Post by Nadica (She/Her) on Sept 4, 2024 23:44:22 GMT
Covid-19 cases remain high in North Carolina as kids return to school. Here's how you can keep your family safe - Published Sept 4, 2024
UNC Health Infectious Disease Physician Dr. David Wohl said we are currently experiencing a summer surge, which is why we're seeing an uptick in Covid-19 cases.
North Carolina Covid-19 numbers are high – but hospitalizations are down.
UNC Health Infectious Disease Physician Dr. David Wohl said we are currently experiencing a summer surge, which is why we're seeing an uptick in cases.
"So our numbers are really high," Dr. Wohl said. "In fact, right now in North Carolina, our wastewater numbers are much higher than the general nation – but they were higher before; we just got it a little bit later."
With school back in session across the state, there is concern that numbers will continue to go up.
"This would be the worst time to let your guard down," he said. "This has been a remarkably big uptick. So we've seen a lot of cases, probably due to the virus just being much more transmittable."
Universities are no longer tracking cases since most people test at home now. This makes it difficult to accurately track Covid-19 cases.
"Tracking has really gone away," Dr. Wohl said. "So if we don't really see a whole lot of tracking of cases... we get those numbers, but that's just a fraction of who really has Covid-19."
Dr. Wohl said it's still important to protect yourself. One way to do that is staying up to date on vaccines.
"These are really incredibly safe vaccines, safer than a lot of the vaccines that we normally take and accept," he said.
Of the three available vaccines, Dr. Wohl said he prefers Pfizer or Moderna since the Novavax vaccine covers a variant that's a little bit older.
Masking is another way to stay safe, he said.
"I don't think we're in the same place we were a year ago or two years ago," Dr. Wohl said. "Everyone's got to calibrate what makes sense for them. But you know, if you're going to be in a crowded space [or] you're going to be with a lot of people, you just have to make some choices.
"I'm back to masking when I'm in very crowded places like airports or airplanes or supermarkets. That's not for everyone. So I think we just have to adjust."
UNC Health Infectious Disease Physician Dr. David Wohl said we are currently experiencing a summer surge, which is why we're seeing an uptick in Covid-19 cases.
North Carolina Covid-19 numbers are high – but hospitalizations are down.
UNC Health Infectious Disease Physician Dr. David Wohl said we are currently experiencing a summer surge, which is why we're seeing an uptick in cases.
"So our numbers are really high," Dr. Wohl said. "In fact, right now in North Carolina, our wastewater numbers are much higher than the general nation – but they were higher before; we just got it a little bit later."
With school back in session across the state, there is concern that numbers will continue to go up.
"This would be the worst time to let your guard down," he said. "This has been a remarkably big uptick. So we've seen a lot of cases, probably due to the virus just being much more transmittable."
Universities are no longer tracking cases since most people test at home now. This makes it difficult to accurately track Covid-19 cases.
"Tracking has really gone away," Dr. Wohl said. "So if we don't really see a whole lot of tracking of cases... we get those numbers, but that's just a fraction of who really has Covid-19."
Dr. Wohl said it's still important to protect yourself. One way to do that is staying up to date on vaccines.
"These are really incredibly safe vaccines, safer than a lot of the vaccines that we normally take and accept," he said.
Of the three available vaccines, Dr. Wohl said he prefers Pfizer or Moderna since the Novavax vaccine covers a variant that's a little bit older.
Masking is another way to stay safe, he said.
"I don't think we're in the same place we were a year ago or two years ago," Dr. Wohl said. "Everyone's got to calibrate what makes sense for them. But you know, if you're going to be in a crowded space [or] you're going to be with a lot of people, you just have to make some choices.
"I'm back to masking when I'm in very crowded places like airports or airplanes or supermarkets. That's not for everyone. So I think we just have to adjust."