U.S. Medical News - New Jersey faces new COVID-19 wave, elderly and vulnerable at risk
Nikhil Prasad Fact checked by:Thailand Medical News Team Jul 30, 2024 3 months, 3 weeks, 2 days, 6 hours, 53 minutes ago
U.S. Medical News: New Jersey is currently experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly among individuals over 65 with pre-existing health conditions.
Summer Gatherings and New Variants Drive Infections
This increase in COVID-19 cases is attributed to several factors. Summer travel and large gatherings have facilitated the spread of the virus. The recent heat wave has also driven people indoors, creating environments where the virus can thrive. Moreover, the virus has evolved into more infectious FLiRT and FluQE variants, further complicating efforts to control its spread.
U.S. Medical News - New Jersey faces new COVID-19 wave, elderly and vulnerable at risk
The New Jersey Department of Health has reported a significant rise in lab-confirmed cases, from 1,571 in the week ending June 29 to 2,231 by mid-July. Although there was a slight decline last week, infections are once again picking up in the last few days and hospitals have seen a concurrent increase in admissions, with numbers rising from 231 to 412 over the same period. These hospitalizations predominantly involve elderly patients with underlying health issues.
https://covid19.nj.gov/forms/datadashboard
ER visits over the last 7 days due to COVID-19 has risen exponentially in the last five days at numerous hospitals across new Jersey including Hackensack University Medical Center, Bayonne Medical Center, St. Joseph's University Medical Center, Morristown Medical Center, AtlantiCare Regional Medical Center, CentraState Medical Center, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and Riverview Medical Center.
Local Pharmacies running out of Paxlovid and COVID-19 test kits
Local
U.S. Medical News coverages are reporting that the recent uptick in infections has been noticeable at local pharmacies in New Jersey like Hudson Drug of Cresskill, where the demand for the antiviral medication Paxlovid and COVID-19 test kits has skyrocketed. Pharmacists have reported dispensing as much Paxlovid in a day as they previously did in a week, even running out of stock over the past weekend. (It should be noted that there are still many doubts that Paxlovid actually works). COVID-19 test kits are ialso n short supply as many pharmacies in the state have run out of stocks.
Health Experts Advise Precautions
Medical professionals are urging the public, particularly those who are medically vulnerable, to take precautions. Dr Jason Kessler from Morristown Medical Center emphasizes that surges in community infections inevitably lead to increased hospitalizations due to the large number of vulnerable individuals.
Dr Ed Lifshitz, medical director for the Communicable Disease Service at New Jersey’s Department of Health recommends wearing a well-fitting N95 mask in crowded places to reduce the risk of infection.
Symptom Management
The FLiRT variants have shown the ability to infect individuals who h
ave previously contracted COVID-19. Many are experiencing upper respiratory issues, fever, muscle aches, and the newer, more debilitating fatigue. “People are saying they just can’t even wake up, they’re just sleeping a lot,” notes Montclair State University Professor and Epidemiologist Stephanie Silvera.
Thailand Medical News had previously reported that the new SARS-CoV-2 variants in circulation such as the KP.3 and the LB.1 variants and their spawns were causing Somnolence (a continuous state of needing sleep) and also shingles.
https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/somnolence-and-shingles-seems-to-be-new-symptom-manifestation-of-covid-19-kp-3-and-lb-1-infections
Dr Lifshitz echoes the need for precautionary measures, emphasizing common-sense actions like staying home when sick and avoiding exposing others to illness, whether it’s COVID-19, the flu, or other infections.
Symptoms of the FLiRT and FluQE Variants
These new variants present a range of symptoms, including:
-Fever or chills
-Cough
-Sore throat
-Congestion or runny nose
-Headache
-Muscle aches
-Difficulty breathing
-Fatigue
-New loss of taste or smell
-"Brain fog"
-Gastrointestinal symptoms (upset stomach, mild diarrhea, vomiting)
-Constant need for sleep
-Shingle and herpes reactivation for some.
While those with prior immunity from infection or vaccination may experience milder symptoms, individuals at higher risk, such as the elderly, immunocompromised, and those with other medical conditions, are more likely to suffer severe illness.
Worryingly, there is also a rise in incidences of stroke and gastrointestinal ischemia in the last fortnight.
Wastewater Data Indicates Rising Infection Rates
Data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that coronavirus levels in New Jersey’s wastewater have been rising as of July 18. This method of monitoring provides a more accurate gauge of community spread, as it can detect the virus before individuals seek medical care and can also identify asymptomatic cases.
https://www.cdc.gov/nwss/rv/COVID19-currentlevels.html
Looking Ahead
As New Jersey navigates this mini-wave of new COVID-19 variants, health officials and experts continue to stress the importance of vaccination, adherence to preventive measures, and vigilance in monitoring symptoms. The community’s collective efforts will be crucial in mitigating the impact of these new variants and protecting the most vulnerable populations.
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https://www.thailandmedical.news/news/sars-cov-2-spike-protein-accelerates-aging-of-blood-vessels
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