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COVID-19 still a concern this holiday season

By Isabella Vesperini

Posted November 20, 2023

Even though COVID-19 has become less severe, it can still be harmful for people of all ages. (Joey Mendolia WFIU/WTIU News)

COVID-19 cases are expected to rise this holiday season.

Graham McKeen, director of public and environmental health at IU, said it is hard to tell how high COVID-19 numbers are at the moment, because it is not mandatory to report at-home test results. He is mainly able to monitor viral spread and trends through wastewater surveillance, as well as self-reported test results locally.

“Some of that data has been lacking in the local area here…we are seeing some slight increases in COVID activity,” McKeen said. “I do expect a wave in early to mid-December.”

McKeen recommends people get the COVID-19 booster and flu shot as soon as possible; it takes about two weeks to build an immunity from a vaccine.

“These new vaccines, with the variants that are circling now we're going to see effectiveness more towards the 25 percent to maybe 65 percent range in terms of infection,” McKeen said. “If I can have that protection, that's better than zero…I reduce my risk of infection, it's going to reduce my risk of long COVID as well.”

McKeen said only about 8 percent of people eligible to get the vaccine nationally have done so, and about 30 to 35 percent have taken the flu shot.

“A lot of people have become less fearful of this virus [COVID-19], but people still need to understand the benefit [of the vaccine],” McKeen said.

McKeen said people should also test themselves multiple times for COVID-19 before gathering with family members since at-home tests are not as sensitive as they used to be. Staying home when sick can also protect others.

McKeen said it is especially important to increase ventilation to protect yourself not only from COVID-19 but also mold, allergens and other particles in the air.

“Ventilation is still kind of being neglected…even just cracking a window if the weather permits can be really helpful on getting that air circulating,” McKeen said. “I've been telling others to on their holiday shopping list this year to add air purifier HEPA filter. Those do work, they can help significantly.”

McKeen said masking in crowded indoor spaces can help decrease spread. Even though COVID-19 has become less severe, it can still be harmful for people of all ages.

“The thing that concerns me and others more than anything now is not acute outcomes, but long COVID post-viral symptoms, a lot of people are struggling with cognitive function or chronic fatigue,” McKeen said. “There's still a lot of utility in avoiding infection.”

McKeen said students should test themselves for COVID-19 before coming back to school and monitor their symptoms.

“I don't think it hurts to test whether you're symptomatic or not, because forty percent of all COVID infections are asymptomatic,” McKeen said. “Sixty percent of all COVID cases are spread by people that are either asymptomatic or pre symptomatic.”

While variants continue to form, McKeen is mainly keeping an eye on the JN.1 variant.

“We're still seeing a variant soup,” McKeen said. “I wouldn't really say that there's anything really on the horizon that is absolutely alarming compared to any other one, but that could change any moment.”

If you are exposed to COVID-19, you are still required to wear a mask for 10 days and get tested on day six.