News

There was a time, not too long ago, that COVID was the topic of conversation everywhere you turned. It was being discussed on the news channels, in the newspaper and in our own social circles. Information and advice were easy to come by and readily available – until it wasn’t.

As cases declined and as we seemingly reached herd immunity, the discussion sort of stopped as people returned to their regular lives. For the months that followed, you would be hard pressed to find even a single mention of COVID. It was nice. It was normal. It was temporary.

David Chansolme, M.D., the medical director of infection prevention at INTEGRIS Health, gives us an update on the recent uptick in COVID cases across the country and in Oklahoma.

Chansolme says to cover your cough, practice good hand hygiene and stay home from work or school if you are not feeling well.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) no longer recommends a five-day isolation period but does suggest avoiding contact with others until symptoms are mild or improving, and you are fever free for 24 hours without medication. Additional prevention strategies are recommended for another five days. These include wearing a mask and keeping an appropriate distance from others.

COVID Precautions:

• It is important to get tested for COVID, particularly if you have co-morbidities such as hypertension, diabetes, obesity or other underlying health issues.
• Unlike other viral diseases, treatment options are available if started in the first few days. Talk to your personal physician to see if you’re a candidate for these remedies.
• But vaccination remains the best way to protect yourself against the virus. Newly updated COVID vaccines are becoming available just in time for the fall and winter months.
• People should wait at least two or three months since their last bout of the disease, or their last shot, to get the best protection. The new vaccines should now be available at most major pharmacy chains.

We will continue to send periodic updates throughout the next few months as we enter cold, flu and now COVID season.