At the beginning of the pandemic, we hoped a single infection would provide sufficient immunity to be COVID free forever. Perhaps available evidence suggested the particular coronavirus would be different from its Common Cold and Influenza stable mates. But whatever the case, the scenario changed after Delta and Omicron variants arrived. On July 23, 2022 Lincoln Journal Star among others asked has COVID-19 turned over a new page?
COVID-19 Has Turned a New Page Over …
“Two years ago, we thought if you had COVID once that you would never get it again,” Preeti Malani told Lincoln Journal Star. She is an infectious disease physician at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, and a special adviser to the President.
“But that’s especially the case with the variants that have become dominant in the U.S. this summer” she continued. This reality became crystal clear with the arrival of Omicron variants that proved able to re-infect people. And this alarmingly included those who previously caught earlier versions.
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms Omicron sub-variants BA.4 and BA.5 hold center ground this summer of 2022. They are sweeping across the nation, infecting Americans who previously thought that they were safe. But now it is evident both variants are evading their body’s defenses against reinfection.
So Where Does This Leave Us Now?
We are relatively open to Omicron infection, even if we had all the vaccinations. But those measures usually prevent severe symptoms at least. Although the virus still travels through the air via respiratory tracts to infect us.
Hence, our best defense is avoiding respiratory transfer by staying away from crowded indoor spaces. And wearing face masks and keeping safe distances whenever possible, when away from the sanctuary of our homes.
Oregon Health System Stressed -‘Mask Up’
