COVID-19 Update: Friday, September 4th

Numbers are improving, antimicrobial resistance, immunity, PTO, and the vaccine roll-out plan.

1. The rate of positive tests dropped this week to 5.7%. Hospitalizations were also down along with new cases (266k for the week rounded) and deaths (6224 for the week). Our numbers are looking much better. Let’s not undo it over the holiday.

2. A study published in the Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy found that the increased use of antibiotics during the pandemic is resulting in increased antibiotics in the wastewater which could be increasing the levels in rivers – contributing to antibiotic resistance. So there’s something to watch.

3. The NE Journal of Medicine found that antibodies for COVID could last up to 4 months, meaning if you get it, you may be immune for 4 months after recovery. We have seen cases of people whose immunity lasted only 4-6 weeks, so it isn’t a failsafe, but it is a starting point.

4. A social issue that has become even more apparent during the pandemic is the issue of workers without paid sick leave. Currently, workers who are suspected of having COVID and have been tested but have not yet received their results are continuing to work while they wait because they don’t have paid sick leave and can’t afford to take off work for 10 days while they wait. Many places are allowing for PTO once the test comes back positive, even if the job site doesn’t typically allow for PTO, but not during the waiting period. Some places are not paying sick leave even with a laboratory-confirmed positive.

5. US plan for the vaccine rollout. Phase 1 includes high-risk healthcare workers, first responders, high-risk members of the public, and older adults living in crowded environments. See further details in the graphic.

FINAL THOUGHTS: Yesterday I suffered a setback. To say I was discouraged would be an understatement, for 5 years I have been working on a project and finally, fin-al-ly, I was close to being done. And then I wasn’t. With the blink of an eye the work was undone, and I was set back months. A long-time friend talked me off the cliff with some tough love that sounded something like, “deal with it, you’re tougher than this” not his exact words but you get the idea. So, I swallowed hard and closed my laptop and stepped away knowing he was right. You see, no matter what happened or how I got to that spot or how desperately I wish there was a rewind or undo button for life – the fact remains I am dead center of this situation and there is no rewind or undo button.And while I could take a moment, when I woke up this morning I was still in that spot and I had to decide, was I going to crumble or was I going to dust off and move forward. It made me think of you. No matter where you are on the COVID spectrum, (it’s all a hoax, it’s real but way overblown, we’re all going to die if we leave our house without a hazmat suit – or anywhere in-between) this is where we are. Is there too much hype? Yes. Are people overreacting in places and times? Yes. Are some people not taking it seriously? Yes. Do some people have it all wrong? Yes. Did we handle it the way I would have? No. Did we make mistakes? Of course. But the reality is, this is where we are. This is our new starting line. This is where we must begin to resolve it. We can’t go back. There is no do-over. We have to start from right here, right now. Are we tired? I sure am, and I assume you are too. But this is not the time to quit. This is the time to take a breath and exhale slowly. Step away for the weekend and take a moment. A nice long one this weekend in which you just let yourself grieve, dust off, wash your face, and prepare to tackle the issue head-on next week. No matter what missteps may have gotten us here, here is where we find ourselves. In the midst of a firestorm. We aren’t all going to die. It is not a hoax. It’s a virus. A virus we can protect ourselves from with a few simple, virus prevention steps. So, we have to look around at our situation, take it in, make a plan, and move forward. Because hiding under the covers isn’t an option. But first, we get a moment to close the computer, step away and exhale. I’ll see you back here on Tuesday, enjoy the long weekend.