There's a Huge Covid Surge Right Now and Nobody Is Talking About It

[Nevilledog]

https://www.wired.com/story/theres-a-huge-covid-surge-right-now-you-probably-didnt-notice/

Seemingly everyone has come down with at least one bout of illness this winter: sniffles that theoretically pass as “just some bug” if you don’t test for Covid.

But there’s a solid chance, with or without a test, that those sniffles were Covid after all. We’re in the midst of the largest global surge in daily Covid infections since Omicron, with nearly 2 million new infections per day estimated in the US alone. Odds are, you barely noticed.

The massive rise in cases is being driven by coronavirus variant JN.1, which emerged in September and quickly became the dominant strain. But hospitalization rates are generally lower than they were this time last year (90 admissions per million people in the US, roughly 65 percent the size of last year’s spike). “It’s really encouraging that we don’t have a big parallel spike of hospitalizations,” says Eric Topol, professor of molecular medicine at the Scripps Research Translational Institute.

But infection rates haven’t peaked yet, and we can expect hospitalizations and deaths to rise over the next few weeks. “That’s really troubling for a variant that’s rapidly taking over,” says Mark Cameron, an infectious disease researcher at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine—and especially worrying during the winter flu season.

*snip*

[CatWoman]

1. yep

in the past day i have talked to two people who have been infected

[Quakerfriend]

7. Two of the largest hospitals in Philly just issued

a mask mandate again.

I still mask up out in public.
It’s a no brainer!!

[Nictuku]

37. Me too. I do it for my 82 year old mom who lives with me

I don't go out much these days anyway. so it makes sense to be safe. Neither one of us has gotten Covid, and we are up on all the vaccinations.

[emulatorloo]

38. I had covid in late October and again in late December. Fully boosted, this variant is ugly.

Had managed to avoid it until now. On edit: I am immunocompromised.

[Nanjeanne]

2. Worldwide - 1,189,927 ‎+286,562 increase on previous 28 days Reported COVID-19 cases 28 days to 31 December 2023

Last edited Thu Jan 11, 2024, 05:46 PM - Edit history (1)

From WHO.

While 10,000 deaths worldwide in one month may not seem a lot. The rise in cases is putting incredible burdens once again on hospitals. The 10,000 were for December so I expect it will rise in January after the surge from the holidays.

And for someone who lives with someone who is immunocompromised - it's a real worry. At our cancer center - they said the ER is completely overwhelmed with Covid/Flu/RSV - many people with more than one of these.

Spain just started mandatory masks. Wish the US would start paying attention again. Biggest fear - especially in a country with no decent healthcare - is how many people have been infected more than once and struggling now with long-term Covid.

It may not seem worrisome to some - but it damn well is me!

[Mountainguy]

3. 10k deaths globally ina month...

Is actually a pretty acceptable number. Puts in lower that seasonal flu for global deaths. Flu kills 300k to 600k worldwide ina given year.

It's not the public health threat is was 3 years ago.

[Nanjeanne]

5. See my edit. Lot worse than my mistyped fingers!

[MLAA]

9. I too live with my husband who has COPD and heart disease.

I have been in fear for him for 4 years. We are vaxxed and I get us boosted the minute a new one is available. I also got him RSV vax. After 4 years of being very careful, we finally got Covid last week. I tested positive 4 days before he did. I wore a mask inside, wiped everything I touched constantly washed my hands. I couldn’t move out because he has serious memory issues. The minute he was positive I worked to get him Paxlovid in case he needed it. I was amazed and relieved, his only real symptom was/is exhaustion and even that after 5 days has finally started to improve a little. I lost a couple nights of sleep after his positive test.

[Nanjeanne]

13. Understand completely. My husband has multiple myeloma-incurable but manageable so far. But treatment of one kind

another for 10 years - but he's lucky now to be in remission and since his bi-weekly treatment causes immunosupression he gets IVIG treatment to boost it. We're vaxed completely and RSV and flu as well. We're careful but still living. We managed to avoid Covid for a long time - but both got it in Rome last year. He had Paxlovid with his since his oncologist prescribed. He did well. I couldn't get it - so my (rather mild) symptoms lasted longer. We mask in stores and around lots of people and try to avoid large gatherings.

But we're planning a trip to Italy in May - and Italy is doing badly again right now.

Our biggest fear is the long-term symptoms. That seems to be a big void in the healthcare system right now and very frightening.

Best of luck to you and your husband. Stay well.

[MLAA]

15. Thank you! And wishing you both a safe and wonderful trip!

[PlutosHeart]

32. Medical system failure in that

they really do not know how to test for LTC. fThe biggest one being some reports of early onset dementia.

My husband's mental and physical conditions declined when I am pretty sure I had it prior to their announcing it.

[Ocelot II]

4. Most people haven't bothered to get the new booster,

I think only 17% have done so. I don't understand that.

[LisaM]

20. I had some trouble getting an appointment and so have some others.

I did get an appointment in December but that was after a few weeks of trying. Partly it was logistics. We only have one car which I don't have access to during the day and the available locations didn't line up with my transit choices. I think this is a problem for a lot of people, especially in rural areas.

[Blue Dawn]

28. Wow, I had not realized that.

My husband and I received our flu shots, COVID shots, and RSV shots in October, and I also encouraged my sister to make sure her household received theirs, too.

I am surprised by that low percentage number.

[flashman13]

29. If you haven't received the most current vaccine - get it.

[Ocelot II]

30. I got the new booster the week it became available.

If another one comes out I'll get that, too. Got RSV and flu shots, too.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

40. The underlying problem is that far fewer

doses of the latest booster are available. I had a very difficult time scheduling that one, but finally got it.

[I_UndergroundPanther]

42. I didnt know another one was out.

Got a shot like around october is this one newer?

[Ocelot II]

43. That is the new one - came out in September, I think.

Nothing new since then, as far as I know.

[honest.abe]

6. I think I had it over the holidays.

I tested negative with a home test kit but I have heard they are not always reliable.

The symptoms were typical Covid. The coughing was relentless and chest congestion would not go away. Thankfully much better now.

[Nevilledog]

12. Just read a report that's it's taking up to 4 days after symptoms start to test positive.

That might explain some of the spread amongst people trying to be more careful and concluding they DON'T have Covid. I'm not sure how many days in a row I'd keep testing.

[Happy Hoosier]

8. Tested positive for the first time last Friday.

The first night I had a bout of intense chills, but it's very mild since then. The doc recommend Paxlovid anyway and I did the course. Tested negative yesterday. Feeling fine, other than I have a little less energy. For me, except for the chills, this was a barely noticable event.

Today, two more of my team tested positive (we all work remotely).

Seems to be mild for them as well, so hopefully this wave will generally have less severe illness.

[maxsolomon]

10. Um... Everyone is talking about it, Wired.

Ridiculous headline.

[onenote]

11. +1

[obamanut2012]

19. Exactly, and has been for a few weeks

[rdchili96]

44. Yeah...

I saw this on a local news channel when surfing through channels while trying to find something to watch.

[Dorian Gray]

46. Agree

everybody knows here in nyc it's going around. People taking precautions. I've changed some in person meetings to zoom. I took out my masks again.

I also think that for most of us who have had covid and fared well, it's not as scary as it once was. We know there is potential for long covid etc but we also have prior immunity, vaccines, and the tools to protect us. So the fear that once existed isn't necessary anymore.

[Ms. Toad]

14. Interesting. The Cleveland Clinic apparently implemented a masking requirement in October.

But it apparently only applies to the hospital and not to connected outpatient facilities.

I went to visit a CC doctor just before Christmas - and not only was no one masked, but when I told them I was just recovering from COVID (I was 9 days fro my first symptoms; 8 days from my first positive test), they took no steps to protect themselves. None of the 3 doctors + one intake worker masked up, and the doctor deliberately invited a handshake.

Pretty sure I didn't transmit COVID to them. I tested negative 6 days before the visit and, although my Paxlovid rebound started that day, I never tested positive again. I was wearing a mask through the entire visit, and had sanitized my hands before I entered the building. But I would have expected them to take reasonable precautions in case I was not an extraordinarily conscientious person as to COVID.

ETA: I mentioned in another thread that I was with 20 people about a week ago and at least a quarter of them had had COVID within the prior month. Another just tested positive yesterday. Crossing my fingers that my 92 year old parents keep avoiding it.

[lapfog_1]

16. I just now am over ( knock on wood ) a case of JN-1 Covid

tested positive the day after New Years. Called my doctor and got a script for Paxlovid the next day,

Oh my god... I have never been so sick in my life. Could. Not. Stop. Coughing. Sore throat, congestion, headache that wouldnt go away, runny nose, fever.

Finished the Paxlovid 2 days ago. Feeling much better, I still have a little cough.

I had Covid in the pre-vaccine days... that was bad... this was worse. I twice almost dialed 911 for a ride to the ICU for a ventilation and oxygen... choking while coughing... almost to the point of passing out. Very bad.

and I am vaccinated and boosted.

Paxlovid retails for around $1200 for the 5 days of 6 pills ( 3 in the morning, 3 at night ). I am suppossed to be reimbursed for the full amount.. but the day I had a friend pick up the script... I did not give a shit about the amount... I am lucky that I have a health savings account that had that much available to just pay it and get the medicine.

I think it saved my life... or at least a stay in the ICU.

BTW Paxlovid has two nasty side effects... a bitter taste (very bad) and Diarrhea

This variant is nothing to screw around with.

[Nevilledog]

21. Yikes! I'm so glad you're on the mend.

[Sympthsical]

17. There's nothing to be done for it

It's endemic now, same as the flu. You hope people will get their yearly vaccines, however, people didn't really bother this year at all. The last numbers I remember seeing was something like 16% of people by December. Most people who get it will have very mild symptoms, if they have symptoms at all, and might assume it's just a bad cold. Hell, it felt like everyone around me was sick in December with some kind of respiratory situation. I kept telling everyone to test, but only one person actually did (they were positive).

People are going to start treating this like the annual flu. Most people already have.

No one's going to bring back restrictions, no one's going to start their six foot stuff again, certainly no one's ever going near a lockdown again. So what's to be done? PSAs about annual shots basically.

The only thing to be done is to protect yourself. Get your vaccine, stay out of social situations full of sick people. Whatever you would do during flu season, really.

[Johnny2X2X]

48. Exactly this

It's a slightly less severe flu now. Like predicted, new strains of it have weakened and it's become endemic. 10,000 deaths a month globally is much much less deadly than this flu season will be.

The good in all of this is that some people are still very concerned over Covid, and that's a good thing if it causes them to take flu season more seriously andbe more careful with being exposed and spreading it to the vulnerable people in their lives.

If people want to wear masks to stop themselves from spreading Covid and flu, that's good too.

It was a once in a hundred years plague that is over, but it has left us with a new bug to worry about like the cold and flu already do. And none of this means the measures we took at the start weren't the correct ones. This was a novel virus that killed over a million people in the US. Mask and vaccine mandates were absolutely the right thing to do, so were school closings and other restrictions.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

18. One of my part time job cleaning locations is an Urgent Care...

I was off for a couple of weeks and when I went back last Saturday, it was beyond obvious that COVID was roaring back. The trash and biohazards were full of covid related paraphernalia.

[marcopolo63]

22. Tested positive today...

It’s not as bad as the Delta variant infection I got in Nov. 2021, but it has been kicking my butt since Sun. 1/7. No loss of taste with this variant for me anyway, and less intense symptoms all around! Stay safe out there folks!

[Nevilledog]

26. Hope you feel better soon.

[BigmanPigman]

23. Only 19% of US has been vaxxed this season

"Not enough Americans are vaccinated. As of December 30, 2023, only 8% of children and 19% of adults report having received the updated COVID-19 vaccine. Only 38% of adults age 65 years and older report having received this vaccine, which is concerning given that they are at higher risk of hospitalization from COVID-19."

"CDC data shows that fewer than half of U.S. adults have gotten a flu shot this fall and winter. That's still better than the vaccination rate for this season's COVID-19 booster, which fewer than 20% of U.S. adults have gotten, even though COVID-19 remains the bigger danger."

[Hope22]

27. And so it will mutate

Perpetuating the problem.

[bmichaelh]

24. Got the booster

I am the only member of my household to get the booster.

It is a necessity for me.

I am currently undergoing chemotherapy maintenance treatments that lower my immune system.

[Skittles]

25. and to the idiots who think it is just like the flu

let me know when there are cases of "long flu"

[Farmer-Rick]

35. Exactly

The vaccine doesn't always keep you from getting sick but you have a better chance of not getting long COVID, with every (COVID) vaccination you get. I've gotten every COVID vaccine available.

[rdchili96]

45. Yeah....

yet I hear this shit from my MAGA sister and her MAGA husband constantly.

"Did you know that you can still get it with the vaccince"

They seriously think that is a gotcha statement. No one ever said that vaccines completely stop you from getting sick.

[mgardener]

31. How timely.

Woke up sick today.

[ProfessorGAC]

33. Seems Alarmist

These charts don't corroborate the article's tone.
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

[SleeplessinSoCal]

34. I have the dregs of a cold. I think.

I took Zicam off and on for a month and it worked til it didn't. Just like pre-Covid colds. Didn't get sick at all since before 2019. This one hit Christmas eve eve. I didn't test it. Guess we'll never know. But I don't think it was Covid.

[SleeplessinSoCal]

36. Symptoms of JN1...

What are the symptoms of JN.1?

It’s not known whether JN.1 causes different symptoms from other variants, according the CDC.

“Right now, there’s nothing that says that JN.1 infection is any different from previous COVID variants in terms of disease severity or symptoms, but we’re paying close attention,” says Pekosz.

The symptoms of JN.1 appear to be similar to those caused by other strains, which include:

Sore throat
Congestion
Runny nose
Cough
Fatigue
Headache
Muscle aches
Fever or chills
Loss of sense of taste or smell
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea

[Warpy]

39. Compared to what we've been through

especially in 2920-2021, I wouldn't call it a huge surge. The increase of cases in some areas is worrying and it would be nice to know some data, such has how many people were vaxed and boosted verus people who just had the one vax or no vax.

I suppose that work is being done now, at least I hope it is. It will likely be published in the medical nerdosphere, maybe not the mainstream news in an election year. Sigh.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

41. I was pleased to see my law firm tightened the firm's covid policy

Due to shorter incubation period, we are to test three days after exposure instead of five. This tells me that someone at the firm had covid recently