January 9, 2023
oops, caution out the window
I guess it was inevitable that Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, would eventually enter my household. We had been letting down our guard, visiting more without masking, spending time with friends, going to larger gatherings, still mostly masking in large places. But, alas, we went to a restaurant with a couple of friends last week. More crowded then expected, the food took longer, we ended up spending an hour and a half there.
Now 3 out of the 4 have tested positive for COVID. Somehow, I have escaped, but we will see for how long. Fortunately, everyone was able to get access to Paxlovid. Already, Jamie is feeling better.
But this illustrates that this epidemic ain’t over. It continues to evolve. A new variant, XBB.1.5, has arrived, supposedly the most infectious yet. Already nicknamed the Kraken variant, it is rapidly spreading, especially after holiday travel.
The mutations make it easier to transmit and people who had other variants can be reinfected. The Bivalent vaccine helps, especially with severe illness. If you haven’t gotten it yet, now is a good time.
Mutations will continue to happen. Every time the virus reproduces it makes errors in the genetic material. Those mutations sometimes make it weaker, sometimes doesn’t change anything, and sometimes makes it stronger, more easy to infect us. Influenza does this as well which is why we need updated flu vaccines yearly.
Fortunately, Paxlovid is still effective. I highly recommend it. If people are on certain medications, doses may need adjusting but only for a short time. Very few medications keep someone from taking it. It can be lifesaving! It also cuts down the risk of Long Covid. Rebound happens, but not often and should not be the reason not to take it. Medicare doesn’t charge a co-pay. Read this article if you need help getting access to it. There are Test to Treat locations all over the US to help get people treated.
I say it is time to get back to our tried and true layered method of protection. get your booster, if you haven’t wear a well-fitted mask when needed. Avoid un-ventilated spaces unmasked, while this wave sweeps through. Have a plan on getting Paxlovid if you catch it. I am impressed with how well Paxlovid works. I have a plan to get it if I start showing symptoms. I’ll be amazed if I don’t. Maybe I am a Super dodger after all.
*Sorry about my recent absence in writing. I have been lax with it as well as with my masking! This experience and a few other concerns have lit a fire in me and I hope to write more soon, addressing those other ideas.
https://www.politico.com/news/2023/01/04/new-covid-strain-xbb-00076320
https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2023/what-you-need-to-know-about-xbb15-the-latest-omicron-variant
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/01/08/xbb-covid-variant-immune-evasive-pandemic/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2023/01/08/new-covid-variant-xbb15/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/highly-contagious-xbb-variant-dominant-as-coronavirus-levels-rise-in-boston-wastewater/
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/what-we-know-about-the-kraken-covid-variant-xbb-1-5-and-why-its-causing-concern/
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/health/2023/01/06/covid-update-xbb-variant-symptoms-reinfection/10995204002/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/experts-u-s-vastly-underusing-paxlovid-which-could-be-saving-more-lives/
https://www.goodrx.com/paxlovid/how-to-get-paxlovid
https://aspr.hhs.gov/TestToTreat/Pages/default.aspx
https://blogs.jwatch.org/hiv-id-observations/index.php/medical-masks-vs-n95-respirators-for-preventing-covid-19-among-healthcare-workers/2023/01/04/
https://www.npr.org/2022/09/28/1125525805/what-science-has-to-say-about-so-called-covid-superdodgers