So, here we are at Week 133 of the flagging COVID Apocalypse – two and a half years since its onset and millions of lives lost. Sigh. Dr. Klotman’s COVID update this week from Baylor College of Medicine brings glad tidings of a smoldering if not receding pandemic. Good for us. Positivity rates are down, hospitalizations are down, and deaths are down. Yea, us! Most of the US has LOW COVID activity, but there are still hot spots. If you plan to travel, check cdc.gov to see how much COVID and Influenza activity there is at your destination. That will help you to decide what precautions you should take.
I read a medical news item today that reported that a recent study found that 80% of US children ages 0-17 years had been found to have serological (blood test) evidence of SARS-CoV-2 infection since the onset of the COVID pandemic. If like me, you too have had children, you know that until you get them launched, they are a constant source of infections and infestations – scabies, lice, pinworms, warts, influenza, colds, and so forth. It’s just part of what we sign up to manage when we become parents (adoptive or biological). Alas, parenting isn’t all wine and roses – I could have used more wine when I was a young parent. Alas!
I hope that you and yours remain COVID-free and are thriving. Heed the advice of Public Health officials and ignore the advice of influencers on social media who have no clinical credentials. Yes, and even among those who do have clinical credentials, you would be wise to read their advice critically – even mine.