The Covid Report: Quick updates on numbers, mutations, guidance and where to get treated.
Published 10/24/2022
As of writing, There are over 80 million reported cases in total, of Covid 19, with the current number of confirmed daily new infections standing at approximately 35,000 (below). However, these numbers are artificially lower than the actual figure due to a lack of testing. (Source- our world in data)
It's still recommended to take precautions with the current variants; XBB, BA.4.6, BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, and BF.7, and boosters available should still provide protection from these variants.
USA TODAY: Omicron variants BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 make up nearly half of new COVID cases. What to know.
So what do you do in 2022, if you think you have Covid-19 or may have been exposed to the virus? Guidance has been evolving since the onset of the pandemic in 2020, and will continue to evolve as both the virus and our response to it mutate. Do you still need to quarantine? Do you still need to mask? Are these needs different if you have been vaccinated or recently infected? What about boosters?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is the top national resource for current information on the pandemic and the source of much of the guidance information, and have a wealth of newly updated information on their site, from masking, to vaccine guidance for adults and children alike Updated CDC Guidance. Note that there is some controversy about ending isolation after only 5 days unless you have a negative antigen test!
MEDRXIV - High Rates of Rapid Antigen Test Positivity After 5 days of Isolation for COVID-19
While masking recommendations have changed over time, the best protection you can get today is still with a NIOSH-approved respirator, like the N95 mask. Be careful of the masks you may see advertised on the internet; Forbes provided a guide to spotting fake face masks.
FORBES: Is Your N95 Respirator A Counterfeit? How To Spot Fake Face Masks
If you are looking for treatment or treatment guidance, though, this is not the site. Instead, for guidance on treatments, you can go here: National Institutes of Health: COVID Treatments and Vaccines. At present, the only monoclonal antibody recommended for treatment of infection is bebtelovimab.
If you have symptoms and test positive, you need to get treatment (if indicated) within the first 5 days. The “Test to Treat” program is still available to connect you with a site that is close by (although some sites require to see a doctor first and get a prescription).
Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR); COVID 19 - Test to Treat Locator.
