The return from vacation and school could mean a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases.
Some doctors are recommending taking precautions now as the number of infections reported to the Los Angeles County Health Department continues to rise.
The fear is that infections will continue to rise. An infectious disease specialist says it doesn’t hurt to start wearing face masks again, as well as taking the precautions we know from the pandemic, at least in certain situations.
“COVID has become a virus that is with us and is definitely to be expected, particularly now in the summer when we are flying, visiting, sharing,” said Dr. Daisy Dodd, an Orange County infectious disease specialist.
Even though not all cases are reported due to the use of home tests, according to the Centers for Disease Control, traces of the virus are detected at a high level of transmission.
The Los Angeles County Department of Health reported an average of 452 COVID-19 cases on July 24, a sharp increase from the 229 cases reported a month earlier.
The most common trio of variants right now is known as Flirt. If you feel unwell, it is important to know which symptoms indicate that you should consult your doctor.
Symptoms of the Flirt variant:
- Sore throat without relief
- Sneezing
- Mucus
- Tos
Even if symptoms are milder than those seen in other variants, for high-risk people with medical conditions or who are elderly, the disease can be dangerous.
Doctors say we will see a surge in COVID-19 cases again in the fall and winter.
By September, a COVID-19 booster shot will be available to protect against the circulating variants.
For seniors, doctors recommend getting vaccinated against influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), in addition to getting the COVID vaccine.
