A Look at What May Be Hiding in the Shadows of COVID

For two years, COVID-19 has commanded the lion’s share of society’s focus, while individuals, communities and healthcare professionals have worked to avoid it, stop the spread of it, treat it and support people in recovery from it. While the pandemic has certainly warranted this important attention, the potential for infections —including the flu and pneumonia — to get lost in the “shadows of COVID” has many healthcare providers encouraging their patients to be extra cautious. Four areas of concern are:
    – Flu: Summer has officially started, but the flu is still active throughout New Jersey and elsewhere. Plus, Type A flu, which can be more contagious and result in more severe illness, has lingered longer this year.
    – Shingles: AtlantiCare teams have been treating a higher-than-usual number of shingles cases. Shingles is frequently triggered by a stress response after the body’s immune system has been hard at work fighting a viral illness, such as COVID-19 or the flu.
    – Greater risk of illness after COVID-19: In addition to shingles, individuals who have or had COVID-19 are at risk for long COVID and face a high risk of other lung and organ issues.  
    – New omicron subvariants of COVID-19: These are emerging and will likely continue to do so.
Understanding some causes of these trends offers a strong start for reversing them. For example:  
    – Many people who take a COVID-19 test resume normal activities immediately if it is negative. However, something motivated them to take that test — either being around people who were sick or having some type of symptom. Even if you test negative for COVID-19, you could be carrying and spreading COVID or another type of virus.  
    – Home tests, usually antigen tests, are not as effective at detecting omicron subvariants in early stages — or at all. A negative result may not be accurate.
    – There is a common misconception that if a person is vaccinated for COVID-19, they cannot get it or spread it. Vaccination decreases the risk of illness, especially severe illness and hospitalization.
    – The summer relief from “cabin fever” can distract people from remembering proper hygiene protocols or from paying attention if public health guidelines change due to an uptick in cases.  
Guided by this knowledge, you can take steps to protect yourself and others from getting sick this summer:
    – Embrace summer weather! Outdoor events and gatherings offer more air circulation, making it less likely for illnesses to be “passed around.”  
    – Get all your vaccines. Vaccines and boosters provide an additional layer of protection against COVID-19, shingles, flu, pneumonia and other illnesses. Ask your primary care provider about the vaccines recommended for you.
    – Trust and consult your healthcare provider. If you have been exposed to COVID-19 and/or have symptoms, contact your healthcare provider about getting a PCR test. And don’t dismiss symptoms you may think are “just allergies.” We’ve seen many people who thought their symptoms were allergies ultimately test positive for COVID.
    – Follow the COVID-19 protocol for one and all! Because viruses spread through respiratory droplets, doing things such as wearing a well-fitting mask when indoors around others, practicing proper hand hygiene often, avoiding spaces with poor ventilation and staying out of crowded situations can make a big difference to your health. Always refrain from being around others when you or they are or might be sick.
    – If you had COVID-19, be aware you may be at greater risk of getting other viral infections and take extra precautions.  
    – Getting COVID-19 does not give you long-term immunity. AtlantiCare is seeing a higher rate of reinfection, even just 30 days after the initial infection.
To learn more or find a primary, specialty or urgent care provider, visit www.atlanticare.org or call 1-888-569-1000. AtlantiCare’s telehealth services also offer care from wherever you are. These include same-day Virtualist appointments with an AtlantiCare primary care provider Monday through Friday – perfect if you cannot get into see yours in person or do not have one. Visit www.atlanticare.org/telehealth to book an appointment.