What You Should Know About COVID-19 for This Holiday Season

By Helina Selemon

If you don’t feel up-to-date about what’s going on with COVID-19, you’re probably not alone. COVID-19 has been waning in the public consciousness for some time: Four years in, only 20% of Americans now view the virus as a major threat to public health in the U.S., according to a Pew survey, but COVID-19 is still here. It lingers throughout all seasons of the year and if past years are any indication, cases are likely to go up as people move indoors during cold weather.

“We’re seeing spikes in the summer and winter time,” said Dr. Uche Blackstock, an emergency physician at NYU Langone Health and founder of Advancing Health Equity.

“It’s so important to recognize that COVID-19 never goes away …. If you have personal risk for developing severe COVID-19, you’re going to want to get vaccinated before then.”

Some of the COVID-19 cases were in kids who hadn’t received COVID-19 vaccines over the previous year, said Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics and Research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). He encourages getting RSV, flu, and COVID-19 vaccinations, comparing getting vaccines to wearing a seat belt to stay safe in the car and prevent injuries from car accidents. “Why wouldn’t you want to reduce the risk?” he said.

Here’s what experts want you to know to keep the people around you safe.

COVID-19 spread in New York is decreasing … for now?

There is some good news: So far this year, cases of COVID-19 in New York City are going down. Looking at data from between Oct. 27 and Nov. 2, COVID-19 detection from wastewater testing has been trending downward since mid-August to a “minimal” activity level.

Hospitalizations in the city are going down, too, with a weekly average of eight admittances. That said, the Thanksgiving to New Year’s window is when there is likely to be a spike in cases, said Dr. Sean Liu, associate professor at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai.

“When people come together for the holidays, that’s really the risk,” he said.

Testing Kits: Some New, Some Free 

The federal government is once again offering free COVID-19 tests that can be mailed to residences. The New York State Health Department (NYSDOH) encourages New Yorkers to fill out the simple form to get the free test kits in a few days.

“It couldn’t be easier,” said State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald in a statement. “I ordered mine and the entire process took less than 30 seconds to complete. As we head into respiratory illness season, arm yourself with the available tools — vaccines, testing, and treatment.”

It’s important to test before you gather with other people if you’re feeling ill. The FDA recently authorized a first-ever combined COVID-19 and flu test. The combined test is pricier than an at-home COVID-19 test, ranging from $10 to $13 per test. For that reason, emergency physician Dr. Jeremy Faust has written that this version is best used during flu season: between November and March.

“While COVID-19 clearly has some seasonality to it, unlike flu, it does not vanish in the spring and summer,” said Faust in his newsletter “Inside Medicine.”

Liu added that these combined tests can also help people figure out which virus they have and fast-track their recovery, which is especially important for seniors. “You should find out what kind of infection you have, because it can change management” of the illness, Liu said. “I think a lot of people don’t appreciate that there is a treatment for flu, and there is a treatment for COVID — there’s Paxlovid — and that stuff really works.”

Updated Vaccines Now Available

It’s important to know that you can get any combination of COVID-19, flu, RSV vaccines in any visit, according to Dr. Peter Marks, director of the Center for Biologics and Research at the FDA. “This is a safe practice.”

COVID-19 is still deadlier than the flu: Last fall-winter season had nearly twice as many hospitalizations for COVID-19 as for influenza.

Get the vaccines as early as possible and get them out of the way, “whatever your combination,” advised Synovia Moss from Good Health Wins, a group that supports community-based organizations with providing vaccine education.

“If you’ve recently had COVID … I would wait three or four months before getting the vaccine, because you got boosted when you had COVID,” said Dr. Kawsar Talaat, an associate professor at the Bloomberg School of Public Health at Johns Hopkins University.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now recommends getting the latest COVID-19 shots every six months, or twice a year, for seniors aged 65 and older and people who are moderately or severely immunocompromised.

As for access to a shot, Dr. Kayla McFeely, vice president of pharmacy care at the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, said that last season, the CDC reported that pharmacies were the most common place people are going to for COVID-19, RSV, and flu.

“Pharmacy access can serve as a safety net for vaccination options,” she said, especially for those who don’t have easy access to get vaccines from a provider.

Those looking for a place near them to get vaccinated in New York City or New York state, it’s still possible to get an updated shot for free, wrote Marisa Donnelly from Your Local Epidemiologist. New York state also has a vaccine program for eligible uninsured adults in the state.

Think About Long COVID 

Protecting vulnerable people in your circle, including those with Long COVID, comes with feasible steps, said Liza Fisher, an advocate for Long COVID education and executive member of the Long COVID Alliance. She said this includes masking when you travel to a destination.

“Mask if you’re going to see somebody who’s traveling — I keep getting sick from people flying in to see me,” she said.

Millions of Americans have experienced Long COVID symptoms brought on during the pandemic — 6.9% of the population, leaving many with an array of chronic symptoms like brain fog and tremors, as well as health conditions that create abnormally rapid heart rate, like POTS (postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), and extreme fatigue, like ME-CFS (myalgic encephalomyelitis-chronic fatigue syndrome). For Fisher, the advocacy for “long haulers” over the years has helped shine light on all these conditions.

“Finally, there is more awareness,” she said. “There is a collective perspective in unity for most chronic diseases.”

There’s been some movement on the federal level to address Long COVID: Last year, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services created an office for Long COVID research. Earlier this year, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) announced that it will spend $515 million over four years on Long COVID research.

“I think that’s a big step in the right direction,” Fisher said.

Ways to Lower Your Risk

One way to lower the health risk of COVID-19 is to be aware of your risk. The best way to find out is to discuss your risk for COVID-19 with your doctor. For an idea of your relative risk for a severe case of COVID, consider taking this quiz.

Talaat suggested wearing a mask when traveling or around large groups, especially if COVID-19 is surging in your area, you’re immunocompromised, or loved ones are immunocompromised.

Reducing the amount of viral spread at an event is easier with an air purifier with a high-quality HEPA filter. A cheaper alternative would be to build your own, called a Corsi-Rosenthal box.

Ultimately, with any respiratory illness this season, Liu said it is key not to hesitate to step away from the festivities when you’re aware that you’re sick.

“It’s OK not to go to the party … don’t be that person,” he said. “If you’re sick, stay home. That’s the most important thing: If you’re sick, stay home.”

This article is part of New York Amsterdam News’s Blacklight series. This post appeared first on New York Amsterdam News.

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