Middle Georgia Covid Tracker

08/14/2023

Hey folks. Long time no update but just a reminder:

Numbers are on quickly the rise and Antivirals are not available to anyone except those REALLY at risk. If you have medically fragile folks in your home, please test often, especially with the kids bringing back the really gross stuff from school again.

My husband pinged positive this morning and this is his first time ever catching it so this bug is definitely easy to catch, but thankfully not anymore deadly than the previous strains. Stay safe out there. We are in this together.

https://www.politico.com/news/2023/08/08/what-to-know-about-covid-variant-eris-00110286 #:~:text=A%20fast%2Dspreading%20new%20subvariant,illness%20or%20pose%20immediate%20danger.

The new coronavirus strain, while fast-spreading, does not appear to cause significant illness.

01/05/2023

If you haven't recently gotten your new round of free Covid tests, please make sure to get in that order. The new variant gives no concern for vaccines so we are all vulnerable. Mask up.

Every U.S. household is eligible to order 4 free at-home COVID-⁠19 tests.

01/04/2023

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/04/health/public-health-concerned-xbb/index.html

Health experts voiced concern Wednesday over the rapid growth of the new Omicron sublineage XBB.1.5, advising the public to stay informed but not alarmed as they work to learn more.

01/03/2023

https://www.cnn.com/2023/01/03/health/covid-variant-xbb-explainer/index.html

Mask up, another wave may be coming

The CDC estimates that XBB.1.5 has more than doubled its share of the Covid-19 pie each week for the last four, rising from about 4% to 41% of new infections over the month of December.

12/29/2022

I'm sure you're seeing the trending today. I wanted to share the source of this data twisting so you can combat this argument when it comes up.

https://www.kff.org/policy-watch/why-do-vaccinated-people-represent-most-covid-19-deaths-right-now/

12/13/2022

https://www.npr.org/2022/12/11/1142099805/indoor-masking-advised-washington-california-new-york

No, we haven't forgotten. And ugghhhhhh

The CDC is advising people to practice indoor masking in nearly a tenth of U.S. counties, as three highly contagious respiratory viruses sweep the country.

11/01/2022

Been super quiet, huh? Covid is here to stay, there isn't anything we can do about it now other than vaccinate ourselves and those we care about and properly isolate when you're sick. Isolation does work.

We have had 3 cases come into our home since June and due to being cautious, vaccinated, and listening to medical science... There was no additional spread within our home.

Unhappy we got here? Pi**ed at how the government handled this? How about the schools? Not only is the governor on this ballot, but the state superintendent is as well. Sick of the Wild West mentality of Georgia schools and lack of accountability? Vote to change it. Vote.

That's all the politics you'll get from me on this: Go vote. We've seen the damage a weak leader can do.

10/27/2022

Just a heads up. Oh, and get your booster, it helped us keep from bringing home a Euro variant. Ages 5+

The measures that helped keep us safe from Covid-19 over the past 2½ years -- lockdowns, physical distancing, wearing masks, washing hands -- also helped limit the spread of other viruses. As people return to school and work and take off their masks, those viruses, including respiratory syncytial v...

09/08/2022

We have been getting a lot of mixed messages about good timing to get this boost. I asked a friend a the CDC how to interpret the recommendations and between all of them, there is a sweetspot.

If you're like me and had covid in the last two months, wait until your at least 2 months out from infection, closer to 3 unless you work in a job with a high risk of exposure, then 2 is still far enough out that you should get a good boost to the immunity.

If you're part of the super rare population that still hasn't been infected recently, like my husband, 6 months from your last booster seems to be the sweet spot to maximize benefits from this one. If you are elderly or high risk, please research and ask medical professionals for advice. Over boosting has shown negative impacts in some studies.

The CDC has this month greenlit the rollout of updated Covid-19 vaccine boosters. These shots will replace the boosters previously offered in the US such that, for people 12 and older, being "up-to-date" with vaccines means having the new jab, CNN Medical Analyst Dr. Leana Wen explains.

09/02/2022

A few folks in this house are getting jabbed next week!

People are eligible for the updated boosters as long as they have completed all primary doses in their vaccine series. The committee recommended that the new boosters be given at least two months after the last dose of any Covid-19 vaccine and up to three months after an infection.
The new formulations do not replace shots for the primary series.

Dr. Rochelle Walensky, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, signed off Thursday on the recommendation of the agency's independent vaccine advisers in favor of updated Covid-19 vaccine boosters from Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna.

08/24/2022

I know this isn't covid related, but I feel it is important for our community to be aware of symptoms and exposure, as 2 weeks of excruciating pain and 4 weeks of isolation just don't sound pleasant, even if you don't die.

Newton County School System confirmed a Mansfield Elementary School student tested positive for monkeypox and a Flint Hill Elementary School student is being tested.

08/12/2022

Blue lines are cases, red lines are deaths. Must have had a data dump on the 9th because deaths normally lag behind cases.

I tested positive Monday and kept my entire house under isolation because I didn't want my son to be responsible for infecting his class. Apparently the CDC doesn't recommend that anymore but some of us have concern for our community.

(I'm doing fine btw. I tested and went and got antivirals in the first 12 hours of symptoms. I'm almost back to normal, vaccines work)

We are now ending week 2, anyone have a child bring home the vids from school?