January 22, 2023
WITH BARRETT JACKSON, THE PHOENIX OPEN, AND THE SUPERBOWL CROWDS STARTING TO COME TO THE VALLEY……… CONSIDER WEARING A GOOD MASK (KN95 OR N95) SELECTIVELY AT BUSY LOCATIONS TO STAY HEALTHY.
CONTINUE TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AND GO OUT AND ABOUT AS YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE…… AND YOU SHOULD FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING SO.
FLU AND RSV ARE ON THE DECLINE AND LEAVING THE VALLEY. MASKING IS NEEDED LESS BUT CONSIDER FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS.
COVID REMAINS STABLE IN ARIZONA AT MODERATE LEVELS. COVID IS INCREASING IN SEVERAL AREAS IN THE EAST COAST.
IT IS NOT TOO LATE TO GET ANOTHER COVID BOOSTER. DATA CONTINUES TO SUPPORT IT’S USE AND BENEFITS.
RECENT CONCERNS ABOUT STROKE RISK WITH THE PFIZER VACCINE ARE BEING INVESTIGATED BUT DO NOT, AT THIS TIME, SEEM LIKE THEY WILL BE A ‘REAL’ FINDING. WE WILL AWAIT THE FINAL ANALYSIS, BUT THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF MAJOR RISK FROM THE CURRENT VACCINATION.
FLU IS WANING. IT IS LATE FOR FLU SHOTS…. YOU CAN GET IF YOU WANT, BUT FLU SEASON IS RESOLVING.
COVID REMAINS FAIRLY COMMON....…. OUR PATIENTS ARE DOING WELL.
FLU IS DROPPING BUT STILL AROUND, THE SEASON WAS A NORMAL FLU SEASON …JUST STARTED EARLY. THIS IS GOOD NEWS. FLU IS ON THE DECLINE.
RSV IS DECLINING IN ARIZONA…. WE HAVE SEEN A FAIR BIT OF UPPER RESPIRATORY INFECTION THAT IS NOT FLU AND NOT COVID…
HOW TO MANAGE AT THIS TIME FOR HOLIDAY GATHERINGS:
PEOPLE ARE GOING TO BE COMFORTABLE GETTING TOGETHER AND THEY SHOULD GET TOGETHER.
TO REDUCE RISK....HERE ARE SOME IDEAS TO CONSIDER:
GET YOUR COVID BOOSTER …TOO LATE FOR THE FLU SHOT.
DO NOT ATTEND GATHERINGS IF YOU ARE NOT FEELING WELL. ASK OTHERS NOT TO ATTEND IF THEY ARE NOT FEELING WELL.
KEEP AIR MOVING IN GATHERING AREAS. VENTILATION...BY NATURAL MEANS OUTDOORS OR WITH FANS, CAN BE HELPFUL.
CONSIDER HAVING GUESTS DO COVID TESTING PRIOR TO GETTING TOGETHER. THIS IS NOT PERFECT, BUT IT CAN REDUCE RISK SOMEWHAT. IT’S WORTH CONSIDERING.
WEARING A HIGH-QUALITY MASK AT GATHERINGS IS GOOD IF YOU ARE TRAVELING AND WISH TO AVOID INFECTION FOR THE HOLIDAYS. IT IS IMPERATIVE FOR THOSE WITH TRULY REDUCED IMMUNITY...THOSE RECEIVING CHEMOTHERAPY, THOSE WITH SEVERE LUNG DISEASE, AND THOSE RECOVERING FROM RECENT HOSPITALIZATION.
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