Covid first contacted me in April. When I woke up on Friday morning, I had a terrible suspicion that my slightly swollen nose was more deceptive. A quick home antigen test was confirmed within 30 seconds.
My friends were amazed at my positive result; That is until the current wave actually rises, even to their knowledge. Most people have been deceived into feeling a false sense of security since the original Omicron strain spread to New York. The numbers are low, that is, we all thought.
What has likely happened – and is happening now – is that incident rates are higher than official statistics indicate. Thanks to better access to tests at home, more people know they are sick. The days for testing are getting shorter.
“Currently, Covid infection rates are lower than those reported nationwide, so we’re actually getting a false low number of infections. Therefore, health authorities may feel that COVID is on. under control when it is not and can be misled in their planning and recommendations, ”said Dr Michael Blaivas, Chief Medical Officer. Diagnosis of Anava.
The exact number of cases helps people make informed decisions about their health. They are also important for community leaders, hospitals and more.
“If infections increase, the government may need to allocate additional resources for COVID care in hospitals, clinics, and possibly other measures, such as providing masks when requested,” Blaivas said. “Local hospital staff can be affected by a false low number, and if a lot of people look sick, they may not have the staff that matters most.”
“There aren’t enough reports on COVID infection rates nationwide, so we’re actually getting a false low number of infections. Therefore, health authorities can assume COVID is controlled when it’s not.”
– Dr. Michael Blaivas, Chief Medical Officer, Anavasi Diagnostics
If we are to live long in the world with COVID – as many experts have said – we need to know when we are experiencing growth.
“Until recently, and before home testing began, almost all testing was reported to the CDC and in various states.” Policy makers and health authorities quickly knew when COVID exploded and if when it’s under control. “
“Also, do you remember all the lack of masks, disinfectants and medications at the beginning of COVID?” Blaivas continued. “When authorities don’t know the infection numbers, they can’t work on storage or even provide access when people start getting seriously ill in large numbers.” It puts everyone at risk. “
Finally, accurate case numbers allow researchers to prepare for future treatment and prevention measures. I was vaccinated and raised and probably treated with the Omicron BA.2 subtype because it is now the dominant strain. Fortunately, because of my vaccination, my case did not become serious. This is useful information for science.
“Positive test results help us provide valuable insights into how vaccines can withstand a variety of options,” Drs. Vivek Cherian, a Chicago -based internal medicine physician. “Ultimately, all of this information can be gathered and influenced by the final recommendations and guidelines of health professionals.”
How to report your positive COVID test at home
There are many ways you can take your case, depending on where you live. The most logical first step is to call and tell your physician.
“The physician may consider it appropriate to intervene with several possible treatment options, [which] “It may depend on your overall health or the status of your vaccinations,” Cherian said.
However, Blaiva said you can’t always assume that your doctor will alert your city or state if he or she doesn’t perform the diagnosis himself. Many quick home tests have a related app where you can get or report your test result by scanning the QR code printed on the test.
“In some cases, you need to contact your doctor,” Blaivas added. “You can call them or in some states you can visit the state health website and report a COVID infection by filling out online forms.”
The stressful and sad truth is that we are on the wave of COVID – and it’s not really the last. Accurate numbers help us understand when we are approaching growth and encourage us to take extra precautions to protect ourselves and others.
Home tests are a great public health tool, but are not used in full unless the case is registered. Make sure you do this, as well as take care of yourself.
Source: Huffpost
I’m Liza Grey, an experienced news writer and author at the Buna Times. I specialize in writing about economic issues, with a focus on uncovering stories that have a positive impact on society. With over seven years of experience in the news industry, I am highly knowledgeable about current events and the ways in which they affect our daily lives.