COVID-19 infections are still reported daily, but not to the extent of early 2022 and earlier.
Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency medical director Dr. Karen Luparello said the virus is now more similar to the flu or the common cold, with most of the symptoms being the same.
“The newer versions are causing those kinds of symptoms, flu-like symptoms,” she said. “Thank god people aren’t getting seriously ill from those new forms.”
This is not a reason for the public to lower its guard.
“I would still recommend vaccinations,” Luparello said. “It’s helping with fewer hospitalizations for all those patients and fewer deaths for those patients.”
Dr Luparello said infections, hospitalizations and deaths have “definitely declined significantly.”
“So we’re hoping that vaccines will continue to help,” she said. “Don’t forget your boosters because those vaccines degrade over time.”
Health Officer Rebecca Burns attended an August board meeting by Zoom after testing positive and suffering from flu-like symptoms. Despite dealing with COVID-19 since the pandemic began, she had not previously been infected. He is vaccinated.
The medical director said, “If you have been vaccinated, the CDC recommends that you isolate yourself at home for five days. Try not to have contact when you are symptom-free, or during your five days. Be ready to come back later, but you should be symptom free. Then you can also wear a mask in public for the next five days.”
With school back in session, there are no reports of breakouts of COVID-19 in three counties.
“We don’t have any yet, but it’s only in a few days,” Dr Luparello said. “I’m a little concerned that we’re sending people into an environment that’s too crowded.”
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The medical officer asked the parents, “If your child has any symptoms, keep them at home.” Notify the school. “Call the school and put them at home.”
The doctor said, “The best thing is not to spread those symptoms around, whether it is a cold, or flu, or COVID.” No matter which virus you have, “it’s the same recommendation. Sometimes it’s hard to tell or tell the difference without testing.”
Burns informed the board of contractors for the new audio and video systems in the offices of the Coldwater Health Agency that installation was delayed because installers tested positive for the virus.
(This story has not been edited by seemayo staff and is published from a rss feed)