This includes many people from racial and ethnic minority groups and people with disabilities.
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