As our children and teachers go back to school this week, we’re facing another potential increase in COVID-19 cases. The start of school has historically been a time of increased illnesses of all kinds. After all, children are very good at spreading infectious diseases like influenza, norovirus, and COVID-19. Nevertheless, we must do what we can to reduce the spread of all communicable diseases as much as possible.
Don’t come to school with COVID-19
It is no longer required or recommended to quarantine because you were around someone with COVID-19. However, State regulations were amended to include COVID-19 in the list of diseases that can exclude a child from attending school. Many other diseases are also in this list, including influenza, norovirus, measles, chickenpox, and many others. If your child contracts COVID-19, they must stay home until either 1) their healthcare provider clears them or 2) Five days of symptom improvement and no fever, after which they can return to school with a mask for 5 days (after the full 10 days, there are no restrictions).
Get tested
Even if you don’t have COVID, knowing what respiratory disease you have is important. It can help your healthcare provider better understand how to treat the illness, as they can all be a little different. Right now, DCHC offers free COVID/Flu testing. We also have tests for Strep throat, RSV, and a Biofire Panel, which tests for the following infections:
- Adenovirus
- 4 Different traditional coronaviruses (other than SARS-COV-1 and -2)
- SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19)
- Human metapneumovirus
- Human rhinovirus/enterovirus
- 5 strains of influenza
- Parainfluenza virus
- Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
- Bordetella pertussis (bacteria)
- Bordetella parapertussis (bacteria)
- Chlamydophila pneumoniae (bacteria, different than the one that causes STIs)
- Mycoplasma pneumoniae (bacteria)
Current Overall Risk is Low, but Could Change
Right now, community transmission is relatively low, informed by the number of cases and the local viral load in the wastewater. However, areas around the country are seeing an increase in cases and viral loads, and locally in Salem wastewater viral loads are the highest since March of 2023 currently. Only time will tell if this will continue to increase or if it will go back to baseline levels. Many epidemiologists are predicting a fall surge in cases, though it is unlikely to approach what we witnessed in 2021 or 2022 with Delta and Omicron variants.
See the most current Sewershed/wastewater analysis here.
COVID is still hazardous
Though the vast majority of individuals have already had COVID, immunity wanes quickly and past COVID infection can reduce the ability of your immune system to respond adequately to future infections. Some people who get COVID-19 will end up hospitalized, though the percentage of hospitalizations and deaths is expected to be lower than in 2021 and 2022. Additionally, there is increasing evidence that COVID-19 remains in the bodies of some individuals for a long time, causing persistent symptoms sometimes called “Long COVID”. They can include:
- Chronic fatigue
- Brain Fog/difficulty concentrating and thinking
- Blood clots
- Diarrhea/stomach pain
- and others.
Read more about Long COVID here.
Reduce your risk
People who have respiratory symptoms should wear a mask or stay home to reduce the spread of whatever respiratory illness they have, whether that be COVID-19, influenza, RSV, or something else.
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are expected in September of 2023. Watch out for these and get yours when you can. DCHC will be offering a drive-through flu and COVID vaccine clinic on October 12th.
COVID-19 is a part of life
Unfortunately, COVID-19 is here to stay. It’s ability to mutate rapidly and evade immunity has made eradication virtually impossible with the technology we currently have available. We must use the tools that we do have, including masks, vaccines, and Paxlovid to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 as much as we can.
If you have questions or concerns for us, please contact us.
