COVID has changed our world.
COVID is currently the third leading cause of death in the U.S. There were 13,000-plus deaths in the U.S. last month.
What COVID has already done to us:
People say "I am SO OVER COVID."
Larry says I am still COVID-ing.
COVID is NOT over us.
The main pandemic, per se, may be over but COVID is now endemic.
Endemic
The amount of a particular disease that is usually present in a community. It's also called a baseline.
Epidemic
An increase — often sudden — in the number of cases of a disease above what is normally expected in that population in a specific area.
Pandemic
An epidemic that has spread over several countries or continents and affects many people.
Over the past two years, COVID-19 has been classified as a pandemic due to its widespread effects. So what would moving to a stage where COVID-19 is endemic mean?
Dr. O'Horo says that when COVID-19 becomes endemic, it will be present at a certain level in a population at certain times of the year or year-round.
FROM: Endemic vs. epidemic vs. pandemic: What you need to know (Mayo Clinic Health System)
Now we need to balance society's needs / keep society's needs in mind.
SHUTDOWNS DON'T WORK.
We have had 150,000 deaths this year.
Larry said COVID-19 is hitting senior citizens particularly hard. 80% of the 150,000 deaths this year.
Also, patients with Long COVID, Diabetes, Obese, etc. are at serious risk of death.
[See Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions (CDC)]
ONE CASE STUDY
March 2020 caught original COVID-19 strain
December 2021 caught omicron variant
June 2022 caught omicron variant a second time
Patient had had six vaccinations [original 2 plus 4 boosters]
With second infection, also had pulmonary cardiac symptoms.
7 1/2 percent of all Americans (1 in 15) contract Long COVID (which includes a significant risk of dying)
SOME PEOPLE NEVER GET OVER LONG COVID.
Long COVID causes 200 different symptoms in 10 systems. Long COVID infects ace receptors.
POST-ICU SYNDROME:
Post-Intensive Care Syndrome (PICS) Anyone who survives a critical illness that warranted admission to an intensive care unit (ICU) is susceptible to developing post-intensive care syndrome (PICS). (Cleveland Clinic)
Expanded PICS (Post-Intensive Care Syndrome) [PICS graphic]
NOTE: Ventilators take SO MUCH out of you, says Larry.
People can develop:
POTS:
Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS) Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition that causes a number of symptoms when you transition from lying down to standing up, such as a fast heart rate, dizziness and fatigue. While there’s no cure, several treatments and lifestyle changes can help manage the symptoms of POTS. (Cleveland Clinic)
CFS:
Overview: Chronic fatigue syndrome, also known as myalgic encephalomyelitis or ME/CFS, is a complicated disorder.
It causes extreme fatigue that lasts for at least six months. Symptoms worsen with physical or mental activity but don't fully improve with rest. (Mayo Clinic)
It is mostly women who get POTS. POTS FINALLY received its own diagnostic code in 2022.
Now Larry reveals that the case study was HIS OWN STORY. Larry had had seven vaccines but still contracted three infections.
Larry's recommendations:
1) STAY HYDRATED. He drinks 4 liters of electrolyte water (think Gatorade equivalents).
2) STAY IN BED.
Larry noting in passing that Sweden had a 10-fold death rate. Utter destruction of their senior population.
[See: The Swedish COVID-19 control measures and the national commission report
By Anders Björkman (as seen in OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com) | First published: 03 November 2022 https://doi.org/10.1111/apa.16582 Citations: 1]
Larry feels balance is needed. Balance society's needs vs. personal needs.
The U.S. government currently recommends one vaccine (booster) per year.
[SEE: Stay Up to Date with COVID-19 Vaccines Including Boosters
CDC.gov | Updated Mar. 2, 2023 ]
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UPDATE AFTER LARRY'S TALK
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Larry is able to get 4 vaccines per year, partially because he has homes in two different states, etc.
NOTE: The federal Veterans Administration [VA] is giving COVID vaccines to ALL veterans.
[SEE: COVID-19 vaccines at VA | We provide COVID-19 vaccines to eligible Veterans and family members at no cost.]
Larry says VACCINES LAST 2 MONTHS.
Were Larry to become infected again, he would SERIOUSLY consider getting Pfizer's Paxlovid.
[SEE: 13 Things To Know About Paxlovid, the Latest COVID-19 Pill Yale experts answer commonly asked questions about the oral antiviral medication.
By Kathy Katella, Yale Medicine | February 3, 2023 |]
Larry said today that "Covid does not show seasonality." (Unlike influenza, which has the Flu Season.)
Then Larry spoke about Sick Building Syndrome.
[SEE: Sick building syndrome (Wikipedia) ]
Larry recommends HEPA Filters (See What is a HEPA filter? [EPA] and vaccines. And, of course, masks.
Larry said it is more important that the infected person wear a mask than the non-infected person. He says masks reduce risk 20 to 30 percent.
[SEE: Long COVID or Post-COVID Conditions
CDC.gov. Updated December 16, 2022 ]
He also recommends remaining, as much as possible, in bubbles (like we did before the vaccines became available). (Note: Larry attended today's worship service via Zoom because he did not want to share the Sanctuary with a large group of people.)
Larry STRONGLY RECOMMENDED that people consult their doctor as to what they, specifically, should do regarding coping with COVID-19.
Larry ALSO said that COVID is absolutely on same track as the 1918 Influenza pandemic.
Meaning that both 1918 flu and COVID were more deadly in the second year. The flu pandemic began in the U.S. in March 1918. By 1920, it had evolved into the seasonal flu, which is still with us.
Omicron is twice as contagious as Delta. Larry is aware of at least one person he knows who got sick with Delta and caught COVID again with Omicron.
COVID-19 cases are currently 50% Delta & 50% Omicron.
According to three recent studies from the U.K., South Africa, & Denmark, Omicron is 70% less likely to hospitalize patients.
Omicron is more in the upper respiratory system. It does not go into the lungs and spread across the body from there. Infections that spread to the lungs (and from there to the rest of the body) are more likely to kill people.
Larry believes that the U.S. is heading towards community immunity. He sees a future where when winter approaches, people are advised to get both their seasonal flu vaccines AND seasonal COVID vaccines. At that point, COVID-19 will no longer be a pandemic OR an epidemic. It will simply be endemic (like flu).
Larry also says to take a booster every time you are offered one.
Larry recommends wearing double masks in grocery stores for the next 6 weeks. (That is, N-95 covered by cloth mask.)
Larry said that people will contract Omicron without doing anything wrong. It is just THAT contagious. You are extremely likely to get Omicron. People who have been vaccinated AND boosted are getting breakthrough infections, with mild cases.
Omicron, like flu, likes the winter cold with people staying inside more. Larry says that we should know more by April 2022.
Larry said that there has been a huge correlation between death from COVID-19 and diabetes.
The state of Texas is 20% less vaccinated than other states.