What’s responsible for that run-down feeling of muscle soreness and congestion?
When you could wish to rule out COVID-19, don’t.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says COVID is on the rise in 39 states, together with Florida.
Take a look at positivity charges elevated nationally to just about 7% from 5% the week earlier than. Hospital emergency room visits for COVID infections are growing nationwide, based on the CDC.
Knowledge collected by the state Department of Health and what medical professionals are seeing all level to infections ticking up.
Whereas not alarming for the time being, that might change as summer season goes on, consultants say.
Each Lee Health and NCH, two hospital programs in Southwest Florida, are seeing extra instances.
What do Lee, Collier County hospitals say?
“Lee Well being System amenities, like many healthcare supply programs throughout the nation, has seen a small however noticeable uptick in COVID optimistic sufferers looking for care,” Dr. Iahn Gonsenhauser, chief medical officer of the general public hospital in Lee County, mentioned in an e mail.
At NCH, a personal nonprofit system in Collier County, there was a slight enhance this spring and that might sustain over summer season, based on Christopher Raphael, administrative director of essential care.
COVID infections represented 36% of all laboratory confirmations in Could at NCH, which is a bounce from 28% in April, he mentioned.
What do the Florida COVID numbers present?
The state Division of Well being reinstated its weekly reporting of instances earlier this 12 months.
Statewide infections for the week of June 14 stood at 8,927 instances, up from 6,568 instances for a similar week in 2023.
In Lee County, there have been 392 instances, whereas Collier had 210. These counts are double what they had been a 12 months in the past; Lee had 259 instances for the week ending June 16, 2023. Collier was at 92.
Florida’s cumulative to this point this 12 months is 195,793 instances. A year-to-date determine by June final 12 months was not accessible. The entire case depend statewide final 12 months was 583,014.
What about new COVID variants and vaccination?
New variants of the virus hold rising and the CDC stories that the KP.3 pressure accounts for 33% of infections nationwide, adopted by the KP.2 pressure at practically 21%. One other pressure, LB. 1, accounts for practically 18% of infections.
The the reason why instances are rising in Florida could be tied to many elements, Lee Well being’s Gonsenhauser mentioned.
“COVID has traditionally demonstrated a summer season spike presumably because of elevated journey and other people spending elevated time indoors to flee the warmth,” he mentioned.
“Additionally, vaccine booster charges have declined significantly and the latest strains KP.2, KP.3 and LB.1 have confirmed to be extra simply unfold than the dominant strains that preceded them,” he added.
Raphael, administrative director of essential care at NCH, agreed that journey over the spring and summer season, and the place persons are liable to spending extra time with others, helps clarify why infections are growing.
What’s the newest vaccination replace?
Relating to Individuals maintaining with COVID vaccine boosters, the numbers say that’s not the case.
The CDC stories 23% of adults nationwide as of mid-Could acquired a vaccination replace since September. Practically 42% of adults over 75 have saved up with the photographs.
Roughly 14% of youngsters age six months to 17 are updated on their COVID vaccines.
On a optimistic observe, Gonsenhauser mentioned the latest trio of variants haven’t been proven to trigger extra severe an infection.
Signs can embrace fever or chills; cough, sore throat, congestion, headache, muscle ache, fatigue and problem respiratory. Some could expertise a lack of style or scent, mind “fog” and abdomen upset.
How do I be certain I’m updated on vaccinations?
On June 27, the CDC issued an replace on vaccinations for this fall and winter towards COVID.
It recommends everybody 6 months of age and older obtain an up to date vaccine, whether or not or not they’ve ever been beforehand vaccinated.
The CDC factors out the virus that causes COVID-19 is at all times altering and safety from vaccines declines over time.
“Receiving an up to date 2024-2025 COVID-19 vaccine can restore and improve safety towards the virus variants presently answerable for most infections and hospitalizations in america,” the CDC mentioned.
