Podcast Summary
COVID-19 surges again, CDC considers updated boosters, and Viator offers safe travel experiences: CDC considers updated boosters, COVID-19 cases rise, Viator provides safe travel experiences with free cancellation and customer support
COVID-19 is surging once again, and many people are getting infected for the second or even third time. This is due to the spread of new variants and the relaxation of safety measures. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is considering making updated boosters available to younger populations and those at higher risk. Meanwhile, people are looking for ways to stay safe and plan their travels, which is where tools like Viator come in. Viator offers a wide range of travel experiences and provides free cancellation and customer support. As for the ongoing COVID-19 situation, it's important to stay informed and take necessary precautions, such as wearing masks, getting vaccinated, and following local guidelines. The discussion on Today Explained also touched upon the new international spy thriller, The Veil, which follows two women as they navigate a dangerous game of truth and lies. Overall, it's a reminder that there are various aspects of life that require our attention and preparation, whether it's staying healthy, planning travels, or enjoying entertainment.
COVID-19 apathy: Waning immunity and emerging variants don't deter people from letting their guard down: People's concern for COVID-19 is at an all-time low, and governments have withdrawn support for testing, treatment, and other protections, leaving individuals vulnerable to reinfections and future surges.
Despite the ongoing evolution of COVID-19 variants and the waning immunity of the population, there seems to be a general apathy towards the virus both among individuals and governments. The emergence of various COVID-19 variants, such as Eris, eG five, Fornax, and others, has led to a significant number of reinfections. However, people are not testing as frequently as before, and masking has become an exception rather than the rule. A Gallup poll from the summer of 2022 indicated that only 18% of Americans are currently concerned about COVID-19, which is almost at an all-time low. Unfortunately, governments have also withdrawn their support for testing, treatment, and other COVID-19 protections, leaving individuals to fend for themselves unless they have excellent insurance coverage or the means to pay out of pocket. Overall, the pandemic may have officially ended, but the threat of COVID-19 remains, and the lack of collective action could lead to more infections and potential future surges.
Lack of institutional response and public concern towards new COVID-19 variants: Governments and private companies fail to implement protective measures, focusing instead on hospitalizations and deaths as indicators, leaving us vulnerable to the spread of new COVID-19 variants. Real-time data from wastewater samples and unofficial sources provide the best information.
Despite the emergence of new and potentially more contagious COVID-19 variants, there is a general lack of institutional response and public concern. Governments and private companies are not implementing widespread protective measures, such as mask mandates or work-from-home policies. Instead, focus has shifted to tracking hospitalizations and deaths, which are lagging indicators of viral trends. The best real-time data we have comes from wastewater samples and unofficial sources like BioBot. The new variant, Parola, has gained attention due to its significant genetic differences and past concerns about similar mutations. However, the origin of its name is unofficial, coming from a group of people on the internet. The lack of public data gathering and communication, combined with apathy and inaction, leaves us vulnerable to the spread of new variants.
New COVID-19 variant with multiple mutations causing concern: The new COVID-19 variant has a high number of mutations in its spike protein, making it harder for our immune system to recognize it and potentially leading to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths. Continue following safety protocols to protect yourself and others.
While the number of cases of the new COVID-19 variant is still relatively low, scientists are concerned due to the high number of mutations in the spike protein, which could make it harder for our immune system to recognize it. This, in turn, could lead to an increase in hospitalizations and deaths. For instance, in one hospital in Boston, the number of COVID-19 patients has risen from an average of 2 to 6 since May. Although most people will experience mild symptoms, it's important to remember that COVID-19 is still causing severe illness and death, especially for vulnerable populations. It's important to continue following safety protocols to protect ourselves and others. Mint Mobile offers a wireless plan for just $15 a month, but there's no catch – the plan includes high-speed data, unlimited talk, and text on the nation's largest 5G network. Check it out at mintmobile.com/explain.
Moving towards endemicity: The COVID-19 virus is becoming more like a seasonal flu, with unpredictable rises in cases and less severe outcomes.
The COVID-19 pandemic is evolving, and while there may continue to be increases and decreases in cases, the virus is moving towards endemicity. This means it's becoming more like a seasonal flu, and experts don't expect every rise in cases to lead to overwhelmed hospitals or massive waves of deaths. The language we use to describe the pandemic should reflect this new reality. The virus is not following a predictable seasonal pattern, but rather varying on an every few months schedule, likely due to human behavior and immunity. It's important to stay informed and vigilant, but we no longer need to assume the worst every time cases rise.
Living with COVID-19: Focus Shifting: Focus is shifting towards living with COVID-19, with less emphasis on individual behavior and more on natural ebb and flow of the virus. Precautions still necessary to prevent spread, testing and treatments available.
Human behavior is less of a factor in the spread of COVID-19 compared to the natural ebb and flow of the virus itself. Flu seasons still occur, and getting COVID during flu season can be more risky for individuals and those around them, especially the immunocompromised. If you do get sick, it's important to prevent spreading it by masking up and staying home. Testing still works, and Paxlovid can help reduce the risk of hospitalization and death if taken after infection. Vaccines are still effective and have been updated to target the most prevalent variants in the US. The purpose of the vaccine remains to prevent severe infection and hospitalization. In summary, while we should still take precautions to prevent spreading COVID-19, the focus is shifting towards living with the virus rather than shutting down our lives as we did during the early stages of the pandemic.
Understanding Lowered COVID-19 Risk: COVID-19 hospitalizations, deaths, and long-term health issues are now less common than before, making it safer for those feeling fine after 5 days to resume normal activities. Persistent alarmism hinders effective communication and response to future health crises.
While COVID-19 continues to teach us new things, it's important to understand that most people are at much lower risk for severe complications than our behaviors might suggest. Hospitalizations, deaths, and long-term health issues are now much less common than they were a few years ago. If you're feeling fine after five days of infection, it's likely safe to go out and resume normal activities. The persistent alarmism around COVID-19, despite the lowered risk, is unhelpful and could hinder our ability to effectively communicate and respond to future health crises. It's time to evolve our strategies as the virus does. For more insights, check out Karen Landman and Rachel Durose's work at vox.com. This episode of Today Explained was produced by Siona Petros and John Aarons, edited by Amina Al Sadi, mixed by David Herman, and fact-checked by Laura Bullard with assistance from Amanda Llewellyn.
Sponsored by Fundrise: A Real Estate Investment Platform: Listeners can invest in Fundrise's real estate portfolio starting from $10, with potential expansion in the coming months.
Today Explained, a podcast produced by Vox, is made possible through listener contributions and sponsorships. The team behind the show includes Halima Shah, Abhisheh Artsy, Hadi Mawagudi, Myles Brian, Victoria Chamberlain, Rob Byers, Patrick Boyd, Noelle King, Matthew Colette, and Miranda Kennedy. They discuss various topics in a clear and concise manner. The show is distributed on the radio by WNYC and uses music by BRAKE MASTER Cylinder. One of the sponsors for the show is Fundrise, a real estate investment platform. Fundrise is currently experiencing a buying opportunity in the real estate market due to dropping demand and falling prices. They plan to expand their $1 billion real estate portfolio over the next few months. Listeners can invest in the Fundrise flagship fund with as little as $10 through their website. It's important to note that all investments come with risks, and potential investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of the Fundrise flagship fund before investing. This information can be found in the fund's prospectus. This is a paid advertisement.
