Booster Shot Effectiveness, Scrabble Variants and Vaccines – NBC Chicago

How efficient are the brand new COVID booster pictures, significantly as new so-called “scrabble” variants emerge with regarding traits?

New knowledge has been launched.

This is what it’s worthwhile to know concerning the coronavirus pandemic throughout Illinois in the present day.

Apple Warns of iPhone Cargo Delays As a result of COVID Lockdown at China Plant

Apple Inc. is warning prospects they will have to attend longer to get its newest iPhone fashions after anti-virus restrictions had been imposed on a contractor’s manufacturing unit in central China.

The corporate announcement Sunday gave no particulars however mentioned the manufacturing unit operated by Foxconn within the central metropolis of Zhengzhou is “working at considerably diminished capability.”

Learn extra here.

Do New Covid ‘Scrabble’ Variants Make Omicron Boosters Pointless? This is What Specialists Say

In the event you’ve obtained a brand new omicron-specific Covid booster, you are probably the most protected you probably might be in opposition to the virus.

However there is a new batch of so-called “Scrabble” variants circulating globally. Whereas omicron’s BA.5 subvariant nonetheless accounts for practically 40% of U.S. Covid instances, strains like BQ.1, BQ.1.1 and BA.4.6 are rising every week, in response to the newest Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention data.

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Pfizer Releases Extra Knowledge Indicating Omicron Boosters Are Higher Than Previous Covid Photographs

Pfizer and BioNTech launched extra human knowledge Friday indicating the omicron BA.5 boosters carry out higher than the previous Covid pictures.

Individuals older than 55 who obtained the brand new booster had about 4 occasions extra antibodies focusing on omicron BA.5 than folks in the identical age group who obtained the previous vaccine, in response to the businesses. Antibodies are a key a part of the physique’s protection system that block the virus from invading cells.

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Drop In Quantity Children’ Flu Vaccinations Is Worrying Chicago’s High Physician

As COVID instances begin to tick again up, Chicago Division of Public Well being Commissioner Dr. Alison Arwady earlier this week mentioned the gradual uptake of flu vaccines amongst youngsters is worrying her, because the numbers in comparison with final yr are a lot decrease.

Watch extra here.

What to Do If You Take a look at Optimistic for COVID Proper Earlier than a Thanksgiving Or Vacation Gathering

The vacation season is across the nook, and also you’re most likely wanting ahead to in-person celebrations with family members.

And although you won’t wish to give it some thought, testing constructive for Covid simply earlier than a type of gatherings might put an actual damper in your holidays.

So, if that occurs, what do you have to do? There is a quick reply and an extended reply, consultants say.

Learn extra here.

Is Lack of Scent Nonetheless a COVID Symptom? Chicago’s High Physician Weighs In

With every new subvariant of COVID, scientists have mentioned {that a} lack of a way of odor has turn into much less and fewer frequent, however Chicago’s prime physician says that sufferers can nonetheless expertise points in the event that they contract the virus.

Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Division of Public Well being, mentioned throughout an availability Tuesday that lack of odor happens in lower than one-in-five instances involving omicron subvariants of COVID, however warned that it’s nonetheless a potential situation that sufferers might need to take care of.  

“It’s not essentially the most typical symptom, however particularly if someone’s by no means had COVID, you completely can lose your sense of odor with omicron, identical to you’ll be able to with the entire different variants which have come earlier than,” she mentioned.

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What Are the Facet Results of a COVID and Flu Shot on the Similar Time?

Whereas unwanted effects broadly fluctuate for every particular person, some persons are questioning if getting each vaccines on the similar time makes them extra prone to expertise sure unwanted effects.

Based on Chicago’s prime physician Allison Arwady, the unwanted effects skilled doubtless need to do together with your immune system.

For these experiencing extra intense, sturdy unwanted effects that are not long-lasting, which may be the signal of a strong immune system, in response to Arwady.

Moreover, Arwady mentioned that those that have skilled robust unwanted effects for earlier vaccines ought to keep away from getting the flu and COVID pictures on the similar time.

Nonetheless, those that have not observed extreme unwanted effects previously should have no problem getting each of the pictures directly.

Learn extra here.

Methods to Handle COVID Consolation Ranges As Holidays Method

Now greater than ever, folks’s attitudes towards COVID consolation and threat are altering, consultants say. Which means it is tougher than ever to seek out two folks with the identical strategy towards the virus, and it is making {our relationships} tougher to handle.

The explanation: Many individuals at the moment are extra centered on their very own threat than the chance they pose to others, says Virginia Tech epidemiologist Lisa Lee. Somebody up-to-date on their COVID vaccines may attend a big social gathering nowadays, with out contemplating the chance of probably spreading the virus to high-risk family members.

That is a near-complete reversal from the pandemic’s starting, when “we had been all afraid and rather more keen to do issues to guard one another in opposition to the brand new illness,” Lee tells CNBC Make It.

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As Circumstances Creep Upward, Right here Are 5 Widespread Questions About COVID, Vaccines and Extra

Coronavirus instances are slowly on the rise in Illinois and throughout the USA, and with that residents are asking loads of questions concerning the sickness.

Scientists and officers have anticipated will increase in instances due to new variants, which have proven some resistance to sure therapies, and due to colder climate pushing extra folks to spend time indoors.

Regardless of the case, there are some commonly-asked questions on COVID, and we’re right here to supply some solutions from consultants and scientists.

Learn extra here.

As New COVID Variants Emerge at a Sooner Tempo, This is What You Have to Know

Throughout a coronavirus replace Friday, Chicago’s prime physician mentioned that new COVID variants are rising “extra rapidly proper now,” doubtlessly marking a turning level within the pandemic because it enters its third winter.

Whereas not one of the current rapidly-rising subvariants have reached the brink of “variant of concern,” they’re being intently monitored as colder climate shifts extra actions indoors.

Based on CDPH Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady, the entire rising variants stay underneath the omicron umbrella.

Learn extra here.

Illinois Seeing ‘Uptick’ in COVID Circumstances, Well being Division Says

Illinois noticed an “uptick” in COVID instances inside the final week, the state’s well being division mentioned Friday.

With the number of counties under a “high” community level for the virus rising from three to 5 this week, and one other 33 at a “medium” degree, per tips set by the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, the Illinois Division of Public Well being urged residents to get new bivalent booster pictures alongside flu vaccines earlier than the vacation season. Residents in counties underneath a excessive alert degree are urged to put on masks in public areas.

Learn extra here.

Masks Advisable in 5 Illinois Counties With ‘Excessive’ COVID Neighborhood Stage

Masks are advised in 5 Illinois counties which have returned to “excessive” COVID group degree standing following a rise in weekly metrics, in response to the newest replace from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention.

Residents within the 5 counties are suggested to take precautions in opposition to the virus, together with carrying masks in indoor areas and staying away from giant gatherings if they’re immunocompromised or produce other frequent threat components for extreme sickness in the event that they contract COVID.

Learn extra here.

New COVID Variants Rising ‘Extra Shortly’ Now. This is What That Indicators

New COVID variants are rising “extra rapidly proper now,” Chicago’s prime physician mentioned throughout a coronavirus replace Friday, and that would sign a shift heading into colder months.

Learn extra here.

Chicago’s High Physician Offers COVID Replace Forward of Halloween, Vacation Season

Chicago’s prime physician delivered a COVID-19 replace Friday forward of Halloween and the upcoming vacation season.

Chicago Division of Public Well being Commissioner Dr. Allison Arwady and different metropolis well being officers held a press convention to debate bivalent booster uptake, protections for the winter and vacation seasons and extra. 

‘Nightmare’ and ‘Scrabble’: How Frightened Ought to You Be About New COVID Variants?

As new COVID variants emerge, similar to XBB and BQ.1 and BQ.1.1, they’re additionally producing new names just like the “nightmare variant” or “scrabble variants.” However what does that imply and the way nervous do you have to really be?

Whereas the BA.5 subvariant stays the dominant pressure in the USA this week, a number of different new types of the virus are gaining floor, and physicians warn that some therapies in opposition to the sickness will not be efficient in opposition to them.

Learn extra here.

DuPage County to Completely Shut COVID-19 Testing Website

The DuPage County Well being Division introduced that it’ll shut its COVID-19 testing facility on the Dupage County Fairgrounds later this week.

Based on a press launch, the division will shut the location down on Friday.

The division cites the widespread availability of different testing websites and at-home COVID assessments, and says residents can discover info on additional sites at this link.

Greater than 60,000 assessments had been performed on the fairgrounds.

BQ.1, BQ.1.1 Variants, Proof against Some COVID Therapies, Proceed to Achieve Floor in U.S.

The BA.5 subvariant of COVID-19 stays the dominant pressure in the USA this week, however a number of different new types of the virus are gaining floor, and physicians warn that some therapies in opposition to the sickness will not be efficient in opposition to them.

Based on the newest knowledge from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, BA.5 is making up roughly 62.2% of COVID instances within the U.S. That subvariant has been the dominant pressure of COVID since early July, but it surely’s quickly declining as different strains take maintain.

Learn extra here.

Chicago-Space Docs Predict ‘Explosion’ of Flu, RSV and COVID This Fall and Winter

As temperatures drop and restrictions like vaccination and masks mandates proceed to ease, Chicago-area medical doctors are bracing for what they’re predicting shall be a “doubtlessly scary chilly and flu season.”

One of many primary causes, well being consultants say, is a lag in eligible folks opting to obtain the flu shot and COVID bivalent booster.

Learn extra here.

I Have COVID, Now What Ought to I Do? This is the Newest Steerage

For many who contract COVID for the primary time or who check constructive following up to date tips from the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention this summer time, there could also be some uncertainty about what to do subsequent.

In the event you had COVID beforehand and adopted the correct steerage, you will have to take word as the present suggestions aren’t the identical as earlier than. The CDC final modified its quarantine and isolation steerage in August.

Learn extra here.

Most Widespread COVID Signs Have Modified, Research Says. This is Why and What They Are

Whereas those that contract COVID-19 might come down with considered one of greater than 20 signs, that is not the case for everybody. Some individuals who check constructive can develop a number of signs whereas others might not even expertise any.

And for those who do come down with COVID after having it one other time earlier than, the signs you’ve – and severity of them – could also be drastically totally different than the opposite time you had been contaminated. As revealed by a current examine, there could also be a motive for that.

Learn extra here.

How Lengthy Can You Proceed to Take a look at Optimistic for COVID-19?

As considerations over COVID-19 rise heading into the winter months, many are questioning how lengthy they’ll anticipate to check constructive within the occasion of contracting COVID.

With the more moderen durations, the incubation interval, the time between once you’re contaminated to when signs seem, has dropped to a few days, Dr. Allison Arwady, commissioner of the Chicago Division of Public Well being, has mentioned. Most components with each the aforementioned strains have moved quicker in comparison with others, the physician famous.

Learn extra here.