The symptoms that arise from a case of COVID-19 caused by the now-dominant omicron strain — known as BA.5 — don’t seem to differ from those caused by its parent variant or any of the other omicron offshoots, experts say.

According to the American Medical Association, the most common symptoms of BA.5 are:

• Fever

• Runny nose

• Coughing

• Sore throat

• Headache

• Muscle pain

• Fatigue  

Read more at AARP

Health experts encourage seniors to get their flu shot and COVID booster at the same time.  That way you can check them both off your to-do-list.

COVID-19 cases are surging, fueled by the spread of the more contagious delta variant, just as the flu season is set to begin so it is important for seniors to get both shots this year.  Both diseases are especially dangerous for those over 65.

Last year the flu season was nonexistent. But this year, more cases are expected with K-12 students back in school, more people traveling and fewer COVID-19 restrictions in place.

Read more at AARP

Read more at COVID vaccine recommendations at the CDC

We've read about President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden experiencing Paxlovid rebound following their initial positive COVID diagnosis.  What is Paxlovid rebound and should I be concerned?

You think that you are done-you've quarantined for five days and continue to wear a mask when you are out, and you took Paxlovid, as prescribed by your doctor.  Some individuals who take Paxlovid, and others who test positive but don't take Paxlovid, can  experience a rebound case of Covid-19, including a reappearance of symptoms or positive tests just days after completing treatment and testing negative.

The good news is that the vast majority of people who have a rebound case of Covid-19 after taking Paxlovid have mild symptoms. Sometimes they may come back stronger, as is the case of Dr. Fauci.

According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, about 4 million courses of Paxlovid have been administered as of mid-August, but there are no additional details about the demographics or health status of those that have received it.

Read more at CNN What you should know about Paxlovid Rebound 

The new guidance is based on the results of a new national study led by rearchers at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, focused on 154 people who tested positive for the virus using P.C.R. tests between October 2021 and February 2022.

It found that among symptomatic people, two tests taken 48 hours apart detected 93 percent of infections. But the same testing pattern detected just 63 percent of infections in asymptomatic people.

When people without symptoms took three tests, each two days apart, the tests caught 79 percent of infections.

Key times to get tested:

• If you have symptoms, test immediately.
• If you were exposed to COVID-19 and do not have symptoms, wait at least 5 full days after your exposure before testing. If you test too early, you may be more likely to get an inaccurate result.
• If you are in certain high-risk settings, you may need to test as part of a screening testing program.
• Consider testing before contact with someone at high risk for severe COVID-19, especially if you are in an area with a medium or high COVID-19 Community Level.

Read more at CDC

Read more at The New York Times

Knowing how long to isolate is complicated.  Do you need a negative COVID test before you stop isolating?  When are you contagious?  

The guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention are  a little confusing.  And the guidelines are always under review and being updated.  For example, CDC doesn't require a negative antigen test before you leave isolation, even though some infectious disease experts recommend it.  And, the guidelines can only provide a framework because every COVID case is unique.

The coronavirus is transmissible even before the infected person has symptoms. In general, peak contagion starts about a day or two before symptoms appear and continues two to three days after symptoms appear.   Experts advise that people continue to spread the virus for about eight days after testing positive and are unlikely to pass the virus to others  10 days after contagion. 

CDC recommends that infected individuals isolate for a minimum of five days.  If your symptoms have improved after five days, and you have not had a fever in the last 24-hours without fever-reducing medications,  you might be ready to quit isolation.   CDC has a calculator on its webpage to help people figure this out.

Day 1 of your isolation is the day after you start symptoms or test positive. After five-days of isolation, continue to wear a mask through Day 10 if you leave home.  If you test positive after five days of isolation, extend your isolation to ten days.

Read more at The Washington Post and at CDC

Hundreds of millions of people in the United States have safely received COVID-19 vaccinations. These vaccines have undergone the most intensive safety monitoring in U.S. history that includes both established and new safety monitoring systems.

The CDC maintains a database on COVID-19 vaccination, infection, hospitalization and deaths rates by county.  Their website information is updated daily.

So, whether you are looking for the latest COVID-19 statistics, travel guidelines, or recommendations on vaccines and boosters, the first place to look is the CDC COVID-19 Index. Click here to get the latest information on COVID -19 from the CDC

At 12;01 AM, June 12, the CDC has ended the Covid-19 testing requirement for air travelers entering the United States.  The testing requirement  has been in place since January 2021. 

Read more at the CDC website

All of us want to do an individualized risk assessment to determine our personal COVID-19 risk.  Unfortunately, it's impossible to do. So, focus on risk reduction instead.  Think about what you can control and the evidence-based strategies:  wearing masks, getting vaccinated and boosted, avoiding indoor crowds, and improving ventilation.

Risk for scientists is a probability of a particular outcome.  Like if you flip a coin you have a 1 in 2 probability of it coming up heads.  Public health researchers say " the probability that an unvaccinated person will die of COVID-19 if they catch it is about 1 in 200, and as many as 1 in 8 people with COVID-19 will have symptoms persisting for weeks or months after recovering."

So how can you manage the RISK of COVID-19?  The answer is to do what you can.  If it is reasonable to wear a mask, wear one, even if it is not required. Take an at-home antigen test before you travel and after  you return or before you visit an unvaccinated grandchild.  Get vaccinated and boosted. Choose to meet friends and eat outdoors.  Open a window to improve ventilation.  In other words, do what you reasonably can do to manage your risk of catching COVID-19.

Read more at The Conversation, a nonprofit organization working for the public good through fact- and research-based journalism.

During the second Global COVID-19 Summit co-hosted May 12 by the White House, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies’ (IFRC) Secretary General Jagan Chapagain underlined the network’s commitment to delivering COVID-19 vaccines, tests and treatments to the most vulnerable and building back stronger health systems.

While many countries have successfully rolled out COVID-19 vaccination campaigns, vaccine coverage remains below 10 per cent in many low-income countries including, Papua New Guinea, Democratic Republic of Congo, Haiti or Madagascar. Low-income countries can also not afford tests and other lifesaving tools such as antiviral drugs or oxygen supplies, leaving millions at risk of contracting the virus and suffering its deadly consequences.

Mr. Chapagain said:

“World leaders must step up and ensure that everyone, everywhere has access to vaccines, tests and treatments. This means targeting those who are most vulnerable, have the greatest needs and are the hardest to reach. This pandemic is still spreading and killing people. It is too soon to drop our guard and give up our global efforts against COVID-19.”

Read more at IFRC
Watch the video

This May, the American Red Cross is teaming up with community partners to install 50,000 free smoke alarms in more than 50 at-risk communities, as part of its annual Sound the Alarm initiative.

Blood Drives and Donation Centers Mask Guidance

The American Red Cross continues to assess our COVID-19 safety protocols and are now sharing that mask requirements at blood drives and donation centers will be removed effective April 25  for employees, volunteers, blood drive hosts and blood donors.  

With that being said, if a blood drive host has a mask requirement at their facility, Red Cross will honor that requirement. Red Cross will also accommodate mask requests from donors where close interaction occurs.

Employees and volunteers should bring requests for special mask considerations to the attention of their manager. There are many reasons individuals may need additional safety protocols during the pandemic, and as a humanitarian organization, Red Cross will continue to be understanding and caring to all. Safety remains our top priority.

Unvaccinated volunteers and employees with accommodations will continue to be required to wear masks. Local management will be responsible for enforcing this policy, as each manager has access to the vaccination status of their team members. 

For non-staff members at blood drives, the Red Cross is also in the process of developing new signage recommending unvaccinated and/or high-risk individuals wear masks.  

Of course, individuals may choose to continue to wear a mask for any reason and Red Cross will continue to make masks available for those in attendance at blood drives and donation centers. The Red Cross will also continue to socially distance wherever possible at our blood drives, donation centers and facilities in alignment with CDC guidance.