Is COVID Still a Concern for Us?
COVID isn’t in the spotlight as much anymore, but it hasn’t gone away. It’s still changing, spreading, and making people sick—especially during the holidays. The tricky part is knowing what to do about it now. How long should you stay home if you’re sick? How can you tell if it’s COVID? Should you get another vaccine? And is it still something to worry about?
COVID-19 is still a concern, and it's important to stay updated on the latest guidelines.
Dr. William Schaffner, an expert in infectious diseases at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, reminds us that COVID can still cause serious illness, especially for vulnerable people. Although things have changed since the start of the pandemic, it's still essential to follow the latest advice from health experts and take steps to protect yourself and others.
Here’s what to know about COVID during the 2024 – 2025 viral season.
What's The COVID Guideline Now?
How serious is COVID now?
CDC Official Says That COVID Is Endemic.
In an August 9 interview with NPR, Aron Hall, DVM, MSPH, deputy director for science at the CDC, described COVID as being “endemic” worldwide. This means the virus is always around and will continue spreading, but we can predict its patterns more easily.
Why? Because doctors and researchers now know much more about COVID.
René Najera, a public health expert, says we’ve learned how to prevent it and treat it. There are even antiviral drugs to make it less severe and shorter.We also have better tools to track the virus. Labs and monitoring systems can show when COVID is spreading, peaking, or slowing down.
Najera explained that COVID is now like other human coronaviruses. For most people, it causes flu-like symptoms.
However, COVID is still serious. Dr. Amy Edwards, a physician, warns that even endemic diseases can be dangerous. She noted that RSV and the flu are endemic too, but they can still be deadly.
What About Guidelines?
At the start of the pandemic, the CDC gave different advice for COVID compared to other respiratory illnesses.
But in March 2024, the CDC changed its approach. They now treat COVID the same as other common respiratory illnesses like the flu and RSV. A CDC spokesperson said they now have a "unified approach" for dealing with these illnesses.
This means people are encouraged to think of COVID like any other common illness. For all respiratory illnesses, including COVID, the CDC recommends staying home for at least 24 hours after symptoms improve and after the fever is gone (without taking fever medicine).
People can also test during the five days of extra precautions after the "stay home" period.
There is no sign that the guidelines will change based on Hall's statements.
CDC Also Now Recommends Second Dose For Older Adults, Immunocompromised
The CDC now recommends a second dose for older adults and people with weak immune systems. This is because they are at higher risk of severe COVID-19.
People over age 65 are most at risk, making up more than 81% of COVID-19 deaths. Other health conditions, like diabetes, cancer, dementia, and HIV, also increase the risk of getting very sick from COVID.
What is the latest strain of COVID and what are its symptoms?
The latest strain of COVID is called XEC. It is an Omicron subvariant. This variant was first found in the northern hemisphere but has now been spotted in Australia.
XEC is a mix of two older Omicron strains, KS.1.1 and KP.3.3.
The symptoms are similar to cold or flu symptoms. These include:
- High temperature
- Body aches
- Tiredness
- Cough or sore throat
XEC was first found in Italy in May 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) started watching it closely in September.
Since then, XEC has spread to over 27 countries in Europe, North America, and Asia. By mid-September, countries with the most cases include the United States, Germany, France, the United Kingdom, and Denmark.
In Germany, XEC makes up about 20% of cases. In the UK, it's 12%. In the US, it's around 6%.
How about in Australia?
In Australia, 329 SARS-CoV-2 sequences were collected between August 26 and September 22. Estimates from GISAID, a global database of virus sequences, show that XEC makes up about 5% of cases in Australia. This is based on 16 out of 314 samples tested.
Queensland had the highest rates in the last 30 days.
- Queensland: Out of 96 sequences, 8 had XEC.
- South Australia: Out of 93 sequences, 5 had XEC.
- Victoria: Out of 20 sequences, 1 had XEC.
- New South Wales: Out of 71 sequences, 2 had XEC.
- Western Australia (WA): Out of 34 sequences, none had XEC.
Why Are Cases Increasing?
Even though some experts say COVID-19 is now common, it doesn’t mean the cases stop rising. In fact, COVID cases often go up in the summer, just like this time.
“We are in a summer wave,” Najera said. “The data on cases, hospitalizations, and deaths shows that we are in the middle of a wave.”
As of August 13, the CDC says COVID infections are growing in 25 states, going down in 5 states, and staying the same in 17 states.
Experts say the rise is due to several reasons, like low immunity and the new COVID variants, called FLiRT, which may avoid the immune system. The heat also pushes people inside, which spreads the disease more.
[When more people gather inside, they are in closer contact with each other. This makes it easier for viruses, like COVID-19, to spread from one person to another through coughing, sneezing, or even talking. Indoor spaces often have less airflow, which also increases the chances of the virus spreading.]
Sadly, Edwards says things may get worse before they improve. “We can expect to see more cases as kids go back to school,” she said.
Will Vaccines Still Protect Against XEC?
Current vaccines appear to provide protection against severe illness from XEC.
Australia is awaiting the rollout of updated booster vaccines. These are designed to target related Omicron subvariants. They are expected to offer strong defense against this new strain.
However, it's still crucial for Australians to stay vigilant and maintain high vaccination rates (RACGP).
Which variants are circulating now?
The main COVID variants currently circulating around the world include BA.2.86, JN.1, KP.2, KP.3 and XEC. These are all descendants of omicron.
What To Do If You Test Positive
In March 2024, the CDC updated its COVID guidelines. They now treat COVID the same as other viruses like the flu and RSV. This change makes it easier to follow the rules.
Practically speaking, the policy change means there are no strict rules to follow if you test positive for COVID. The main advice is:
- To stay home until you feel better.
- Avoid going out, especially in crowded or enclosed places.
- Stay home until your symptoms improve and you’ve been fever-free for at least 24 hours.
If you test positive but don’t have symptoms, the risk of spreading the virus is much lower. You don’t have to stay home, but you should still keep your distance from others. Wear a mask for at least five days. You can continue testing positive even after you are no longer infectious.
How to Avoid a COVID Infection
The best defense against COVID remains vaccination. But it’s not a one-time thing. Just like the flu shot, you may need to get the COVID vaccine every year or when new variants appear. The vaccine won’t stop every infection, but it helps prevent serious illness.
Good hygiene and proper ventilation are also important. Wash your hands often, cover your coughs and sneezes, use hand sanitizer, and open windows or use air purifiers when possible.
Even though rules around COVID may be relaxed now, the virus is still here. If you are young and healthy, your job may be more about protecting others than yourself.
TGA updated advice on RATs nearing expiry and RATs efficacy on current strains
The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) recommends against the use of expired rapid antigen tests (RATs).
However, many RAT manufacturers have extended the approved shelf-life of their RATs based on more recent stability testing. These extensions are included on the TGA’s website that provides information on the approved shelf-life of RATs.
Sponsors of RATs are required tomonitor the ongoing performance and safety of their devices.
Resources:
https://www.health.com/cdc-official-covid-endemic-8699851
https://www.health.com/cdc-expands-covid-vaccine-recommendations-8734294?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://www.health.com/you-just-tested-positive-for-covid-now-what-8708470?utm_source=chatgpt.com
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1jddenj5p5o
