Experts in the US are urging the public to take the summer wave seriously, as covid cases have been on the rise for weeks.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the former head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, has insisted that he's worried about Americans' attitude toward rising case numbers. re not talking about mandates or forcing anybody, but when you have a situation where the volume of cases in society gets to a reasonably high level...those who are elderly and those with underlying conditions are going to be more susceptible and vulnerable, to get severe disease leading to hospitalisation, he said.
Dr Fauci isn't the only one raising concern. Dr Deborah Birx, who served as White House coronavirus response coordinator under then-president Donald Trump, recently said in an interview with ABC News that Americans are living in a 'fantasy world'.
According to the most recent data of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, hospital admissions from the virus rose 8.7 percent from the previous week. Deaths from the virus rose 10.5 percent during the same time period.
As new versions of Eris and Pirola circulate, experts are calling for Americans to do all they can to slow the spread of the virus, including staying up-to-date on vaccines. On September 12th, the CDC announced it said that everyone six months and older will be eligible for the updated vaccine, which has been designed to target newer variants.
In addition to getting the shot and masking when appropriate, the CDC recommends that the public continue testing for Covid-19 to slow the spread, and the agency has released specific guidance on when and how to monitor yourself.
The CDC recommends testing immediately if you have symptoms. For a single test, opt for a PCR test instead of an at-home test, since they're more reliable. If you conduct an at-home test instead and the result is negative, you'll want to take another test in 48 hours or take a PCR test immediately to confirm the result.
When you have been exposed to Covid, the CDC recommends waiting at least five days before testing yourself. If you're only going to test for a few days, you should take a PCR test, as they're more reliable. If you use an at-home test and the results are negative, you should re-test yourself in 48 hours. If a second test is negative, then you'll have to wait another 48 hours and test a third time. If your at-home test is expiring, don't use it until the Food and Drug Administration has given it an extended expiration date. The FDA has listed a list of products that have been given this designation on its website.
If your test is not on this list and has already ended, it may not give you an accurate result, according to the FDA. Dr Mandy Cohen, the director of the CDC, said in a statement in September.
Many believe the government should continue to provide free covid tests and treatment to the American people. An NIH-supported program recently ran out of tests after advertising that they could give people without health insurance six free tests. Dr Lucky Tran, Columbia University's director of science communication and media relations, wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.