COVID: A mid-year update is usually good news

COVID: A mid-year update is usually good news

Nearly 100 Americans a day are still dying from COVID, the lowest death rate since the pandemic began.

As we cross the halfway point of 2023, COVID has fallen to the fourth most common cause of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The death rate from COVID currently ranks below heart disease, cancer and preventable injury (accidental death). However, despite this favorable news, nearly 100 Americans a day are still dying from COVID according to the latest statistics from the CDC. This is the lowest COVID death rate since the pandemic began three years ago.

Continuous evolution: 17 COVID variants being tracked

The CDC COVID tracking page shows 17 variants currently circulating in the United States. The currently dominant variants belong to the Omicron family, including XBB.1.16, XBB.1.5, and XBB.2.3. One of the most challenging aspects of COVID has been this feature – creating new, potentially deadly variants, including Delta and Omicron. Luckily, as of now, none of the 17 tracked variants have established themselves like some of the previous ones.

Vashon’s Risk Level: Still at Base Level, Despite Recent Rise

Our region’s COVID hospitalization rate has trended upward in recent weeks, although it remains well within our lowest baseline risk rating range. The hospitalization rate has fallen from 1.2 to 1.8 per thousand since early June, about half the rate of 3.5 that marks the upper end of our baseline risk rating. The local risk rating aggregates hospitalization rates in our COVID exposure region, including the three counties served by Vashon’s ferry routes – King, Kitsap and Pierce.

The VashonBePrepared risk level tool takes into account incomplete reporting of home test results. Since the launch of the risk level tool, it is primarily based on accurate and reliable COVID hospitalization rates. Some other factors are also assessed, including COVID virus levels in our region’s wastewater.

COVID: baseline risk level

The VashonBePrepared risk level tool takes into account incomplete reporting of home test results. Since the launch of the risk level tool, it is primarily based on accurate and reliable COVID hospitalization rates. Some other factors are also assessed, including COVID virus levels in our region’s wastewater.

At the basic risk level, wear an N95 mask indoors in public if you have been exposed to COVID, are at risk for health or other reasons, or live or spend time with someone outside. high risk.

Keep vaccinations up to date, including boosters. Maintain good ventilation at home and at work. Avoid people with suspected or confirmed COVID. If exposed to COVID, wear a mask in public and avoid contact with high-risk people for 10 days.

Always do a home test if you have symptoms. If you test positive, self-isolate for at least five days and until your test is negative. If you are immunocompromised, discuss additional preventive measures with your healthcare provider.

Moment gadget: AirNow app for smoke updates

Smoke recently made its first appearance of the year in the skies of Vashon, luckily not a major smoke event but perhaps a sign of things to come, especially considering the smoke that has recently drifted into the States of the east and the plains because of the Canadian forest fires.

The AirNow app lets you see the smoke coming and provides information on when it might subside. The map of Vashon shown above by AirNow (left) has a dot for each of the island’s seven real-time air quality sensors. Click on one of the dots to get a current “speedometer” of air quality at that sensor (top right) and air quality history over the past few days (bottom right), in addition to advice on reducing the risk of smoke inhalation.

You can view AirNow on your computer here: bit.ly/FireAirNow You can also install the app on your smartphone by downloading it from the Apple or Android stores.