Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Sept 1, 2024 2:16:15 GMT
COVID-19 at 'elevated rates' in New Mexico amid new variants - Published Aug 31 2024
"There's a lot of people in the community that have COVID infection at this point in time," Dr. Brett told KOAT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Video above: Health officials recommend vaccinations amid new COVID-19 variants. KOAT spoke with University of New Mexico Hospital Infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, Dr. Meghan Brett on implications of COVID-19 and tips to protect oneself from the virus. According to Brett, COVID-19 is currently at an "elevated rate" in New Mexico. Real time data from Centers for Disease Control and Protection reveal current epidemic growth statuses in the United States. New Mexico is now considered "stable or uncertain."
"COVID has been at pretty elevated rates and during this summer, toward the end of the summer. That actually has matched what it's done in the past two years. So, what we've had is, often, people don't expect respiratory viruses during the summer— but we're seeing that with COVID," Brett told KOAT.
"So, what's good news is that flu and RSV are not circulating quite yet. So, what I'm hoping for is that we'll have a little bit more space in between when COVID is increasing versus when, flu and RSV start to cause more respiratory viruses," Brett said.
"There's a lot of people in the community that have COVID infection at this point in time. If you're going out to places or kids are going to school, then then they may be coming home with, respiratory symptoms like cough or sore throat. Get vaccinated. I think that's the key thing at this point in time to protect yourself from COVID," Brett said.
"What the vaccine manufacturers have done is tried to match the vaccine to the strains that are circulating. What I would put this on is more about the virus continuing to change, so that any immunity — that any protection that we had from previous infections or from the vaccine, it kind of works to escape that," Brett told KOAT.
"There's a lot of people in the community that have COVID infection at this point in time," Dr. Brett told KOAT
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —
Video above: Health officials recommend vaccinations amid new COVID-19 variants. KOAT spoke with University of New Mexico Hospital Infectious disease physician and epidemiologist, Dr. Meghan Brett on implications of COVID-19 and tips to protect oneself from the virus. According to Brett, COVID-19 is currently at an "elevated rate" in New Mexico. Real time data from Centers for Disease Control and Protection reveal current epidemic growth statuses in the United States. New Mexico is now considered "stable or uncertain."
"COVID has been at pretty elevated rates and during this summer, toward the end of the summer. That actually has matched what it's done in the past two years. So, what we've had is, often, people don't expect respiratory viruses during the summer— but we're seeing that with COVID," Brett told KOAT.
"So, what's good news is that flu and RSV are not circulating quite yet. So, what I'm hoping for is that we'll have a little bit more space in between when COVID is increasing versus when, flu and RSV start to cause more respiratory viruses," Brett said.
"There's a lot of people in the community that have COVID infection at this point in time. If you're going out to places or kids are going to school, then then they may be coming home with, respiratory symptoms like cough or sore throat. Get vaccinated. I think that's the key thing at this point in time to protect yourself from COVID," Brett said.
"What the vaccine manufacturers have done is tried to match the vaccine to the strains that are circulating. What I would put this on is more about the virus continuing to change, so that any immunity — that any protection that we had from previous infections or from the vaccine, it kind of works to escape that," Brett told KOAT.