A Covid variant is back in town

I’m loving the weather we have been having lately. The cooler temps are wonderful. It has been a drastic change from the heat wave we were having. The cooler weather lets me know that fall is near and it is one of my favorite seasons of the year.

The change of the weather can usually cause many to have sinus problems and lately I’ve heard another COVID variant is back.

But, when you think everything is going well, COVID hits someone you work with or a family member. COVID caused many problems and it changed the way of life in our country when it first hit. It came with a vengeance in 2019 and is still hanging around.

I had COVID back in 2020, the Delta variant, which was terrible. My daughter, Emily, and her boyfriend, Scott, parents had it first. Scott’s mother passed away, and his father was hospitalized for a month. It was a sad time. Many people lost family members.

With the dry weather we have had for the last couple of weeks, many people are having sinus problems. Some in the office have those same problems, but one of our coworkers discovered they had COVID last week thinking it was her sinuses. I felt so sorry for her and was hoping it was not a bad case.

When I hear anyone say they have COVID, I tend to step back away from them. Like many, I don’t ever want to experience it again.

I had some extra KN95 masks and started wearing them again last week. I also started carrying hand sanitizer wherever I go, even though most people have mild symptoms with this variant. I try my hardest not to get it.

An August 2023 transcript from the American Medical Association said COVID infections are hitting schools and workplaces. And we can expect more cases as we head into fall and winter.

The Centers for Disease and Control reported that hospitalizations increased 24 percent in the two weeks ending August 12.

The AMA said that overall hospitalization numbers are still low compared to the numbers we saw during the public health emergency. And the vast majority of people getting COVID are experiencing mild symptoms. Most hospitalized tend to have pre-existing conditions or are immunocompromised, making them more susceptible to severe disease.

I believe that we are still living in a world that will always have some COVID virus. There are still things that we can do to help prevent the spread. People can get that new booster when it’s available. It’s likely going to be mid-September. Stay home if you’re sick. Wash your hands frequently. And you may want to consider masking if you’re going to be in a crowded indoor setting.

Don’t forget to test. When my co-worker said she had COVID last week, I decided to put a COVID test kit on my list of things to buy.

Get your kids and yourself vaccinated and boosted. It’s our best tool. Vaccination is safe and effective and stay home if you or a family member is sick to prevent the spread of the virus.