On June 19th, 1865, federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas to take control of the state and ensure that all enslaved people be freed. Juneteenth, as it was and is still called, has been celebrated by African Americans since the late 1800s. In 2021, President Biden signed legislation to make Juneteenth, which falls on June 19th, a federal holiday. Even before passing this bill, there was an observable increase in Juneteenth celebrations across the United States. 

How Did Juneteenth Begin?

The federal troops arrived in Galveston, Texas in June of 1865, a full two months after the Confederate general Robert E. Lee surrendered at Appomattox, Virginia. The arrival of General Gordon Granger and his 2,000 troops was to inform the nearly 250,000 enslaved African Americans in Texas of their freedom and the end of the Civil War. General Granger’s announcement put into effect the Emancipation Proclamation, which President Abraham Lincoln issued nearly two and half years earlier on January 1, 1863. The holiday, Juneteenth, is also called Juneteenth Independence Day, Freedom Day, or Emancipation Day. 

The post-emancipation period, or Reconstruction (1865-1867) marked an era of new hope, uncertainty, and struggle for the nation. Formerly enslaved people sought to reunite with families, establish schools, push laws into legislation, run for political office, and even sue slaveholders for compensation. Juneteenth, then, acts as a second day of independence in the United States. 

How Is Juneteenth Celebrated?

Despite the fact that it has been a long celebrated tradition in the African American community, Juneteenth is a monumental event that remains largely unknown to most Americans. The historical legacy of the day represents the value of never giving up hope in times of uncertainty. While many people may get the day off work for this federal holiday, early celebrations involved small family gatherings and prayer. As the years went by, later celebrations involved pilgrimages to Galveston to former enslaved people and their families. 

In 1872, a group of African American businessmen and ministers in Houston, Texas purchased 10 acres of land to create Emancipation Park. The park held the city’s annual Juneteenth celebrations for years. Today, celebrations often take place among families and food is typically a focal point. Some cities, including Washington D.C. and Atlanta, hold larger events that include festivals and parades with local businesses and residents. 

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, many Juneteenth celebrations were on hold for 2020 and 2021. That’s why celebrations ramped up in 2022 and future plans for the holiday are only growing. Galveston continues to remain a busy site for Juneteenth events, and artists dedicated a 5,000-square-foot mural in 2021. This year, in 2023, Galveston will celebrate the holiday with a scholarship ball, a banquet, and a festival. Organizers in Atlanta will hold a parade and music festival, while other cities, including Los Angeles, Brooklyn, Tulsa, And Philadelphia, will hold similar events. 

The Path To A Federal Holiday

Texas became the first state to designate Juneteenth as a holiday in 1980. All 50 states and the District of Colombia now recognize the holiday in some way, shape, or form. In the wake of the nationwide protests against police brutality in 2020, the push for federal recognition of Juneteenth gained new momentum. Congress rushed the bill through legislation in the summer of 2021. 

In fact, the House passed the measure by a vote of 415 to 14. The opposing votes came from members of the Republican party. Some of the opposers even argued that calling the new holiday Juneteenth Independence Day, echoing July 4, would create confusion among the American public and force them to choose a celebration of freedom based on race. 

The law went into effect on June 17, 2021, making Juneteenth the 11th federally-recognized holiday. The first federal Juneteenth holiday was observed the very next day after President Biden signed the bill into law. Juneteenth was observed on June 18, as June 19 fell on a Saturday.

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It can be difficult to stay current with the coronavirus, especially with the highly mutated and fast-moving omicron variant. In the latest COVID-19 news, a new omicron subvariant, XBB.1.5, has become the predominant strain responsible for more than 50% of COVID-19 infections in the United States. In the week of December 24th, 2022, XBB accounted for 18.3% of the COVID-19 cases in the United States. That number increased from 11.2% in the previous week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

By the very end of 2022, XBB accounted for over 40.5% of cases in the country. In the northeastern United States, three out of four cases are currently XBB.1.5. The interesting thing is that XBB subvariants were barely on the radar three to four months ago. At that time, the CDC stated that omicron subvariant BA.5 made up 80% of infections. After that, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 took over. Now, BA.5 only accounts for 3.7% of cases. It’s a wildly unpredictable landscape, with XBB.1.5 multiplying at record speed. 

XBB.1.5 Appears To Be More Contagious Than Other Subvariants

XBB.1.5 is very, very contagious, according to the CDC. Infectious disease experts say that it is outcompeting other variants. This subvariant has already driven outbreaks in parts of Asia, including Singapore. The increased numbers in the northeastern United States, as we previously mentioned, may be an indicator of what will come in the rest of the country. As of December 30th, 2022, the New York Times COVID Tracker noted that New York and New Jersey saw some of the country’s highest per-capita case rates. 

Do Rising Hospitalizations In New York Foreshadow An Increase In COVID-19 Cases Across The U.S.?

Recent New York health figures suggest a steady rise in COVID-19 hospitalizations. A few southern states, including South Carolina and Kentucky, also experienced worsening conditions. Experts don’t know if XBB.1.5 is specifically driving hospitalizations, but the data doesn’t look favorable. It is a contributing factor at the very least, but more information is needed. 

When a new variant moves to a different geographic area, the risk of a mini outbreak in that area is high. That said, experts do not see the XBB subvariant driving the same massive surges as the original omicron variant did at the end of 2021. That’s great news!

Do Current COVID-19 Vaccines Protect Against XBB.1.5?

As stated when the original vaccine rolled out, they won’t keep you 100% protected from COVID-19 infection. As of now, experts believe that current vaccines will offer substantial protection against a mild or moderate infection developing into severe illness. Infectious disease experts say, from a vaccine point of view, that vaccinated individuals are still okay in that sense. XBB.1.5 is not yet a variant of concern, but it is of great interest because of the way it’s spreading. Current CDC data shows that only 15% of Americans are up to date on the most recent COVID-19 booster shot. 

Vaccination is obviously optional and you need to do what’s right for you. Don’t simply rely on vaccinations, though. Do your part to stay healthy by eating the right foods and getting a sufficient amount of weekly exercise. Various modalities can also help improve immune function and respiratory health, so explore those options in your efforts to stay safe and healthy.

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For more than two years, the world has seen the evolution of the coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) that causes COVID-19. From people on ventilators to asymptomatic carriers, COVID-19 affects everyone differently. We’ve also seen breakthrough cases among vaccinated individuals and reinfection among the unvaccinated and vaccinated. It continues to be an evolving situation, as do the top symptoms. 

The UK-based Zoe Health Study (formerly the COVID Symptom Study) recently identified the most common COVID-19 symptoms among current infections. This study based the findings on the information from more than four million people who used a special app to report signs of infection. The recent analysis found that infections from omicron sub-variants result in symptoms that mimic those of the common cold or flu. Symptoms may vary depending on vaccination status, underlying health conditions, and overall health. 

Coronavirus symptoms from earlier variants now rank lower on the list of the most common symptoms. Loss of smell (or other sensory changes from COVID-19), shortness of breath, and fever are less common among newer infections. And although vaccinated individuals can still contract COVID-19, the study found that the symptoms were much more mild among them, or that they experienced very few symptoms. Additionally, vaccinated individuals got better more quickly. 

Top COVID-19 Symptoms Among Those Who’ve Received Two Vaccine Doses

• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Blocked nose
• Persistent cough
• Headache

Researchers in the Zoe study found that vaccinated people who tested positive for COVID-19 reported sneezing. If you are vaccinated and start sneezing a lot without explanation, consider getting a COVID test as you may be infected. This will help reduce the risk of spreading the virus to those around you, some of whom may be in worse health than others. 

Top COVID-19 Symptoms Among Those Who’ve Had One Vaccine Dose

• Headache
• Runny nose
• Sore throat
• Sneezing
• Persistent cough

Zoe study editors observed that persistent cough was one of the original symptoms of COVID-19 infection. Among the most recent data, though, it ranks lower than sneezing and runny nose, two symptoms that were originally thought to be unrelated to COVID-19 infection.

Top COVID-19 Symptoms Among The Unvaccinated

• Headache
• Sore throat
• Runny nose
• Fever
• Persistent cough

According to the Zoe study, loss of smell is still in the top 10 symptoms for unvaccinated individuals who contract COVID-19. It ranks at number nine, but shortness of breath (an original symptom) now ranks at number 30. 

Why Have The Top Symptoms Changed?

The data from the Zoe study is consistent with what many clinicians have observed in COVID-19 patients over the past few months. Why the shift in symptoms is not entirely clear, though. Infectious disease specialists think that the change in top symptoms is multifactorial. The virus has evolved over time in order to maximize transmission and higher levels of immunity in the population (attributed to vaccination and prior infection). 

Cough, Cold, Or Flu? It May Be COVID-19

We covered that symptoms of recent omicron infections tend to mimic those of the common cold or flu. Because of that, people who experience those symptoms may not think that they have COVID, especially since they weren’t common symptoms earlier in the pandemic. If you do experience those symptoms, especially if they are respiratory symptoms, it is wise to test to confirm infection. COVID-19 is still a relevant illness, despite the fact that nearly all restrictions have been lifted. Take care of your health, get a new bivalent COVID-19 booster this fall if you want to, and be safe during the upcoming holiday season. 

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Medical misinformation is far from new. In fact, it became so rampant and harmful during the COVID-19 pandemic that the U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy had to issue an advisory about it in 2021. Not only does health misinformation threaten public health, but it can also cause mistrust, confusion, and can undermine public health efforts. 

Now, there are many countries around the world dealing with monkeypox. In the United States, monkeypox was recently declared a health emergency, which you can learn more about by clicking here. Because it is a relatively new outbreak and the disease is unfamiliar, monkeypox naturally has conspiracies and misinformation around it. Rumors will kick into high gear and people may or may not believe the information that comes out. As a result, people won’t have the information they need to stay safe. 

Infectious disease experts got together to put an end to the misinformation about monkeypox. Below, you will find myths about the disease that health experts debunked. 

Myth: Monkeypox Is A New Strain Of COVID-19

No, monkeypox is not a new strain of COVID-19. In fact, monkeypox belongs to the smallpox family of viruses, meaning there is no connection to monkeypox and the coronavirus. There is a different transmission and life cycle, so you don’t contract it the same way you contract COVID-19. Monkeypox is not an airborne virus and even though cases are on the rise, it isn’t showing the fatalities that resulted from COVID-19 infection. That said, the signs and symptoms of the virus can be unpleasant and severe. 

Myth: Monkeypox Is A New Disease

This may be the first time in history that people in the United States are learning about monkeypox. In reality, monkeypox has been around for more than six decades. Scientists first learned of the virus in 1958, when two pox-like outbreaks occurred in colonies of research monkeys. It was Dr. Mark Fischer, the regional medical director at International SOS, who said it was first seen in humans in 1970 in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Until this year, however, most monkeypox cases were limited to a few African countries, where the virus is endemic. 

Myth: You Can Get Monkeypox From A Swimming Pool

Scientists continue to research monkeypox and how it spreads. As of now, it doesn’t seem to be a waterborne virus; rather, it primarily spreads via skin-to-skin contact. It can spread when people touch unwashed linens and clothing previously used/worn by someone with monkeypox. Keeping that in mind, take precautions at the swimming pool. Be aware of what you touch, including towels, clothing, and other objects outside of the pool. The pool itself will probably not give you monkeypox, but coming in contact with an infected person in the pool or around the pool may cause infection.

Myth: Monkeypox Only Affects Gay And Bisexual Men

The current outbreak has symptoms that differ from previously monkeypox outbreaks. Some of these symptoms include genital lesions, anal pain, penile swelling, and rectal bleeding. That said, the symptoms are not limited to these sexual orientations. Some social media users have attempted to claim monkeypox as a “gay sickness,” but this is simply untrue. Anybody can contract monkeypox via close contact. Men who have sex with men without using protection during intercourse do have a higher risk of infection, though. 

Myth: There Is No Treatment For Monkeypox

In most cases, the monkeypox virus is self-limiting, meaning most of the infection resolves itself in about two to four weeks. If diagnosed in the right time frame, there are many treatment strategies to fight against monkeypox. For symptomatic care, experts advise people to hydrate, increase electrolyte intake, and take antipyretics. Antivirals, NSAIDs, paracetamol, and nutritional support are all used to treat fever and pain that can come with infection. Additionally, there are two vaccines available to protect against the monkeypox virus, even though both are not monkeypox specific. They are, however, at least 85% effective against monkeypox. 

Myth: Monkeypox Was Created In A Lab

There are people who love a good conspiracy theory, but this is a big myth. Monkeypox originated in a colony of monkeys studied for research in the late 1950s. Sporadic outbreaks occurred over the years, primarily in the tropical rain forests of Central and West Africa. Currently, it remains unknown if the virus originated in monkeys or if they contracted it from another species. Because several species can carry it, monkeys may not have transmitted the virus to humans.

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President Biden’s health secretary, Xavier Becerra, recently declared the monkeypox outbreak a national health emergency. This is a rare designation, suggesting that the virus represents a significant risk to Americans. This declaration comes after the World Health Organization (WHO) declared monkeypox a global health emergency in July 2022. It also marks the fifth national emergency since 2001. 

According to a press briefing, Becerra said, “We’re prepared to take our response to the next level in addressing this virus, and we urge every American to take monkeypox seriously and to take responsibility to help us tackle this virus.” 

What Does The Data Suggest?

Globally, there are more than 26,000 cases of monkeypox in 87 countries. According to current data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) the United States leads the world in monkeypox infections, with 6,616 across the country. New York, Georgia, and Washington have the highest rates of monkeypox per capita. The disease has the potential to cause serious illness and five deaths were recorded. 

The WHO’s assessment of monkeypox is moderate on a global scale in all regions. In European countries, however, the risk is very high, but the risk of monkeypox disrupting international travel is low as of now. That said, health experts stated that this virus has the potential to cause serious illness. A coordinated international response is necessary in order to stop transmission and protect the most vulnerable groups. 

Similar to the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, tests are difficult to obtain. Surveillance has also been spotty, meaning that obtaining an accurate amount of cases is difficult. The U.S. Administration has also received a lot of negative attention for not properly educating people in the LGBTQI+ community before pride celebrations in June 2022. According to health officials, people in the LGBTQI+ community seem to be the most at risk for monkeypox infection. LGBTQI+ makes up about 5% of the world’s population, yet they have 25% of the world’s monkeypox cases. 

Is There A Plan Of Action?

President Biden recently named Robert Fenton, an administrator with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, as the White House’s national monkeypox response coordinator. Fenton highlighted how the government already scaled up testing services to handle 80,000 tests per week. That number is a massive increase from the 6,000 tests per week that it previously handled. 

The actual number of people being tested is currently at 10% of the capacity. This is why the CDC encourages anyone with a suspected rash that may be monkeypox to get a test. You should be able to schedule a test via your healthcare provider. Quest Diagnostics, Mayo Clinic Laboratories, Sonic Healthcare, and Labcorp are among some of the labs testing for monkeypox. The emergency declaration will allow the government the opportunity to find new strategies to get vaccines or treatments more quickly. This effort will greatly benefit impacted communities, or those most at risk. 

Who Is Most At Risk?

Going off the most recent data, it seems that the median age for those who become infected is 36. People who contract monkeypox, however, range from ages 18 to 76. The vast majority of cases has been among people who identify as men who have sex with men. Both gay and bisexual men who have had sex with multiple partners have a higher risk of contracting monkeypox. The CDC advises people who identify with these groups to be on the lookout for rashes or lesions that seem unusual. These rashes can occur anywhere on the body, especially the genitalia. 

With this information in mind, the WHO has stressed that the general public is unlikely to get monkeypox. On August 1st, 2022, however, at least four children contracted the illness in the United States. Children are most likely to get the virus if they come in contact with someone who has it or is at risk. These things can be prevented if all countries with confirmed cases of monkeypox work together to fight the disease. A united effort is the only way to control the outbreak and prevent further spread.

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Americans are out and about this summer, with many taking their very first vacations since the beginning of the pandemic. For most places around the country, Los Angeles County included, there are few signs of COVID-19 precautions. Some people continue to wear face coverings indoors, but this isn’t always the case. In fact, LA County continues to experience daily COVID-19 positivity numbers of about 3,700-6,500, depending on the day. 

From June 13, 2022 to June 19, 2022, unvaccinated people were 5.3 times more likely to contract COVID-19 than people who received a booster dose. The new increase in cases and hospitalizations have been fueled by the omicron BA.5 sub-variant, which is very contagious. The BA.5 sub-variant is the fastest-spreading form of omicron so far. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), it is responsible for more than 50% of all new COVID-19 cases in the country. Additionally, researchers say that this sub-variant is three to four times more resistant to antibiotics. 

When Could Indoor Masking Happen?

The decision to reinstate the indoor mask mandate will depend on future daily case rates and hospitalization rates. If the number of case and hospitalization rates remains high enough for two weeks, LA County may require indoor masking by July 29, 2022. Fortunately, LA County is not in that high COVID-19 community ever yet. This category indicates that an area is experiencing high COVID-19 spreading, with the transmission straining hospitals. 

The CDC updates community assessments every Thursday. If LA County enters a high COVID-19 community level on July 14th, for example, it has to remain in that tier until July 28th, 2022, for authorities to issue an indoor masking order. This information comes from Barbara Ferrer, LA County’s Public Health Director. She did say, however, that there is no guarantee that the masking order will take effect. 

How Close Is Los Angeles To The Indoor Mask Policy?

There has to be 10 new weekly coronavirus-positive hospitalizations for every 100,000 residents for health officials to reinstate the indoor masking order. As of July 7, 2022, that number was 9.7, a 17% increase from the previous week’s rate of 8.3. From the county’s perspective, though, the actual figure is about 8.4, because that combined federal data from LA and Orange counties. LA County and Orange County numbers have been relatively similar, but Orange County’s new weekly coronavirus-positive hospitalizations for every 100,000 residents was 13.3 as of July 6th, 2022. 

Why Is LA Considering A Mask Mandate Again?

LA County health officials say that the order would align with guidance from the CDC. According to the CDC, indoor masking should be enforced in counties that have high COVID-19 community level. Roughly 60% of California’s counties remain in that category, including the Central Valley and San Francisco Bay areas. About 16 million Californians currently live in a county with a high COVID-19 community level. That number accounts for about 41% of the state’s population. 

In Southern California, Ventura County remains the only county with a high community level. Despite the high community levels in other counties in California, LA County seems to be the only county that has responded to the CDC framework. It will reinstate an indoor mask mandate if the numbers continue to climb. 

Even though health officials recommend wearing a mask indoors as a preventative measure, some officials don’t think it is necessary at this time. The reason for this logic is because epidemiological changes in the virus have taken place. Plus, treatments and vaccines are readily available. Ultimately, health officials want to do their best to avoid the effects of another pandemic wave in LA County. Wear a mask indoors if you can to help reduce the spread of the new contagious BA.5 sub-variant and the mask mandate may not go into effect.

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The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently approved a second COVID-19 booster shot for both Moderna and Pfizer. The aim of the second booster shot is to protect Americans who are most vulnerable to COVID-19. People 50 years of age and older who are at least four months out from their last dose can receive the new booster. But the fact remains that people are less interested in getting the shot now that mask mandates are ending and the world is opening back up. 

COVID-19 cases are down in the United States, with numbers dropping to the lowest point since July 2021. The BA.2 subvariant of omicron is the current dominant strain in America and is sweeping across Europe, but what’s the right choice moving forward in regards to vaccines? The scientific evidence surrounding a fourth dose is incomplete. Researchers cannot conclude if people need the shots, with some scientists saying that they are dubious about the decision to get a second one. 

Although the FDA authorized people over the age of 50 to receive a second booster, experts point out the lack of research surrounding it. What the research does show, however, is that people in poor health, those 65 and older, or people with underlying health conditions may benefit from another booster. The reasoning behind this is because they are more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 and suffering from more severe symptoms without vaccine protection.

Do You Need Another Booster Shot?

This is a question that you have to answer yourself, as only you can decide what is right for you. Health experts do say that your overall health status factors in to this decision. If you are aged 50 or older and in good health with no underlying conditions, you may want to wait a bit. Infectious diseases specialists say that it’s perfectly reasonable for people under 60 to wait, noting that current vaccines and boosters still offer protection against death and severe disease. 

According to several research studies, many people have sufficient protection from severe illness. Even if someone contracts the omicron variant, which can slip through immune defenses, two or three doses of Moderna or Pfizers’s vaccine proved powerful enough protection. An Israeli study found that adults older than 60 who got a fourth dose were 78% less likely to die from COVID-19 than those who received three shots. That study has flaws, though, given that the participants volunteered to get a fourth shot. 

People who are naturally careful about their health may be more cautious about the coronavirus. They are more likely to exercise, eat healthy, wear a mask, and less likely to smoke cigarettes. These factors may make a second booster look more effective than it is. Other data from that study suggests that a second booster had marginal benefits in healthy young people. 

Is A Second Booster Shot Dangerous?

Health officials continue to say that vaccines are incredibly safe. There is no danger surrounding an additional shot. It’s possible to experience brief bouts of fatigue, site pain, and fever, as is consistent with the other shots. The only reason it would be dangerous is if you are allergic to something within the vaccine. 

Should You Time A Booster With Travel? 

This is a strategy that many people want to employ, but it does carry some risk. The omicron variant spread like wildfire when it hit during late November 2021, quickly overwhelming hospitals and healthcare workers. The BA.2 variant is more contagious, but it doesn’t necessarily cause severe symptoms like previous variants. 

Vaccine protections don’t last forever and they do take some time to kick in. According to research, the protection against hospitalization for people two months after they got their first booster was 91%. That protection dropped to 78% four months after getting the first booster. If you plan to travel in late summer, the second booster may not be effective if you get it now. 

Lastly, if you contracted COVID-19 during the omicron wave, you don’t have to rush to get another booster shot. Experts say that any infection within the past three months gives you a similar level of protection against reinfection as a booster will. 

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COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths continue to decline, and states with mask mandates have started lifting regulations. Some states continue to require face masks in indoor settings, but they lifted outdoor mask mandates. Other states have not had mask regulations for quite some time, which may not fall under the guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Because individual state masking policies may go against the CDC’s recommendations, some people may not know what to do.

Recent data from the CDC shows that as of February 16th, 2022, daily new COVID-19 cases in the United States dropped 43% compared to the previous week. Infectious disease specialists confirmed the decrease in cases and remain optimistic about the situation. For this reason, the specialists understand the rationale behind the lifting of mask mandates. Even though states drop mask guidances, the CDC has not adjusted their own recommendations. The recommendation is still that anyone over two years old and not “up to date” on COVID-19 vaccines should continue to wear masks in indoor public places. 

Should You Still Wear A Mask If Your State Lifted Regulations?

This is a decision that only you, and you alone, can make. Some people may not have difficulty making the decision to discard the mask and leave it in the past. Others may grapple with the fear of removing the mask in a public setting, especially an indoor one. The risks and benefits are not merely yours; rather, they also belong to the people around you. For example, you may be perfectly fine, healthy, and vaccinated, and not wearing a mask may be a risk you can take. You have to think about others in your immediate circle, though.

If you regularly interact or live with someone who is immunocompromised, it may be a good idea to continue to wear a mask in public. Although the newer COVID-19 variants may not be as lethal to your health, they are still quite contagious. That means that you may be fine if you contract COVID-19, but the immunocompromised person you see may not be so lucky. Additionally, you may want to wear a mask if you regularly spend time with people who did not get the COVID-19 vaccine or booster shot. Data reports indicate that unvaccinated people have an extraordinary risk of hospitalization and death from COVID-19. 

Pay Attention To Infection Rates

Regardless of your state’s mask mandates, it may be wise to wear a mask in public if infection rates are high where you live. Although the CDC encouraged masking indoors during the omicron wave, the decision seemed to be very individual. The decision to wear a mask is personal, but if you want to be safe and worry-free, put the mask on and don’t worry about what people think. 

What Type Of Mask Should You Wear?

If you want to continue wearing masks in public areas, a well-fitting, high quality mask is your best bet. A bandana or thin cloth offers very little protection and many researchers found that they were subpar compared to masks with three or more cloth layers. KN95, N95, and KF94 masks offer the best protection around. When you buy them, make sure that they are not counterfeit, as some may only have two layers. If you don’t want to purchase an N95 mask, you can add a filter to cloth masks, or simply wear a surgical mask under your cloth mask for extra protection.

What If You Have The Sniffles?

COVID-19 is not the only virus floating around the general public. People are regularly exposed to flu variants and strains of the common cold, which can be very harmful to certain people. The flu, for example, kills over 30,000 Americans in a typical season, and most of the deaths are older adults or immunocompromised people. Flus and colds are likely transmitted the same was as COVID-19, so if you feel a little sick, you may be shedding the virus into the air. This causes you to infect other people, so if you feel sick wear a mask if you must go out, otherwise stay home. 

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Since the beginning of the pandemic, N95 masks have been the gold standard in regards to protection against COVID-19. At that time, people were discouraged from buying them because health care workers desperately needed them. Nowadays, they are readily available and sought after, due to their ability to block more viral particulates than regular cloth or surgical masks, especially when indoors or in crowded areas. 

The N95 respirator is the most common of seven types of particulate filtering face respirators. The “95” comes from the fact that it filters 95% of airborne viruses. Due to the increased transmissibility of omicron and the new BA.2 sub-variant, more and more people are upgrading to N95s from regular cloth masks. These masks, however, can be quite expensive, so people want the maximum use out of each one. That applies to people who get them for free or to people who purchase them in bulk. 

Can You Reuse An N95 Mask?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can wear an N95 mask up to five times. The number of times you reuse an N95 will depend on where you wear it and how long you wear it. Wearing an N95 mask for brief periods, for example, going to the grocery store or running an errand, can extend the mask’s longevity. Wearing a mask in a crowded indoor environment for a long period of time may require replacement sooner rather than later. Experts also want to note that you should not wear the same mask for five consecutive days.

Over time, masks start to lose their effectiveness, experiencing general wear and tear. Elastic straps can weaken with each wear, which makes it more difficult for the mask to create a protective seal around the face. When there are gaps, it’s easier for unfiltered air to pass through the mask. If you notice that the mask doesn’t fit snugly or the nose wire or straps are damaged, you should discard the mask and wear a new one. The same rule applies if the mass gets dirty, even if you only wore it once or twice. Additionally, you should throw masks out if you regularly cough or sneeze in them. 

How To Clean An N95 Mask

In order to keep the mask in good working order, you have to clean the N95 between each wear. This helps to de-germ the mask and even though it sounds complicated, it isn’t. After wearing an N95 mask, store it in a paper bag for five days before wearing it again. This amount of time is sufficient for any virus particulates to die off. You essentially clean the mask by allowing it to air out in a paper bag. It’s very important that you don’t wash an N95 mask with soap and water. That may seem like an effective way to clean the mask, but it can compromise the mask’s integrity, disrupting the electrostatic charge to reduce filtration effectiveness. 

Treating An N95 With Heat Or UV Light

According to a paper published in 2020, dry-heat decontamination may be an effective way to clean masks, but only once or twice. Using a UV light to clean an N95 is acceptable three times, but the mask’s fit and filtration become compromised after that. Both the heat and UV light help to zap away viruses, which was beneficial during a mask shortage during 2020. Most experts agree that the paper bag method is a lot easier and less expensive, though. 

How To Store N95 Masks

When you aren’t wearing your N95 masks, you should store each one in a separate paper bag, so that they can air out properly. As a general recommendation, you should have three to five masks in your rotation at any given time. Filter new masks into your rotation as you needed. 

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A new sub-variant of the omicron variant of the coronavirus has gained the attention from scientists around the world. It’s steadily becoming the dominant cause of COVID-19 infections in certain countries. Should you panic? Scientists say that even though the BA.2 sub-variant exists in 49 countries, including the United States, it is not yet cause for concern. 

Although there has been a higher increase in cases because it is highly transmissible, the surge did come from a low number of cases. Researchers have an easier time observing these cases and how BA.2 behaves. Consider BA.2 to be a close cousin of omicron that is outcompeting it in parts of Asia and Europe. Almost 80% of all of the new COVID-19 cases in Denmark, for example, are attributed to BA.2. 

What Do Experts Know About BA.2?

In addition to BA.2, there are other sub-variants under the omicron umbrella, including Ba.1.1.529 and BA.3, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). BA.2 accounts for 9% of cases in the United Kingdom and 8% in the U.S. At the moment, experts know that BA.2 is very contagious, but it doesn’t seem to produce more more severe disease. Current vaccines should provide protection against severe disease and hospitalization, but not infection from BA.2. 

A U.K. health report that was released on January 27th, 2022, found that current vaccines offer the same protection against BA.2 as they do against the original omicron. The difference is that vaccines offer slightly better protection against the symptoms from BA.2 infection. The protection percentage is about 70% two weeks after receiving a booster, according to the report. 

How Does BA.2 Differ From Omicron?

BA.2 differs from omicron in regards to the concentrated spike protein, the part of the virus that vaccines target. Unlike omicron, BA.2 doesn’t reveal a certain signature on lab tests, i.e. it doesn’t have s-gene target failure. That means that BA.2 looks like other SARS-CoV-2 variants on a first screen, which is why researchers call it a “stealth variant.” Some experts think that this nickname may be misleading to some. It may cause them to think that BA.2 will not show up on lab tests, but this is not the case. Both FDA-approved lab tests and at-home antigen tests should be able to detect this sub-variant, in addition to the original omicron. 

Is BA.2 More Transmissible? 

Early reports indicate that it is more infectious than the already contagious BA.1 variant. At this time, health officials say that BA.2 is roughly 1.5 times more transmissible than BA.1, but it doesn’t cause more severe disease. One preliminary analysis from the U.K. traced COVID-19 infections from December 27th, 2021, to January 11th, 2022. The findings suggested that BA.2 accounted for 13.4% of household transmission, compared to 10.3% from BA.1. 

At this time health experts are wondering if a previous BA.1 infection protects individuals from the BA.2 sub-variant. If a prior BA.1 infection doesn’t protect against BA.2, then certain areas may see a two-humped wave of high COVID-19 cases. Unfortunately, it’s still too early to know if this will happen or not. 

Where Is BA.2 Most Prominent?

COVID-19 vaccine researchers from Australia showed 10,811 BA.2 sequences detected worldwide as of January 27th, 2022. Roughly 90% of sequences, however, were from Denmark, India, and the U.K. It’s important to keep calm during this time because BA.2 doesn’t show increased severity. More research is necessary, but continue to follow local health and safety guidelines to protect yourself as much as possible. 

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