COVID-19 Update: Monday, September 14th

The UN, new high, AstraZeneca, lung damage, covid-kids, and tips.

1. The 75th UN General Assembly will be virtual for the first time in their history due to COVID-19. The pandemic is one of the primary topics for discussion.

2. The WHO reported a new single-day high in regard to new case counts on Sunday with 307,930 new cases in 24 hours, India accounted for 93k of those cases. Globally we should hit 30 million cases this week and 1 million deaths. That puts this pandemic in line with the Third cholera epidemic of 1852, the Russian flu of 1889, the Sixth cholera outbreak in 1910, and the flu pandemic of 1968 but far below the numbers seen from bubonic plague and the Spanish flu.

3. AstraZeneca has resumed their phase 3 trials with approval. Trials are currently being conducted in the U.K. this is reportedly the 2nd time they have paused the trial due to a participant experiencing neurological symptoms. Both times an investigation has been conducted and cleared them to resume. The assumption (they have not released details, so this is purely a presumption on my part) is that the investigation found the vaccine was not the cause of the health issue experienced by the participant. I will continue to monitor this for additional information.

4. The majority of COVID patients that require hospitalization are still experiencing lung damage 6 weeks after discharge but by 12 weeks that number drops. However, at 12 weeks 39% continue to report shortness of breath, and 15% were still coughing. In related news, active COVID was also found in people’s guts and stool for some time after recovery, even in people who were asymptomatic. We do not yet know if it is enough to be transmitted so current recommendations are to assume it is and take care with handwashing and using good toilet hygiene such as closing the lid before flushing and washing your hands well with soap and water.

5. COVID cases among children rose 7.8% the week of September 3rd children now account for 9.8% of total COVID cases in the US – they accounted for only 5.2% in June. South Dakota in particular saw a significant jump (33.7%).

6. Nine months into the pandemic we are heading into fall and winter, a time when many experience seasonal affective disorder. Isolation for long periods of time can be extremely difficult and is not necessary. I want to encourage you to evaluate your situation, know your risk as well as your risk tolerance, and know how to mitigate your risk. When gathering together with others here are some basic tips to remember a) evaluate the risks of the gathering – then make a plan. b) identify high-risk activities associated with the gathering and avoid those, c) maintain social distancing during the gathering as is reasonable/possible. d) wear a mask, particularly when indoors and/or when unable to reasonably distance. e) Keep it short. Short visits reduce your overall risk. Remember, the longer you are in contact with someone the higher the risk is. So, keep visits short. f) keep it small – the less people the safer it is. Each person you add to the gathering increases the risk of transmission. So, joining a friend for an outdoor coffee is a lower risk than attending a large wedding. You don’t have to remain in total isolation unless you are ill. Just be smart about going out.

FINAL THOUGHTS: There is plenty to be frustrated by with this entire situation. But let’s set that aside as we start a fresh new week. Let’s stare this week down and determine that it will be good, that our attitude will be good, that we will focus on the good things and not the bad. Let’s vow that we will not be the one contributing anger, frustration or sorrow. We will be the ones offering encouragement. We will look around for those that need a hand, a gentle word, or reassurance. We will block out the haters and refuse to join their ranks. This week, we will walk tall, and proud, and confident. Get that specialty coffee, order dessert for lunch, look in the mirror and find what is good and right about you. Be kind to yourself so you can in turn also be kind to others. You know the risks. You know how to navigate them. The newness and panic and uncertainty are things of the past. Time to move forward, not as if this isn’t happening because it most certainly is, but as if we know how to navigate through it, because we do. This week, let’s vow not to just survive the week, ticking off days of our lives that we will never get back, but instead, let's resolve to thrive. Grab each day and squeeze all the life out of it that it has to offer, even if that life looks a bit different than it did a few months ago.