Here is Dr. Paul Klotman’s Week 119 COVID update. The BA.4 and BA.5 sub-variants of the Omicron COVID variant are rapidly becoming the dominate lines of the virus. They seem to be highly contagious and capable of evading the viral immunity conferred by both prior infection and vaccination with the first generation of COVID vaccines. Bummer.
The CDC is reporting that viral activity in Travis, Hays and Bastrop counties is Medium whereas in Harris, Bexar and Nueces viral activity is High. Unless viral activity is Low where you live, you would be wise to avoid crowded indoor venues and to wear a mask if, like me, you are over 65 or have a chronic illness.
You have probably read that Paxlovid, a COVID antiviral, is not a magic bullet. Reports of COVID recrudescence after Paxlovid treatment are common. Like many anti-infectives, Paxlovid inhibits viral replication but does not itself destroy the virus – that part is left up to the immune system.