Dubai, United Arab Emirates (CNN) – Recent data issued by the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention indicate the possibility of a new wave of the “Covid-19” virus spreading during the summer, although it is not compared to the rise witnessed last summer.
By some metrics, the number of coronavirus infections is rising, along with positive test results, emergency department visits and — most worryingly — hospital admissions.
Why might this increase in the number of injuries occur? How worried should people be? What are the most reasonable preventive measures? And who should rethink plans, including summer vacation travel?
CNN medical analyst Dr. Lena Wen, MD, MD and visiting professor of health policy and management at the Milken Institute School of Public Health at George Washington University, answers these questions.
CNN: Why might coronavirus infections rise at this time of year?
Dr. Lena WayneWe are now in the fourth summer of the Corona pandemic, and every summer since the beginning we have seen a rise in the number of “Covid-19” cases in the United States.
The reason for this may be the cyclical nature of the Corona virus, as we have seen a rise in infections, followed by a quieter period, and then another spike.
It may become this pattern from now on.
One reason for the rise in cases during the summer, in particular, may be that people gather together indoors when the weather is very hot. This may also explain why infections increase during the holidays, when people gather in larger groups indoors.
It is important to note that this current increase does not appear to be driven by the emergence of a new mutant.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Control, all current mutants are offshoots of the “Omicron” strain, which first appeared in late 2021.
CNN: How concerned should people be about that?
Dr. Lena Wayne: The situation varies from person to person depending on their health and personal conditions.
For those who are generally healthy and have received a COVID-19 vaccination or had a previous infection, it is unlikely that they will become severely ill if they contract the coronavirus.
While COVID-19 infection comes with the potential for long-term symptoms, and some people still choose to prioritize avoiding infection, many others have decided that as long as they have protection from severe illness, they would like to resume all pre-pandemic activities.
People in this category should know that if infections are rising, they are more likely to catch the coronavirus, but they probably don’t need to change their daily lifestyle because avoiding infection is no longer their goal.
Those who should consider taking extra precautions are people at risk of serious events, and this includes the elderly and patients with underlying medical conditions such as chronic lung, kidney and heart problems.
These people should ensure that they are up-to-date on booster doses, take necessary precautions, and communicate with healthcare providers.
CNN: Who should consider changing summer plans, including travel and large gatherings?
I think this should be limited to those at high risk of infection, although even people in this category may be able to modify their plans rather than cancel them entirely.
For example, high-risk individuals could wear a mask while on flights, and then choose to eat al fresco only in outdoor settings. Outdoor reunions can also be planned.
CNN: Should those considering a COVID-19 booster shot get it now or wait until the new version launches in the fall?
At this point, most people can probably wait for the updated booster, which federal health officials said they expect to be available in late September or early October. This new booster targets the XBB branch of the Omicron mutant, which is now the dominant strain.
One group of people who might consider getting a booster sooner is the highest-risk group who have not yet received the bivalent booster released in the fall of 2022.
In consultation with health care providers, they should consider getting the current bivalent booster now, and then, in five months or so, the new one targeting XBB.
2023-08-03 10:59:31
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