Can you give me a refresher course in how to avoid COVID? : Goats and Soda : NPR

Okay, so it looks as if everybody I do know has come down with COVID this summer season – even the individuals often known as NOVIDs (by no means had COVID earlier than). I’m been fortunate up to now. What do I have to know to guard myself throughout the present surge?

You in all probability know all of the methods to remain secure. However perhaps you’re affected by COVID amnesia — maybe the trauma of the early years of the pandemic has worn out your reminiscence of primary precautions like mask-wearing and hand-washing.

In the meantime, others have change into COVID-indifferent, says Dr. William Schaffner, a professor within the division of infectious ailments on the Vanderbilt College Faculty of Medication.

They’re dwelling in a bubble, pondering yeah, nicely, no matter, que sera sera — nevertheless it gained’t occur to me.

Then got here the robust summer season surge of 2024 within the U.S. and lots of different locations. “New waves of an infection have been registered within the Americas, Europe and the western Pacific,” the U.N. reported this month.

And, provides Schaffner, whereas getting the virus is a mere annoyance for a lot of, for others, particularly older adults and folks with underlying well being circumstances, the results might be dire. COVID can nonetheless make them fairly sick, land them within the hospital and end in lengthy COVID. And the virus can show deadly. This summer season within the U.S., there have been 400 to 600 deaths every week linked to COVID-19.

Maybe that’s the reason, for the primary time within the historical past of our Coronavirus FAQ collection, docs have been emailing us and asking us to remind individuals of the methods to beat back the virus that launched a pandemic now in its fourth 12 months. So consider this version of as your COVID refresher course.

Vaccines. Sure, an up to date vaccine that addresses the at the moment circulating variants is on the way in which. Approval got here on Thursday. Right here’s our story.

Masks. A well-made masks — an N-95 or KN-95 — will nonetheless defend you even when others round you aren’t masked. And it’ll defend others if you happen to is perhaps contagious — say you’ve discovered you have been with somebody who since examined constructive however don’t know your standing, says Schaffner.

Throughout a COVID surge, you’re much less more likely to contract the virus if you happen to masks up in crowded areas like airports, airplanes and busy shops the place exhaled pathogens could also be within the air.

When making a masks resolution, needless to say outside air is efficient at dispersing these pathogens.

Dr. Schaffner says he at the moment places on a masks each time he’s round different individuals as a result of he has a weak member of the family and needs to scale back the danger of bringing COVID dwelling.

When you’re out of masks apply, Schaffner offers a mild however agency reminder that your masks has to suit over your nostril and canopy your chin and cheeks to guard your mouth correctly. When you take masks breaks for a deep breath or a sip of water, Schaffner recommends making it a brief break — outside if doable or in an area the place you’re not round others.

And oh yeah, you’re in all probability going to should pay for the masks. The times of presidency masks, take a look at, and COVID-19 vaccine and medicine giveaways are usually over.

Preserve your distance. Placing some house between your self and others continues to be an excellent technique — despite the fact that earlier this summer season it was reported that the six-foot rule from the early days of the pandemic was not primarily based on information. A 6-foot distance just isn’t a magic quantity that may forestall an infection since we now know that exhaled pathogens can journey tons of of ft. However as transmission skilled Linsey Marr explains, “As you get farther away from the contaminated particular person, aerosols change into extra diluted, so the prospect of inhaling [particles] normally goes down with distance.”

As an analogy, Marr suggests you concentrate on cigarette smoke. Smaller COVID particles “behave like cigarette smoke. When you’re near somebody who exhaled an enormous puff of smoke, you’re uncovered to greater than if you happen to’re farther away. The farther away you get, the higher.”

What if my housemate catches it? Am I subsequent? One other query to ponder within the wake of rising case counts: If my companion or housemate will get COVID do I mechanically get it? Not essentially, as infectious illness specialist Dr. Abraar Karan wrote in a narrative for NPR this 12 months. When you’re lucky, your roomie may need a brief window of contagiousness and won’t be a superspreader — some individuals simply don’t exhale lots of pathogens. Open home windows and an indoor air filter may also help cut back your danger. As do masks, after all.

Testing, testing. And right here’s one other COVID reminder: be ready to check if you happen to’re experiencing COVID-like signs.

However simply as masks giveaways are only a reminiscence, checks are not free from the federal authorities or at your native library and now value about $7.50 every on-line and in shops. When you have any in your COVID provide stash, test this FDA web site to see if the expiration date has been prolonged. You may additionally test expiration dates on gadgets you obtain in bulk throughout the pandemic, corresponding to acetaminophen to scale back COVID fevers and hand sanitizer, which although it lasts for 3 to 5 years, is perhaps near or previous the expiration date if you happen to purchased it when the world began shutting down in 2020. Expired hand sanitizer isn’t harmful, per the FDA, it simply could also be much less efficient at combating germs.

The timing of a take a look at is important. Since most of us have not less than some immunity to the virus from prior bouts and vaccines which may initially suppress your load of virus, testing early on won’t produce an correct outcome. So it may well take just a few days for a take a look at to register the virus.

And do take a look at, says Dr. Harish Moorjani, an infectious illness specialist at Phelps Hospital in Sleepy Hole, N.Y.

Signs you assume is perhaps COVID-19 might be fall allergic reactions or flu or RSV. For correct remedy, advises Moorjani, it’s good to know what you do – or don’t have.

When you do get COVID. Individuals who take a look at constructive for the coronavirus are not suggested by the CDC to remain dwelling from work and faculty for 5 days.

The brand new pointers are:

1. Keep dwelling and away from others when you have respiratory virus signs corresponding to fever, chills, fatigue, cough, runny nostril and headache.

2. You’ll be able to return to your regular actions when, for not less than 24 hours, your signs are diminishing total, and you haven’t had a fever and will not be utilizing fever-reducing remedy.

3. Take added precautions for the subsequent 5 days after a call to cease isolating: for instance, frequent hand washing, sporting a masks and bodily distance from others if you happen to can.

So the general takeaway is: You’ll be able to finish your isolation sooner however a) you can nonetheless probably be somewhat contagious and b) needless to say some individuals shall be much less cautious about isolation, which will increase the danger of COVID publicity for most people (see: masks, above).

A word about vaccine timing. We must always word that if you happen to’ve caught COVID throughout the previous few days or perhaps weeks you “might” wait three months from a constructive take a look at or the beginning of signs, per the CDC, to be sure that your physique mounts a sturdy response to the vaccine. Dr. Amesh Adalja, senior scholar on the Johns Hopkins Heart for Well being Safety, says that wait must be not less than three months. That’s as a result of when you have antibodies to the virus in your system due to a current an infection, the immune response to a vaccine might be weak. says

New prices of COVID. Exams aren’t the one COVID-related merchandise you will have to pay for. People who find themselves uninsured or have excessive deductibles might should pay for vaccines and medicine on the finish of August when CDC ends its “bridge entry” program which helped present free protection for some COVID-related bills for such people.

COVID vaccines are free for individuals with medical insurance together with Medicare and Medicaid, however Dr. Robert Hopkins,, chief medical officer of the Nationwide Basis for Infectious Ailments, reminds those who to keep away from copays or the total value — about $120 for the up to date COVID vaccine, you must be vaccinated at an in-network supplier.

A big pharmacy chain shouldn’t be an issue however when you have issues, notably about an unbiased pharmacy you’ll be able to test with them to see if they’re in your insurer’s community.

No insurance coverage or having a tough time discovering an in-network supplier? Name 211 for state well being division info and 311 for native well being division info to search out out about group well being clinics and well being division drives that supply the vaccine at no cost.

And in case your physician prescribes Paxlovid to scale back severity of signs, which Dr. Schaffner hopes is the case in case you are older or have underlying well being circumstances that enhance your danger for extreme illness if you happen to get COVID-19, your well being insurer might cost a copay. Beforehand the federal authorities offered the drug at no cost no matter insurance coverage standing.

When you want help to afford Paxlovid, you would possibly wish to contact Pfizer’s help program or name Pfizer at 877-219-7225.

Yet one more factor: The summer season surge will finish after all however keep in mind all this recommendation as a result of … a winter surge is probably going!

When you have a query you would like us to contemplate for a future submit, e-mail us at [email protected] with the topic line: “Coronavirus Questions.” See an archive of our FAQs right here.

Fran Kritz is a well being coverage reporter primarily based in Washington, D.C., and a daily contributor to NPR. She additionally reviews for the Washington Submit and Verywell Well being. Discover her on X: @fkritz