Program Success Magazine January 2023 | Page 23

The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing . Here ’ s everything you should know about new variants and how to mitigate risk as we head into the holidays .

COVID Isn ’ t Over Folks . Here ’ s How to Help Protect Yourself

The COVID-19 pandemic is still ongoing . Here ’ s everything you should know about new variants and how to mitigate risk as we head into the holidays .

By Jessica Washington Guess Columist
Many Americans have started to return normal or at least a “ new normal ” since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic . But just because we ’ re now ( grudgingly ) back to our morning commutes doesn ’ t mean the pandemic is over .
As new Omicron sub-variants continue to swirl around the country alongside typically seasonal illnesses , like the flu , the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is urging Americans to take precautions ahead of this holiday season . Getting vaccinated and boosted remains one of the best ways to protect yourself against COVID-19 and serious illness , according to the CDC . However , the uptake for the new COVID-19 booster is still really low .
According to the CDC , as of November 4th , less than 9 percent of the U . S . population has received boosters . As of now , boosters are still free , so if you haven ’ t already run to your local clinic or Walgreens to get one , now is the time .
We all know COVID-19 precautions can be a massive divide in families . But layering precautions that work for your family , such as testing , masking , moving activities outdoors , and ensuring good ventilation , can help slow the spread of COVID-19 and other illnesses .
Knowing what variants are out there and what the symptoms look like can also be helpful . Omicron , characterized by it ’ s high infection rate and its many sub-variants , is still the dominant strain of COVID-19 in the United States . The most common of those sub-variants is BA . 5 , which accounts for nearly 40 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the United States , according to the CDC .
However , newer Omicron sub-variants like BQ . 1.1 and BQ . 1 are also on the rise in the U . S . And another variant entirely , XBB , has accounted for a massive surge in cases in Singapore , according to the New York Times . However , cases are already significantly down , and the CDC has yet to report any cases of XBB in the U . S .
The good news is that , s0 far there isn ’ t evidence that Omicron sub-variants lead to more severe illness than previous iterations of the disease . And according to the New York Times , symptoms are fairly consistent with previous variants . The most common symptoms include a mild runny nose , a headache , and a sore throat . If you ’ re feeling symptoms , the CDC recommends getting tested ASAP !
For those of us heading home for the holidays , it ’ s worth remembering that COVID-19 isn ’ t behind us just yet , even if we ’ re all feeling some serious variant fatigue .