- The COVID-19 emergency was declared resolved in May, but medical professionals are increasingly concerned about the virus’s potential for deadly consequences. The New York state Department of Health reported a 55% increase in COVID cases, with an average of 824 daily cases. Hospital admissions for the illness increased by 22% last week, with over 100 admissions per day.
- A new strain, EG.5, or eris, has emerged as the dominant strain, responsible for around 17% of COVID cases nationwide. Health professionals worry that we are not prepared for the worst-case scenario as new COVID variations continue to emerge. Anna Bershteyn, assistant professor at NYU’s medical school, expressed concern about the possibility of a more deadly virus, similar to the MERS coronavirus, which has a mortality rate of over 30%.
- Despite vaccinations and boosters available, COVID-19 incidences are increasing nationwide this year. The omicron variety has caused a jump in infections in the winter of 2021-2022 and other years, with a winter rise in cases followed by a lesser increase in the middle of the summer. Bershteyn expressed fear that a more lethal variant may suddenly appear, making her spine tingle.
- A superspreader event brought on by the popularity of films like “Barbie” and “Oppenheimer” has led to an increase in instances of the COVID-19 pandemic. Health professionals are dissatisfied that COVID-19 tests and kits are not as widely accessible as they formerly were.
- Free test kits that had been accumulated over the previous year or two are either already expired or will be soon after the Biden administration ceased delivering them in June. It will be challenging for people to determine if what they have is COVID without testing. When it comes to treating COVID-19 instances, there are no supply issues with the antiviral Paxlovid.
- 1% of deaths in the US are caused by the illness, notwithstanding the decline in COVID-19 fatalities. Once the necessity to do so expired when the emergency declaration was rescinded, several health insurance companies stopped covering over-the-counter test kits.
- Health experts caution that if testing was widely and readily accessible, individuals would continue to be hospitalized for COVID, which is why the scarcity of test kits might contribute to an increase in COVID hospitalizations and fatalities.
Source:
New York Post
