General Wellness

The last week has seen an 11% increase in cases in the US while case numbers rise at a much greater rate in most other parts of the world.

Lagging behind by ~ 2 weeks, hospitalizations and deaths in the US are also on the rise by about 4% and 3% respectively. And we have not even started to see the post-March break surge which is undoubtedly headed our way. 

In addition, serious cases and hospitalizations are occuring in younger and younger people, including children.

WHY? Variant SARS-Cov-2 viruses and irresponsible delusional behavior.

As I mentioned in a previous post, the variant viruses are major players in most of the rest of the world accounting for as much as 80% of new cases.

These viruses are 60-70% more infectious, especially in kids, cause 60% more significant disease which translates into more hospitalizations and death and are also not as well covered by our present vaccines.

We are seeing more cases in younger people because most older people are already vaccinated and their behavior continues to be more responsible. Younger people are partying like it’s 1999. Clubs are packed. People are eating in full restaurants. Masks are becoming more and more scarce.Crossfit gyms are filled. 

Relaxing governmental policies are not helping either. Making masks optional and increasing the capacity rules for public spaces is giving people licence to go back to “normal”.

CDC director Rochelle P. Walensky, MD, gave a near tearful plea about continuing to be careful and expressed grave concern that we are on the verge of a new outbreak.

This is not a reason to be hopeless however, just more vigilant. We CAN control this but we need to control ourselves. Get vaccinated and continue to be vigilant with precautionary behaviors.

Can you get together with some family for the upcoming holidays, sure, but it depends. If everyone is vaccinated, that would be safer but you STILL need to keep the numbers down. Continue to ventilate rooms well. Continue to mask if there is any concern. Be careful who you get together with and how many are involved. If your best friend is very careful but their teen is a truant, maybe you need to continue to keep some distance. It’s better than nothing.We have no option but to do all we can to keep this under control and the vaccines are not the answer. They are a BIG part of the solution but so is responsible, careful and unselfish behavior.

PLease hold out a little more and keep doing the things we know are necessary and safe.

VACCINATE!

MASK UP. Even after vaccination.

DISTANCE. 3 feet is NOT enough, espetially in unknown situations.

WASH your hands, sanitize and stop touching your face.

VENTILATE.

GET HEALTHY. You have an opportunity to get better. Physically, mentaly, socially… Just Do IT!

Stay Safe and Be Well.

AC

Recently, the CDC made recommendations allowing kids to be closer together, 3 feet, rather than the traditionally recommended 6 feet. This part of the push to get kids back to school.This is ridiculous for a number of reasons.

When all this started, we assumed that SARS-Cov-2 behaved much like the Flu virus, spreading by droplets, through coughing and sneezing mostly, from one person to another. We now know better. Although it DOES spread that way, most of it is spread through aerosols, including simple breathing. And these aerosols can stay suspended in the air for hours and spread significantly farther than even 6 feet.

Secondly, kids have been shown to contract, and more importantly, transmit, the new variant viruses much more easily and extensively than the wildtype coronavirus.

The good news is that suspended aerosols disperse quickly with adequate ventilation, like using air filters, fans and simply opening windows and getting some airflow.

It’s been a year since this virus changed the lives of everyone on the planet. With vaccination rates increasing, we are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. However, if we are not careful, this will drag on for a lot longer than a year. I understand the need to get kids back to school but does it make sense to push it, only a few months before the academic year ends anyway? Does it make sense to remove mask mandates and open up bars and restaurants fully? Do you really need to go to the gym? Just go outside for a walk or run. Use a yoga app. Do you have to go to a packed club or bar? There are plenty of alternatives. Just a few more months and a few more vaccinations and we could get past this.

Alas, humans are selfish, impulsive and impatient. And we love to hear good, or even equivocal news about our bad habits. Give us an inch and we take a foot.

Vaccination or having had recovered from Covid-19 protects you, but not 100% and certainly not against the variant viruses which are on a rapid rise around the world, including in the US and Canada. They also do not eliminate your potential for spreading the virus if re-exposed.

AGAIN, it’s not about your safety, it’s about the safety of EVERYONE.

MASK UP, even if vaccinated or recovered. Wear it properly covering your nose. Wear a good one.

DISTANCE. 3 feet is NOT enough.

WASH your hands.

VENTILATE.

VACCINATE. PLEASE!!!!

GET HEALTHY.

Stay safe and be well.

AC