Hold Onto Your Facemasks Folks. Covid Still Isn’t Done With Us Yet

Low and behold, all this past weekend, as I was out and about running a few errands with my husband, the most glaring thing I noticed was that the majority of people I saw were not wearing facemasks. The weekend weather was pretty nice all along the east coast. The sun was shining, and depending on exactly where you live on the east coast, you may have experienced temperatures in the middle of the afternoon ranging from 40 degrees to near 70 degrees. It was very tempting to just feel free and let it all hang out.
Nice idea, but until the day and time I hear top officials from the World Health Organization (WHO), the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), and the United States Surgeon General, along with Dr. Anthony Fauci announce that the pandemic is over, it ain’t over. Until the pandemic is officially announced as being over, as for me and my facemasks, we will remain best friends.
To be honest, it was earlier today before I started writing this column, and before I heard the latest updates about the virus, that I was thinking to myself, “Oh joy”—things are getting kind of sort of back to the way they used to be. Many school districts across the nation that had opted for children to have mandatory facemasks requirements are now voting to reverse those decisions. More and more businesses are dropping their face masks mandates.
But wait a minute. Are we still moving just a little too fast? As my daughter likes to say, “Slow down, go fast.”
There’s a new Covid variant that’s now been identified, aside from the Delta Variant and the Omicron Variant. The new variant is Omicron – B.1.1.529. It was first identified in South Africa. This new Omicron variant also spreads more easily than other variants. The CDC is working with state and local public health officials to continue to monitor the spread of this newest version of Omicron. The data that is being shared thus far on the CDC website suggests that Omicron is less severe in general. However, a surge in cases may lead to significant increases in hospitalization and death. More data are needed to fully understand the severity of illness and death associated with this variant.
People infected with the Omicron variant can have symptoms similar to previous variants. The presence and severity of symptoms can be affected by COVID-19 vaccination status, the presence of other health conditions, age, and history of prior infection. Omicron infection generally causes less severe disease than infection with prior variants. Preliminary data suggest that Omicron may cause more mild disease, although some people may still have severe disease, need hospitalization, and could die from the infection with this variant. Even if only a small percentage of people with Omicron infection need hospitalization, the large volume of cases could overwhelm the healthcare system which is why it’s important to take steps to protect yourself. CDC recommends that everyone 5-years and older protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting vaccinated. Everyone ages 12 years and older should stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccines and get a booster shot when eligible.
In Pennsylvania, as of Sunday, February 20, 2022, there were 1,400 new confirmed cases of Covid in the state and 103 coronavirus-related deaths. As of February 20th, the statewide total of coronavirus-related deaths is 42,789.
Philadelphia has dropped its vaccine mandate in indoor dining establishments and unveiled a new, multi-tiered system they say will guide decisions on easing – or implementing – restrictions in the future. Philadelphia Mayor Jim Kenney and Health Commissioner Dr. Cheryl Bettigole announced the news a week ago due to a recent drop in new cases and positivity rates in the city.
Also keep in mind folks, that we are still in the flu season. So if you’re feeling under the weather, could it be the flu or could it be Covid–that’s the big question.
Influenza (Flu) and COVID-19 are both contagious respiratory illnesses, but they are caused by different viruses. COVID-19 is caused by infection with a new coronavirus (called SARS-CoV-2), and flu is caused by infection with influenza viruses.
COVID-19 seems to spread more easily than the flu and causes more serious illnesses in some people. It can also take longer before people show symptoms, and people can be contagious for longer. More information about the differences between flu and COVID-19 is available in the different sections below.
Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may be hard to tell the difference between them based on symptoms alone, and testing may be needed to help confirm a diagnosis.
Queen Elizabeth of England has been diagnosed with Covid just this past weekend. On the same weekend, it was announced that the U.S. Surgeon General and much of his family has come down with Covid. And, of course, they’re all fully vaccinated. So I’ll go back to what I was saying at the beginning of this column. Some geniuses may think they don’t need to wear a face mask anymore, or they don’t need to worry about being up close and personal with strangers. But I’m going to use my common sense and my “Mother Wit.” Both are telling me, ”Keep your facemasks on until further notice when around a bunch of strangers. You know the saying, “stranger danger.”