The USA is in the fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic, driven by variant B.1.1.7, and could be a “game changer,” said epidemiologist Dr. Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota on Sunday. “I believe that, in a way, we are almost in a new pandemic,” said Osterholm in an interview with Fox News Sunday. Keep reading – and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss out on these Signs that your disease is actually a coronavirus in disguise.
“This is a virus that is now 50 to 100 percent more transmissible or infectious than previous viruses. This is a virus that causes 50 to 60 percent more serious illnesses and, therefore, what was not so problematic before – for example, in cases in young adults – now they are becoming very serious cases. This is really a fourth wave, you can call it, with a picture slightly different from what we saw in the previous waves of the pandemic “, warned Osterholm. .
“The only good news about this,” he noted, “is that the current vaccine is effective against that particular variant.”
The rise of the new variant is at odds with reopening and relaxed restrictions taking place across the country. As for how to respond, Osterholm said that closings and blockages may be necessary. “There is not a country in the world now that has seen a big increase in this B.1.1.7 that is not crashing,” he said. “We are the exception. The final message from all of these countries is that we couldn’t control the virus until we caught it.”
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“This virus is a game changer”
“I understand the absolute resistance in this country even to consider that,” added Osterholm. “It was like trying to drink barbed wire. But the final message is that the virus is going to do what it is going to do and we are going to have to respond in some way – if we accept that, if we have outbreaks in our communities, we are willing to lift some of the restrictions that Are we going to reconsider schools and school transmission as a new factor here that we didn’t have before?
“Nobody was wrong when trying to reopen schools. Now we have new data that says this virus is a game changer. So I think we are all going to carefully analyze what to do.”
RELATED:Doctors say “NO” do this after your COVID vaccine.
How to survive this pandemic
As for you, do everything you can to avoid getting – and spreading – COVID-19 in the first place: Wear a face mask, get tested if you think you have coronavirus, avoid crowds (and bars and parties at home), practice social detachment, perform only essential tasks, wash your hands regularly, disinfect frequently touched surfaces and to overcome this pandemic in the healthiest way do not miss these 35 places you’re most likely to reach COVID.
10 COVID Symptoms You Never Heard Of
Coronavirus the cases are now as low as in October, but the virus can still make anyone – young or old – sick. With thousands of lives lost, doctors now know that the initial symptoms – just cough, fever and shortness of breath – are actually more varied and more harmful, affecting almost every part of your body. Read on to learn about symptoms you’ve never heard of – and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss theseClear signs that you have had the coronavirus.
1. You could get COVID language
Just this month, a British expert identified the “covid tongue” as a new symptom he is seeing among patients. “I see an increasing number of Covid tongues and strange mouth ulcers. If you have a strange symptom or even just a headache and tiredness, stay home! ”Tim Spector, professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, tweeted this month. He estimated that 1 in 500 has this.
2. You can catch delirium
“Delirium is a state of acute confusion that starts suddenly and can occur during any illness”, according to the Covid ZOE Symptom Study led by Spector. “The exact trigger is not always clear, but delirium can be associated with low levels of oxygen or the effects of the underlying disease in the brain. It is usually more common in older people who need help in daily life – for example, due to mobility problems, impaired vision, hearing problems or existing memory problems, such as dementia. “
3. You can hallucinate
“A 55-year-old woman with no current or historical mental illness was admitted to the hospital with recognized symptoms of Covid-19, including fever, cough and muscle pain”, she reports Forbes. “She was discharged after two weeks, having been treated with oxygen, but four days later her husband reported that she was confused and behaving strangely. She then hallucinated, reporting seeing lions and monkeys in her home, and became delusional and aggressive towards her family and hospital staff. She was treated with antipsychotic medications and her symptoms improved over three weeks, although the study does not confirm whether she has made a full recovery. “
4. Your skin can change
“Younger people with less severe COVID-19 may develop painful and itchy lesions on their hands and feet that resemble chilblains, an inflammatory condition of the skin,” reports the Mayo clinic. “Sometimes called COVID toes, this symptom usually lasts for about 12 days.”
5. You can be hit by confusion
“COVID-19 has also been reported to cause confusion in older people, especially those with serious infections,” says the Mayo Clinic.
6. You can get “brain fog”
Pulmonary and intensive care physician Joseph Khabbaza, MD, “He reports that he saw these symptoms quite often”, according to the Cleveland Clinic. “Although the medical community is still trying to figure out what causes brain fog, it is believed to be probably the result of the body’s immune response to the virus or inflammation throughout the nervous system and blood vessels leading to the brain. As for hallucinations and delirium, these also originate from the body fighting the virus. “
7. You may have dilated blood vessels in your eye
“COVID-19 can cause eye problems, such as enlarged and red blood vessels, swollen eyelids, excessive tearing and increased secretion. The infection can also cause irritation and sensitivity to light. These symptoms are more common in people with severe infections, ”says the Mayo Clinic.
8. You may have a tearing migraine more than a few times a week
A “headache” is listed as a symptom of COVID, according to the CDC, but a migraine can be much more painful – even debilitating. “The headache hit like a sudden crash of thunder, waking up the healthy woman”, reports Hartford Healthcare. “Six hours later, she had other symptoms of COVID-19. The 33-year-old man, who had a history of migraine, but found that this virus-related headache was different and much worse, is the subject of a case study of Dr. Sandhya Mehla, a headache specialist with the Hartford HealthCare Headache Center. ““From the most recent data available,” said Dr. Mehla, “headache is estimated to be a symptom of COVID-19 in about 13 percent of patients with COVID-19. It is the fifth most common symptom of COVID-19 after fever, cough, muscle pain and difficulty breathing. “
9. Your heart rate or temperature may increase suddenly
“Dr. Khabbaza says he saw patients’ heart rates skyrocket after minimal activity, shortly after being infected. This, together with the elevated temperatures, are the result of autonomic dysfunction, ”Reports the Cleveland Clinic. The doctor says: “We are seeing this more and more. When this happens, our Imune system it’s attacking the autonomic nerves – nerves that regulate things in the body, like heart rate and temperature – that the thermostat can be turned off. “
10. You can feel other strange things – “Nothing is Off the Table”
“In fact, nothing is out of the question when it comes to COVID. I always receive text messages from people asking if something they are experiencing is normal. Well, there is nothing that is really abnormal when it comes to COVID – literally almost anything goes and we don’t know exactly why, ”says Dr. Khabbaza.RELATED:7 tips you should follow to avoid COVID, Say Doctors
11. Can you feel these most common symptoms of COVID
“People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of reported symptoms – ranging from mild symptoms to serious illnesses,” says CDC. “Symptoms can appear 2 to 14 days after exposure to the virus. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:
Fever or chills
Cough
Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
Fatigue
Muscle or body aches
Headache
New loss of taste or smell
Sore throat
Congestion or runny nose
Nausea or vomiting
Diarrhea
This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19. ”Contact a medical professional if you think you have coronavirus – and to protect your life and that of others, do not visit any of these 35 places you’re most likely to reach COVID.
