CoViD-19 Status Report
Thomas Britt, MD, MPH, ACSM-CEP
Health Policy Institute
Breaking News
A new variant has been introduced in this Global Pandemic … it is called Omicron. It has been suggested that it originated in South Africa and brought to San Francisco by a traveler.
• 1 Dec 2021 … 1 confirmed case in San Francisco
• 2, 3 Dec 2021 … confirmed cases in CA, CO, HI, MN, NY
• 5 Dec 2021 … at least 15 States have confirmed cases; perhaps several dozen
Key Questions Regarding Omicron
1.How Contagious … early reports suggest that it is twice as contagious
2. How Severe … too early in the course of the disease to be certain
3.How Effective are existing vaccines … again it is early, however our best protection is prevention, if and only if we are Fully Vaccinated, more importantly … we are Fully Protected
– Fully Vaccinated – received both doses of the mRNA vaccines (Moderna or Pfizer) or 1 (one) dose of the J & J vaccine
– Fully Protected – fully vaccinated plus the Booster
Breaking Collateral News
Let us not forget, that the U.S. was coursing through an Opioid Crisis prior to the advent of CoViD-19
• 17 Nov 2021, the CDC estimated 100,306 Opioid deaths as of April 2021 … a 28.5% increase from 78,056 that occurred the same reporting period in2020
• Researchers are suggesting that this appreciable increase, in part is related to the ongoing stress of coping with CoViD
• Death Rates are highest in AK, AZ, CA, Con, MD, NV, UT, Washington
Total U.S. CoViD Deaths
788,778
NOTE …. This number is greater than deaths from
– Heart Disease … 659,000 annual deaths
– Cancer ……………. 600,000 annual deaths
– The so-called Spanish Flu … between 1918-1920
675,000 in the U.S. & >50 Million worldwide
Estimated CoViD Cases per Day
About 90,000 to 100,000 U.S. cases per day according to the CDC
99% due to the Delta Variant
Far more than 90% of these cases occur in people who are not vaccinated
NOTE …
We continue to have a pandemic of the unvaccinated
Variants develop and thrive in the unvaccinated
Confirmed U.S. CoViD Cases
48.8 Million
Adverse Sequelae to CoViD
Post CoViD Conditions … aka Long-Term Effects or Long-Haulers
• Long-term effects may last 4 or more weeks after the initial infection and or diagnosis
• CoViD symptoms result from viral damage to the Lungs, Heart, Brain, etc.,
• Typical Signs & Symptoms:
Fatigue, SOB, Chest Pain, Memory loss, Depression & Anxiety, Loss of Smell or Taste
Shorter Life-span
• Loss of 1 (one) year Life expectancy (LE) in Whites
• Loss of 3 or more years LE in Blacks and Latino
News Brief
As of July 2021, post-CoViD conditions can be considered a disability under the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) … For more information, contact HHS.gov
Fully Vaccinated in the U.S.
197.9 million or approximately 60% of the U.S. population has been Fully Vaccinated
This is far less than the 70% – 90% required to achieve Herd Immunity. Herd Immunity is the critical component in controlling this pandemic.
When we are FV, indeed FP we create a hostile individual and community environment that does not support viral growth nor variant development
We Can & We Must Control this Crisis
The Vaccines are Effective, Safe, Available, readily Accessible & FREE
Please do the following:
• Get tested (Isolate or Quarantine as is necessary)
• Get your Booster if eligible
• Wear a Mask in crowded places
• Continue with Physical Distancing
• Continue Hand washing/sanitizing
• Clean frequently used surfaces