US households can now order four free Covid tests from the government – latest guidelines
An updated Coronavirus booster is now being rolled out nationwide
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Your support makes all the difference.New Covid boosters from Pfizer and Moderna are now available at pharmacies nationwide, and the US has restarted its free Covid test program.
Tests can be ordered from COVIDTests.gov; you can order four per household.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are recommending one dose of the updated vaccine for everyone six months and older in the US; some children may be eligible for up to three doses depending on their age and previous vaccination status.
Hospitalisations and deaths rose steadily during the last weeks of summer, and global health authorities are monitoring two new variants, BA.2.86, known as Pirola, and EG.5, known as Eris.
First reported in February, Eris is now responsible for nearly 30 per cent of Covid cases in the US, per CDC estimates.
Some experts are urging Americans to wear a mask when necessary to slow the spread of the virus.
CDC Covid tracker
16,186 hospitalisations from 15 October to 21 October
CDC provides update on where to find a free Covid vaccine
The CDC posted a video to Instagram explaining how to make an appointment for a free Covid vaccine.
New study finds severe Covid could change a person’s immune system
Severe disease from SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes illness with Covid-19, could cause long-lasting changes in the immune system, according to a small new study supported by the National Institues of Health (NIH).
The study found that severe Covid can alter how genes in certain stem cells behave. This can lead to higher production of white blood cells, which are part of the immune system and can produce inflammatory signals.
The research adds to a growing body of evidence suggesting that some may experience the effects of Covid long after they’ve recovered from the initial infection.
The Covid test positivity rate is continuing to decrease, data show
During late summer, Covid hospitalisations and deaths rose steadily for several weeks. But the national test positivity is now falling, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
From 15 October to 21 October, the test positivity rate fell 0.7 per cent, compared with the previous week. Emergency department visits and hospitalisations from the virus also fell, though deaths increased during that time frame.
Covid exacerbated the mental health crisis among healthcare workers, new data show
The pandemic’s toll on healthcare workers is shown in new data from a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The data show that almost half of all healthcare workers felt burned out in 2022, up from just 32 per cent in 2018. Additionally, a whopping 44 per cent of workers “intended to look for a new job” last year, compared with just 33 per cent in 2018.
The data show that Covid-19 drastically increased the stress levels of many who work in the healthcare industry.
Texas House approves ban on vaccine mandates instituted by private employers
The Texas House of Representatives voted Thursday to approve a ban on Covid vaccine mandates from private employers, according to reporting from the Texas Tribune.
Those who violate the ban may have to pay a $50,000 fine. The bill’s sponsor, state Representative Jeff Leach, said the bill may be the strongest vaccine ban in the country.
Covid symptoms may take several days to appear, experts say
If you were recently exposed to Covid, you may not experience any symptoms for up to two weeks after the exposure.
It can take anywhere from two to 14 days for the signs—like congestion and fatigue—to emerge, per UC Davis Health.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends testing after an exposure, whether or not you develop symptoms.
Covid variant HV.1 becomes more dominant in the US
Covid variant HV.1, a descendant of Omicron, has become more dominant in October, according to the most recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The data show that EG.5 is the most dominant, likely causing roughly 23.6 per cent of Covid cases in the US, followed by HV.1, which is likey causing 19.5 per cent of cases.
Experts urge the public to get vaccinated after data show just 12 million people have opted for the shot so far this fall
Recent data show that just 3.6 per cent—or roughly 12 million people—in the US have received the latest Covid vaccine.
Pfizer’s combination Covid and flu vaccine moves to final-stage trial
Pfizer’s combination vaccine that could target both Covid-19 and influenza is moving to a final-stage trial, according to reporting from CNBC.
The vaccine has been tested in an early- to mid-stage study, and has received positive results.
Pfizer has previously said it could launch the vaccine as early as 2024.
The Covid test positivity rate is higher than the national average in these states
From 8 October to 14 October the Covid test positivity rate in the US was 9.5 per cent, per the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
But the positivity rate is higher—falling anywhere from 10 to 14.9 per cent—in the following US states, the CDC says: Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
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