Guidelines around the COVID-19 pandemic continue to evolve. Medcor updates our clinic guidelines, triage algorithms, and health security services, including screening and testing, to reflect the latest guidance from health authorities. We also want you to have the best information on COVID-19, so we share the latest information with our clients, patients, advocates, and partners.
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Above monthly trends: plateau of cases, deaths and hospitalizations over last 7 days.
The COVID-19 Outbreak can now be described as endemic: infections are neither increasing or decreasing and will likely not be eliminated. Pandemic describes uncontrolled worldwide spread, describing the earlier parts of the outbreak.
The Omicron variant continues to be responsible for >99% of U.S. infections.
The U.S. is providing another eight free COVID-19 antigen tests for each household.
Metrics Used to Determine the COVID-19 Community Levels:
The CDC currently tracking disease transmission in the US by county. Use this link to view your local conditions.
People who are higher risk for COVID severe infection based on age or underlying medical conditions should be vigilant in protecting themselves from infection.
Several U.S. major metropolitan areas are now HIGH: New York, LA, Chicago
In South Africa, 90% of the population with Omicron Immunity (through vaccination or infection)—surge in cases due to 2 new variants, BA.4 and BA.5. These variants can evade immunity but do NOT seem to cause more severe disease.
US Strains are nearly 100% Omicron (BA.2). A subvariant (sub-mutation) that seems to grow more quickly (20%) is now the predominant U.S. strain. (BA.2.12.1)
Paxlovid “Rebound” recognized by the CDC. Potential for reinfection and spread. Repeat quarantine is recommended in many situations.
Source Materials: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
What is the Omicron Variant BA.2?
The Omicron Variant (B.1.1.529) currently accounts for the majority of new infections in the United States. The strain was originally identified in Botswana and South Africa in November 2021. A new subvariant, BA.2 has a high affinity for hACE2 receptors and does have higher transmission rates (30% more
transmissible) than previous variants of concern. Subvariant BA.2 has replaced BA.1 as the predominant strain in many areas of the globe, causing about 20% of all infections worldwide.
What are the key characteristics of the Omicron Subvariant BA.2?
All Omicron variants appear to evade certain immune pathways
in the body and are associated with a higher reinfection risk in patients previously infected with other coronavirus strains. Reinfection is possible, but rare. An individual with past COVID-19 infection, including other subvariants or Delta can be infected with BA.2, but primarily among the unvaccinated. The resulting infection is generally mild. There were no hospitalizations or death among BA.2 reinfections. Danish and South African studies indicate that increased transmissibility has NOT led to increased numbers of hospitalizations or death.
Currently, monoclonal antibodies are ineffective against Subvariant BA.2 infections. Novel agents Paxlovid and Molnupirovir appear to remain effective at preventing disease progression, hospitalization, or death from infection.
Are the symptoms different?
While BA.2 may spread more easily, preliminary data demonstrates similar disease severity as BA.1. Headache, sore throat, myalgias, fatigue and runny nose are among the most frequently reported symptoms. Fever and cough are
generally less severe. Vaccinated patients report much milder symptoms. Taste and smell abnormalities do not seem to be nearly as common as seen with previous strains. Omicron and its subvariants can also cause a wide range of symptoms which cannot be differentiated from other variants or other respiratory viruses.
Are vaccines still effective?
Vaccines remain effective but concerns of waning immunity in those having received a primary vaccination series have led to widespread recommendations of boosting with an additional dose of mRNA vaccine (Moderna/Pfizer). Preliminary studies show a roughly 30% vaccine efficacy increased to over 70% against Omicron variant after receiving a booster. Regardless, vaccines show a clear role in preventing severe symptoms and hospitalization. Efforts to increase boosters have become a clear CDC objective and should be strongly considered by those eligible.
Does Omicron require different testing?
Currently all known variants and subvariants of interest and concern are detectible with existing approved tests. Although the levels of sensitivity and specificity vary across the different testing platforms and modalities, these tests do not need to be altered to detect Omicron subvariant BA.2. A handful of nucleic acid testing modalities were unable to detect the variant; they are currently being held by distributors. Home testing can detect Omicron with similar ability as for other strains.
If I’m fully vaccinated, what can I do (per CDC)?
What precautions do I need to take even if vaccinated (per CDC)?
Source Materials: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization
What is COVID-19?
COVID-19 is a respiratory disease caused by a virus known as SARS-CoV-2. The virus was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and quickly spread worldwide. It is very contagious and most often causes respiratory symptoms that can feel like a cold, allergies, or the flu.
How does COVID-19 Spread?
COVID-19 spreads when a person infected with the virus breathes out the virus in droplets when coughing, sneezing, talking, or singing. These droplets can be breathed or can land in the mouths or noses of people who are nearby. The virus can also live on surfaces or objects and can be transmitted when a person touches the contaminated objects and then touches their mouth, nose or eyes.
The incubation period, the time it takes for you to develop symptoms after you were exposed, can be between 2 to 14 days after exposure, depending on the variant you have been exposed to. Some people who are infected may not have any symptoms, so it is important to take precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 if you have had an exposure.
What are the symptoms of COVID-19?
The main symptoms seen with COVID-19 include:
Not everyone has all these symptoms, and people experience a wide range of symptoms with COVID-19. Most people with COVID-19 infections get better, but there are some people who may have post-COVID symptoms or may develop more serious complications. Post-COVID conditions are a wide range of new, returning, or ongoing health problems people can experience more than four weeks after first being infected with COVID-19. Older adults or people who have chronic health conditions may be at risk for developing more serious complications.
How is COVID-19 diagnosed?
SARS-CoV-2 can be suspected in anyone who has symptoms consistent with COVID-19, but a definite diagnosis requires testing. There are two kinds of tests available for COVID-19, one which tests for a current infection (PCR viral tests and antigen tests) and one which tests for a past infection (antibody tests).
PCR viral tests test for a current infection by testing for the presence of the actual COVID-19 virus. In such a test, a sample is taken from the person suspected to be infected, such as a nasal or a very deep nasal swab (i.e. nasopharyngeal), and this is analyzed by a lab to determine if the virus is present. Such tests can take a day to several days to result.
Antigens are structural components of the virus. Antigen tests test for the presence of these structural components, like the spikes on the outside of COVID-19 virus. Antigen tests are typically quicker and less expensive, but they are also less accurate than lab-based PCR tests.
With improvements in both PCR and antigen testing to detect acute infection, antibody testing of blood samples as an indication of past exposure is now discouraged. In rare medical circumstances the test may be ordered, but it is not indicative of immunity to COVID-19 or as a sign of how strong the immune response to past infection was.
Should I be concerned about COVID-19 variants?
Viruses like SARS-CoV-2 can change and mutate like any other virus, resulting in new variants. Some variants may emerge and then disappear and others may spread rapidly and have the potential to cause more serious illness. The CDC and other organizations worldwide will continue to monitor the emergence of new variants.
How do I prevent a COVID-19 infection?
Some things you can do to prevent a COVID-19 infection include the following:
What should I do if I have symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19?
Regardless of vaccination status, if you think you might have COVID-19, you should:
If I have symptoms of COVID-19 or test positive for COVID-19, when can I be around others?
Regardless of vaccination status, if you have had symptoms of COVID-19, you should:
Regardless of vaccination status, if you have not had any symptoms of COVID-19 but test positive for COVID-19, you should:
What if I am exposed to someone who is positive for COVID-19?
The CDC defines a concerning exposure to COVID-19 as “close contact” with someone with known or suspected COVID-19 during the contagious period.
The CDC defines “close contact” as:
The contagious period:
If you have received all CDC-recommended vaccine doses and do not have any symptoms, you do not need to quarantine after an exposure to COVID-19. You should wear a mask when around others and monitor for symptoms for at least 10 days.
If you were exposed to a person with COVID-19, you should take the following precautions:
Employers typically have policies regarding when they permit an employee to return to work after quarantine, please refer to your employer’s COVID-19 quarantine policy.
Do I need to quarantine after travel?
If you are fully vaccinated, you do not have to quarantine after domestic or international travel unless you have symptoms of COVID-19.
If you have either recovered from a COVID-19 infection or had a positive COVID-19 test within the last 3 months, the CDC does not recommend quarantine or testing unless you have symptoms of COVID-19.
If you are not fully vaccinated, have not recovered from a COVID-19 infection in the last 3 months, or have not had a positive COVID-19 test in the last 3 months, the CDC recommends you do the following:
Before Travel (either domestically or internationally):
After Travel (either domestically or internationally):
What if someone in my family gets sick with COVID-19?
If your family member does not need hospitalization and can be cared for at home, you should help them with basic needs and monitor the symptoms while also keeping as much distance as possible. According to the CDC, the sick family member should stay in a separate room and use a separate bathroom, if space allows. If masks are available, both the sick person and the caregiver should wear them when the caregiver enters the room. (Please refer to the CDC website for the most current mask recommendations.) Make sure to follow measures to prevent COVID-19.
Source Materials: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and World Health Organization
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