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Dr Robin’s Covid-19 Updates
BA.5: Revising The Script
Letting Go Of Prior Covid Assumptions
There’s more Covid around than a few weeks ago in a lot of the US (west is wild, northeast is a bit calmer). Of course, case numbers are now wildly inaccurate, but we are also definitely seeing a rise in the “test positivity rate” and wastewater levels in a lot of places.
The ”test positivity rate” is one of my favorite numbers. It helps answer the critical question of how many of the people I encounter in daily life might actually be ill. I use it as an indicator of when I need to take additional precautions to stay SafeR.
Over the last few weeks we’ve gotten a clearer idea about Omicron’s subvariants, particularly BA.5. We’ve gradually come to realize BA.5 is causing a lot of illness and a lot more reinfections as it can weasel its way around vaccines and prior infection.
Just when you thought you were out of the woods….Alas, not yet.
Since we’re seeing more cases and reinfections I wanted to re-discuss what to do if you become symptomatic and think you might have Covid. Omicron and BA5 are changing a lot of stuff so let’s review:
- We can no longer say, “I’m maximally vaccinated and boosted so I won’t get Covid.” Sorry, but that’s so 2021. All of the Omicrons and…