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The protests against COVID-19 lockdowns have spread to Beijing even as China reported close to 40,000 coronavirus cases on Monday as authorities scrambled to contain the fresh surge in infections. For the fifth consecutive day, China reported close to 4,000 cases in the capital city of Beijing. China’s National Health Commission said 39,452 new cases were reported on Monday, including 36,304 local asymptomatic cases. Meanwhile, the protests which broke out in the eastern metropolis of Shanghai during the weekend, have spread to Beijing where hundreds of people converged on Sunday evening near Liangmahe river in the central city. Crowds carrying lighted candles in memory of those killed in the fire at an apartment block reported under COVID-19 <keyword id="91743" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="lockdown" source="Orion">lockdown</keyword> in Urumqi in Xinjiang shouted slogans against the arbitrary lockdowns by the government to curb the spread of the virus and in solidarity with the weekend protests in Shanghai. Several diplomats and foreigners watched the protests as they took place close to the diplomatic residential compound in Beijing. Eyewitness accounts said the protests went on for several hours and the police detained a number of people. Protesters in Shanghai on Saturday and Sunday called on Chinese President Xi Jinping and the ruling Communist Party to step down besides opposing the lockdowns and forcible evictions of people into coronavirus medical shelters. Student protests also broke out at the prestigious Tsinghua University in Beijing and Communication University in Nanjing. Photos and videos posted online showed students holding vigils for the Urumqi fire victims and launching protests at universities in Beijing and Nanjing. In the latest notice, Tsinghua University has informed students that they can go home if they wish ahead of the January spring festival holidays. In recent weeks, protests have erupted in Guangdong, Zhengzhou, Lhasa, the provincial capital of Tibet and other cities, with participants asking for an end to prolonged lockdowns and Covid tests, the Hong Kong-based South China Morning Post reported on Monday. The People’s Daily, the Communist Party’s mouthpiece on Sunday vowed in a front-page commentary to “unwaveringly” stick with the existing controls to curb the spread of Covid-19, which first broke out in the central Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019 and then became a pandemic. In remarks that appeared to aim at widespread doubts and dissatisfaction, it again touted China’s self-claimed victory in controlling the pandemic so far and called on party cadres at all levels to “resolutely overcome misunderstandings”, slackness and “war weariness”, the Post report said. According to the latest estimates about 412 million people were affected by lockdown measures in China, up from 340 million the week before, according to the Japanese brokerage firm Nomura. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/covid-hit-mental-health-of-kids-young-people-harder-than-thought/articleshow/95805540.cms" style="">Covid hit mental health of kids, young people harder than thought</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/space/news/nano-satellites-built-by-startups-augurs-well-for-private-sectors-future-endeavours-in-space/articleshow/95801378.cms" style="">Nano-satellites built by startups augurs well for private sector's future endeavours: IN-SPACe</a>

China reports sharp spike in Covid-19 cases amid protests against President Xi Jinping, lockdowns

Medical expert Dr Rajeev Jayadevan said that <keyword id="21480687" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Thrombosis-Thrombocytopenia-Syndrome" source="keywords">Thrombosis Thrombocytopenia Syndrome</keyword> (<keyword id="20218859" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="TTS" source="keywords">TTS</keyword>) refers to the <keyword id="21480686" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="clot-in-blood-vessels" source="keywords">clot in blood vessels</keyword>, and it occurs in very rare cases, following the use of certain types of <keyword id="19953288" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="vaccines" source="keywords">vaccines</keyword>. Acknowledging that the <keyword id="20250806" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="COVID-vaccines" source="keywords">Covid vaccines</keyword> have helped in preventing numerous deaths, Jayadevan, who is the Co-Chairman of National Indian Medical Association (IMA) Covid Task Force in Kerala, stated that reports of such cases have also been highlighted in many reports. "TTS is thrombosis with thrombocytopenia syndrome, which is basically clot in blood vessels of the brain or elsewhere, along with a low platelet count. It is known to occur in very rare instances following certain types of vaccines and also from other causes. According to the WHO, adenovirus vector vaccines in particular have been rarely associated with this condition," he told ANI. "Although COVID vaccines have prevented numerous deaths, reports of these extremely rare but potentially serious immune mediated events have also been published in reputed journals," Dr Jayadevan added. This comes in the wake of a recent admission by <keyword id="19910149" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="AstraZeneca" source="keywords" meta.keywordsubtype="org" meta.entityname="AstraZeneca" meta.hostid="261" meta.entityid="AstraZeneca">AstraZeneca</keyword>, the pharmaceutical company, that its Covid vaccine Covishield and Vaxzevria "can, in very rare cases, cause TTS." According to several UK media reports, AstraZeneca has made the admission in court documents in connection with a case that alleges that the vaccine, developed with the University of Oxford, caused death and serious injury in dozens of cases. The Serum Institute of India produced COVID-19 vaccine named Covishield but not using mRNA platform. It has been prepared using the viral vector platform. In the vaccine, a chimpanzee adenovirus - ChAdOx1 - has been modified to enable it to carry the COVID-19 spike protein into the cells of humans. This cold virus is basically incapable of infecting the receiver, but can very well teach the immune system to prepare a mechanism against such viruses. The same technology was used to prepare vaccines for viruses like Ebola. Amid reports about clot in blood vessels in the UK media, the Serum Institute of India did not respond to the query. Notably in 2023, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said in its report that TTS emerged as a new adverse event following immunisation in individuals vaccinated with COVID-19 non-replicant adenovirus vector-based vaccines. This refers to the AstraZeneca COVID-19 ChAdOx-1 vaccine and the Johnson &amp; Johnson (J&amp;J) Janssen COVID-19 Ad26.COV2-S vaccines. "TTS is a serious and life-threatening adverse event. WHO has issued this interim emergency guidance to increase awareness about TTS in the context of COVID-19 vaccination and help healthcare providers in the assessment and management of potential TTS cases," the 2023 statement by WHO read. However, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya in March 2024 at 'Dialogues - Navigating India's health sector' said that ICMR has done a detailed study which shows that COVID-19 vaccine is not responsible for heart attacks, and an individual's lifestyle and factors such as binge drinking could be among underlying causes. Mandaviya said, "If someone has a stroke today, they think it is because of the Covid vaccine. ICMR has done a detailed study that the (Covid) vaccine is not responsible for heart attacks." (ANI)

TTS: Clot in blood vessels occurs in rare cases with certain vaccines, says medical expert amid reports over AstraZeneca

<keyword id="66" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="delhi" source="Orion">Delhi</keyword> hospitals are witnessing a spike in cases of the H3N2 virus that triggers symptoms like fever, cold and body aches, but in certain cases, leaves behind persistent cough making patients extremely weak, doctors said. There has been a nearly 150 per cent rise in patients coming to OPDs with such complaints, they said. Elaborating on the possible reasons behind the surge, Dr Viny Kantroo, Consultant, Respiratory, Critical Care and Sleep Medicine Consultant at Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, said the outbreak could have been triggered due by seasonal change, mutation of the virus and the economy being fully open. "Children are going to school and they are transmitting it to the elderly. A lot of cross-country travel is happening. In the last two years, <keyword id="8764262" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="covid" source="Orion">Covid</keyword> was the dominant virus and there were restrictions but with the relaxation of norms and return of normalcy, these outbreaks are being observed," she opined. Delhi government's LNJP Hospital has set up a 20-bed isolation ward in the emergency block for such patients. In accordance with the ICMR guidelines, we have done so and also stocked up on medicines. A 15-doctor team has been constituted to monitor the patients, said a senior doctor. Dr <keyword id="5518347" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="rajiva-gupta" source="Orion">Rajiva Gupta</keyword>, Senior Consultant - <keyword id="329004" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="internal-medicine" source="Orion">Internal medicine</keyword> at the CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram and Delhi, said the ILI (Influenza-like illness) cases have seen a spike in the last few days. "For instance, if we were seeing two to three patients in OPDs last month, this month there is one-and-a-half times rise. The symptoms are fever, discomfort, cold, and body aches. In some cases, patients also experience abdominal discomfort, diarrhoea, and even fullness in ears," he added. The senior doctor said the treatment approach changes lightly when the patient has comorbidities and stressed that in those cases, they ask the family members to monitor the BP, pulse, oxygen saturation levels and consciousness levels. "If these levels fluctuate, the patient needs hospitalisation," he stressed. Explaining the current strain, Dr Vikas Deswal, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Medanta, Gurugram said the influenza virus is the most prevalent virus that affects our respiratory system and is present in three different types: A, B, and C. "Among these, subtype A is the most commonly found. One subtype of the influenza A virus is H3N2, which produces symptoms similar to other flu viruses such as cough, fever, cold, sore throat, fatigue, muscle pain, and respiratory complications, especially in children under two years, the elderly, and those with other medical conditions," he said. Both the doctors said in some cases, it has been observed that patients have persistent coughs even after the fever subsides. "One of my patients said he was having a persistent cough and could not attend meetings because of it. Patients also develop extreme weakness due to it," said <keyword id="6356160" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="gupta" source="Orion">Gupta</keyword>. Deswal cautioned against letting down a guard at this time and said since viruses mutate over time, it is important to take precautions. "Antibiotics are not effective in treating viral infections such as H3N2 and can be harmful, so people should avoid taking them, especially if they have H3N2. "The virus spreads through droplets and direct contact, so it is recommended to follow precautions such as avoiding touching surfaces, washing hands, following Covid-appropriate behaviour, practising social distancing, wearing masks, and avoiding going out if experiencing viral symptoms. Additionally, it is important for people to get vaccinated against influenza every year," he said. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/auto/news/general-motors-may-bring-chatgpt-like-digital-assistant-for-cars/articleshow/98634875.cms">General Motors may bring ChatGPT-like digital assistant for cars</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/startups/news/mos-it-to-take-up-svb-linked-startups-woes-with-finmin-pitches-for-indian-banks/articleshow/98635142.cms">MoS IT to take up SVB linked startups woes with FinMin; pitches for Indian banks</a>

Delhi hospitals witnessing spike in H3N2 cases, say doctors

While Delhi and many other states including Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal have seen a sudden spurt in <keyword id="64895" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dengue-cases" source="Orion">dengue cases</keyword> in the last couple of days, government data showed that the number of <keyword id="6360092" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="dengue" source="Orion">dengue</keyword> cases has recorded a significant rise in the last few years. Moreover, states like Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan witnessed the maximum number of cases of dengue during 2021 among all the states. Uttar Pradesh, Punjab and Rajasthan recorded 29750, 23389 and 20749 dengue cases respectively during 2021. Delhi also recorded a significantly higher number of cases at 13089 during the same year. A total of 1.93 lakh cases were reported from all across the country in 2021. Government data revealed that 2020 had witnessed a remarkably lower number of 44,585 cases probably due to the Covid related restrictions in most parts of India as against 1.57 lakh cases in 2019. This year, a considerable number of dengue cases have been reported from Delhi and many cities of Uttar Pradesh. As per reports, UP has so far registered over 2,200 dengue cases, with the state capital Lucknow reporting over 300 cases. Similarly, Delhi has also recorded nearly 1000 cases. Officials said that October can be the most vulnerable period for the spread of dengue in Delhi and recent spells of rain have only added to the woes. Recently, the Delhi government asked hospitals to reserve 10-15 per cent beds for patients of vector-borne diseases. Government data showed that 346 deaths were reported across the country due to dengue in 2021 as against 56 deaths in 2020 and 166 deaths in 2019. The central government intervenes whenever there is a sudden rise in dengue cases. Reports said that a six-member team has been sent to Uttar Pradesh very recently by the <keyword id="83655" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Union-Health-Ministry" source="Orion">Union Health Ministry</keyword> to collaborate with the state authorities in taking public health measures for dengue management in the districts of Firozabad, Agra and Etawah. The National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control (NCVBDC) is the nodal agency under the umbrella of the National Health Mission for Vector Borne Diseases (including dengue) prevention and control in the country. The NCVBDC has issued multiple advisories to the States/UTs for detection and control of outbreaks, preparedness and capacity building to take effective measures for vector control, involvement of the non-health sector, ensuring availability of drugs, diagnostics, insecticides, equipment and to fill up the vacant positions of entomologists. Moreover, training has been imparted to doctors on case management and to entomologists on integrated vector control at the central and state level. As per a parliament reply on August 2, 2022, free diagnostic facilities through 769 Sentinel Surveillance Hospitals and 17 Apex Referral Laboratories have been made functional. 1.92 lakh IgM tests have been provided by the Centre. It said that the NCVBDC provides technical guidelines for prevention, control, and management of dengue cases in States/UTs. Under the National Health Mission, budgetary support is provided to States/UTs for dengue control activities including dengue case management, vector control activities (provision of domestic breeding checkers, insecticide, fogging machines etc.), training support, awareness activities etc. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/unseasonal-rains-have-damaged-crops-agri-minister/articleshow/94879881.cms" style="">Unseasonal rains have damaged crops: Agri Minister</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/its-not-just-lockdown-covid-too-is-linked-to-poor-mental-heath-says-lancet-study/articleshow/94858362.cms" style="">It's not just lockdown, Covid too is linked to poor mental heath says Lancet study</a>

Dengue cases show a spike, October is the most vulnerable month

China's COVID cases are spiking. Here's how 5 countries are restricting travel for passengers arriving from China.

Researchers have identified a protein found in superbugs that enhances SARS-CoV-2 replication by 10- to 15-fold. Global data shows nearly 10 per cent of severe Covid-19 cases involve a secondary bacterial co-infection - with <keyword id="401097" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="staphylococcus" source="Orion">Staphylococcus</keyword> aureus, also known as staph A, being the most common organism responsible for co-existing infections with SARS-CoV-2. The study, published in the journal iScience, revealed that the addition of a "superbug" - methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) - into the mix could make the Covid-19 outcome even more deadly. While the mystery of how and why the combination of these two pathogens contributes to the severity of the disease remained unsolved, the researchers identified a protein - IsdA - found in all strains of staph A which boosts SARS-CoV-2 replication by 10- to 15-fold. The findings of this study are significant and could help inform the development of new therapeutic approaches for Covid-19 patients with bacterial co-infections. Interestingly, the study also showed that SARS-CoV-2 did not affect the bacteria's growth. This was contrary to what the researchers had initially expected. "We started with an assumption that SARS-CoV-2 and hospitalisation due to Covid-19 possibly caused patients to be more susceptible to bacterial infections which eventually resulted in worse outcomes," said <keyword id="16892593" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="mariya-goncheva" source="Orion">Mariya Goncheva</keyword>, Professor of biochemistry and microbiology at the University of Victoria. <keyword id="16892594" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="goncheva" source="Orion">Goncheva</keyword> said bacterial infections are most commonly acquired in hospital settings and hospitalisation increases the risk of co-infection. "Bacterial infections are one of the most significant complications of respiratory viral infections such as Covid-19 and Influenza A. Despite the use of antibiotics, 25 per cent of patients co-infected with SARS-CoV-2 and bacteria, die as a result. This is especially true for patients who are hospitalised, and even more so for those in intensive care units. We were interested in finding why this happens," said Goncheva, who conducted the study while at the <keyword id="385476" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="university-of-western-ontario" source="Orion">University of Western Ontario</keyword>. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/india/news/consistent-with-dignity-socially-acceptable-sc-mulls-panel-to-examine-less-painful-method-of-execution/articleshow/98862566.cms">'Consistent with dignity, socially acceptable', SC mulls panel to examine less painful method of execution</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/sennheiser-launches-hd-660s2-headphones-at-54990-in-india/articleshow/98862622.cms">Sennheiser launches HD 660S2 headphones at ₹54,990 in India</a>

Co-infection with 'superbug' spikes Covid virus replication by 15-fold

New Delhi [India], April 23 (ANI): India reported over 10,000 COVID cases for the fifth straight day with 10,112 <keyword id="7571551" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="new-infections" source="Orion">new infections</keyword> in the last 24 hours, according to the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday. The country saw a little dip from Saturday's COVID cases tally. India recorded 12,193 on April 22, 11,692 on April 21, 12,591 on April 20, 10,542 on April 19, 7,633 on April 18, and 9,111 on April 17. According to the Union Health Ministry, the country's active cases increased to 67,806 which was 67,556 yesterday. Presently recovery rate stands at 98.66 per cent, the Health Ministry stated further. As many as 9,833 patients recovered from the disease in the last 24 hours taking the overall count of people cured of the infection to 4,42,92,854, according to the Ministry. Under the nationwide vaccination drive, India has so far administered 220.66 crore Covid vaccine doses (95.21 cr second doses and 22.87 cr precautionary doses), of which 1,947 doses were administered in the last 24 hours. The total number of tests conducted in the last 24 hours is 1,43,899, the health ministry stated. In wake of the spike in the number of COVID-19 cases across the country, Dr PK Mishra, the Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister earlier chaired a high-level meeting on Wednesday to assess the situation. The PMO informed in a statement that the focus of the meeting was on the status of preparedness of health infrastructure and logistics, drugs, vaccination campaign in the country and the key necessary steps as a response to the recent surge in Covid cases. "Dr PK Mishra stressed that the time tested 5-fold strategy of Test-Track-Treat-Vaccination and adherence COVID Appropriate Behaviour must continue to be implemented and equally crucial to promote awareness within the community regarding COVID appropriate behaviour and caution citizens against complacency," the PMO statement read. During the meeting, a comprehensive presentation was made by Rajesh Bhushan, the Secretary of Health and Family Welfare providing an overview of the global COVID-19 situation. The presentation also provided an overview of the Genome Sequencing of different variants since January 2023 and noted the proportion of circulating variants in India. The status of vaccination was discussed, followed by drug availability and infrastructure preparedness across the country, the PMO stated. As per directions of the Prime Minister, a nationwide mock drill for the assessment of functional infrastructure was conducted and the status of the mock drill was presented to participants. Further, the expenditure of the COVID-19 vaccination programme and budget provisions for drugs and vaccine raw materials were also reviewed. (ANI)

India reports over 10,000 COVID cases for fifth straight day

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The general public's attitude toward COVID is more relaxed than ever, even amid a summer surge.</li><li>Doctors say relaxed COVID precautions are to be expected and are not necessarily a bad thing.</li></ul>Gone are the days of scrubbing surfaces, sudden <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-shut-down-school-two-days-after-classes-started-2022-1">school closures</a>, and social distancing.Where a positive COVID-19 test once wrought panicked <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-19-mistakes-us-focus-on-contact-tracing-not-sequencing-2021-3">contract tracing </a>and guaranteed two weeks of isolation, these days, a diagnosis sparks relatively little worry for most people.Even amid a summer spike in cases — everyone from President <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/biden-tests-positive-for-covid-19-2024-7#:~:text=President%20Joe%20Biden%20tested%20positive,Press%20Secretary%20Karine%20Jean%2DPierre.">Joe Biden</a> to the 2024 Summer Olympians seems to be battling the virus — the general public's attitude toward the pandemic that upended our lives more than four years ago is more relaxed than ever.The federal public health emergency for COVID expired in May 2023, officially <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-covid-19-global-health-emergency-is-over-who-says-2023-5">ending the crisis</a>, at least in name, more than three years after it was first declared. Since then, thanks to high infection and immunization rates, the country has continued climbing toward the herd immunity doctors so desperately sought in the early days of the pandemic, four medical professionals told Business Insider."The risk perception and anxiety around acute COVID infection has definitely lessened," said Dr. Anita Chopra, an internist at the University of Washington medical system. "People are interacting and mingling more like in pre-pandemic times."Healthcare professionals told BI that the public's more relaxed attitude toward COVID is ultimately a good thing. <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/life-returning-to-normal-labor-market-vaccines-pandemic-2021-11">A return to normality</a> was the goal, after all.But COVID is still very present and very much a potential threat, especially for the immunocompromised and those unlucky enough to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/who-official-individuals-coronavirus-infection-unlucky-long-covid-2022-6">develop long COVID symptoms</a> — up to 10% of patients, according to some doctor estimates. Meanwhile, relaxed masking and declining vaccination rates, while to be expected at this point, could be linked to the rising case numbers doctors are seeing in clinics around the country, medical professionals told BI."We need to acknowledge that we're in a very different place now than we were at the height of the pandemic," said Dr. Eric Chow, chief of communicable disease epidemiology and immunizations at Public Health Seattle and King County. "But so long as COVID-19 continues to circulate, there are health implications to getting infected."<h2 id="8540c815-ae27-4465-8106-21a572b3f035">Evolving behaviors and beliefs</h2>Many of the early-day pandemic precautions have all but disappeared in 2024. Chief among them, according to doctors, are <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mask-mandates-lifted-states-reasonable-experts-2022-2">masking</a>, isolations, and vaccinations.Soon after the pandemic emerged, medical professionals emphasized masking as a key way to slow the spread of the virus.The face coverings quickly became a contentious cultural topic and among the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/trumps-decision-to-oppose-masks-bizarre-self-sabotaging-coronavirus-pandemic-2020-6">most politicized aspects</a> of COVID. But these days, even many who once championed masks have ditched the deterrent entirely. An August 2023 Yahoo News/YouGov <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.yahoo.com/lifestyle/only-12-percent-of-americans-wear-mask-in-public-194019882.html">poll</a> of 1,665 US adults found that 12% of respondents said they were masking — down from 60% in January 2022. And doctors told BI that they've seen a steady decrease in masking since then."I think the public has appropriately adjusted their attitudes to what they hear in the news and what they see around them," said Dr. Edward Jones-Lopez, infectious disease specialist with Keck Medicine at the University of Southern California.More worrying to medical professionals is the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/covid-vaccine-us-vaccination-sites-joe-biden-2021-4">decline in vaccinations.</a>While early immunization rates helped bolster immunity, vaccination uptake has been on the decline in recent years, and fewer and fewer people are keeping up to date with their booster shots, a preventive step the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cdc.gov/covid/vaccines/stay-up-to-date.html#:~:text=Everyone%20aged%205%20years%20and,of%20updated%20COVID%2D19%20vaccine.">CDC recommends</a> in its COVID guidelines.Most medical professionals also recommend a yearly COVID-19 vaccine. There's a new shot coming out in September. But Chow, who previously worked at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at the height of the pandemic, said most people aren't aware of the recommended vaccine schedule — a challenge that is indicative of a larger problem doctors are trying to navigate in this new COVID age."People are much more fatigued by COVID messaging," he said. "We're trying to right-size the appropriate message to make sure people continue to acknowledge the health impacts of COVID."<h2 id="3c719499-920d-46e7-b315-35ec4a1cdc50">The long COVID scare</h2>Relaxed attitudes are not necessarily a bad thing, according to doctors."I think it's to be expected as we learn more about the virus over these four years and as we've developed these other COVID countermeasures to address infection," said Dr. Jessica Bender, a primary care doctor at Harbor View Medical in Seattle and the co-director at the university's long COVID clinic.On the one hand, people are generally not getting as sick as they once did when ill with COVID, medical professionals told BI. On the other hand, this summer seems to have brought yet another COVID surge with a spike in cases.People don't typically equate respiratory illnesses with the warmer months, but an increase in summer socializing combined with the general decrease in preventive measures is likely fueling the uptick, Bender said.For an unlucky subset of patients, a COVID diagnosis — even in this new relaxed era — could mean <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/long-covid-survivor-its-wrecked-my-life-2022-1">long-term challenges.</a>Doctors define long COVID as any infection related to the virus that is present for at least three months, said Chopra, who treats patients at the UW long COVID clinic. The often <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-workers-nurses-long-covid-impact-careers-labor-shortage-2022-5">debilitating</a> condition is indiscriminate in who it affects. Up to 10% of all people who get COVID are susceptible, according to Chopra, and patients of all ages, genders, races, and vaccination statuses can present with long COVID.<div type="image" title="A young girl gets a COVID vaccine" height="2661" width="4000" msid="112065018" hostid="261" sizebytes="341938"></div>Even as the country relaxes its COVID response, doctors said they are still seeing many new patients presenting with long COVID each day. The condition has at least <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/common-long-covid-symptoms-hair-loss-vertigo-low-libido-2022-7">200 known signs and symptoms</a> that range from shortness of breath to chronic fatigue and brain fog.Doctors told BI they'd treated several patients who have been forced to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/long-covid-symptoms-disability-insurance-unemployment-quit-job-2022-11">stop working</a> or rendered unable to participate in any physical activity because of a long COVID diagnosis. A 2023 <a target="_blank" href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9721155/">study</a> published in the National Library of Medicine explored a possible link between long COVID and the risk of suicide because of the condition's tendency to inflict depression, anxiety, posttraumatic symptoms, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and cognitive deficits.Medical professionals are doing their best to understand long COVID, but admit that there's still much to learn. According to the CDC, about 17 million people <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/covid19/pulse/long-covid.htm">reported</a> having long-term COVID-19 in March 2024.For these people, the pandemic is still very real."When I treat people with long COVID, they are always masked," Chopra said.<h2 id="c71342ed-0973-4d09-978b-dae3bd11fc3e">The future of COVID</h2>As doctors look to the <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/red-cross-says-world-is-dangerously-unprepared-for-next-pandemic-2023-1">future</a> of COVID, little is for sure."We always say the one thing that is predictable about COVID is its unpredictability," Chow said.But medical professionals told BI they are optimistic that even as the virus continues to evolve, the next few years will continue to look like the past year, with small seasonal surges and hopefully less intense illness.While lax attitudes may be a welcome sign of a cautious new normal, doctors said it's important to remember the lessons we've collectively learned from COVID. The precautions that proved useful against the virus protect people from other illnesses, too.Just because the world has adapted to COVID-19, medical professionals say, doesn't mean we should drop the hygiene, <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/air-circulation-coronavirus-how-to-judge-ventilation-systems-2020-8">ventilation</a>, and masking lessons learned along the way."We've learned so much about how we can protect ourselves," Chow said. "It's hard to see people leave some of those precautions behind."Doctors recommend people gauge their individual risk, as well as the risk of those close to them when considering which precautions to take in this new COVID age. Most medical professionals still recommend masking, testing, and visiting a doctor after testing positive."We're aiming to get to a state where COVID is not a threat to our healthcare system," Bender said. "And not a threat to our lives and livelihoods.

Most people don't really care about COVID anymore. That's good — and bad. 

Hello,Welcome to Insider <keyword id="6354525" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="healthcare">Healthcare</keyword>. I'm Lydia Ramsey Pflanzer, and this week in healthcare news:<ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/analysis-upstart-insurers-alignment-bright-and-clover-are-employing-doctors-2021-7"></a>We reckoned with the spike in COVID-19 cases in the US, and what it means for <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-fully-vaccinated-new-guidelines-wear-masks-indoors-delta-2021-7">masking</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-makes-case-for-booster-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-2021-7">booster shots</a>;</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-unitedhealth-vc-arm-optum-ventures-biggest-investments-2020-8"></a>Why upstarts offering <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/upstarts-are-shunning-insurance-in-favor-of-cash-for-mental-health-treatment-2021-7">mental-health treatments are shunning insurance coverage</a>;</li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-swift-medicals-35-million-series-b-pitch-deck-2021-7"></a>Find out <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/people-who-make-or-break-your-digital-health-startup-2021-7">who's advising some of the hottest digital health startups</a>. </li></ul>If you're new to this newsletter, <a href="http://newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/newsletter.businessinsider.com/join/4np/insider-healthcare">sign up here.</a> Tips, comments? Email me at <a href="mailto:lramsey@insider.com">lramsey@insider.com</a> or tweet <a href="https://twitter.com/lydiaramsey125">@lydiaramsey125</a>. Let's get to it...<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-makes-case-for-booster-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-2021-7"></a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-makes-case-for-booster-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-2021-7">Pfizer's shots have waning protection</a></h3>In a major change this week, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-fully-vaccinated-new-guidelines-wear-masks-indoors-delta-2021-7">the CDC recommended that people wear masks indoors regardless of their vaccination status</a>, in areas where the <keyword id="1754604" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus">coronavirus</keyword> is spreading rapidly.It's a big departure from two months ago, when the CDC said masks were no longer necessary for fully vaccinated people. Driving the new guidelines: A spike in coronavirus cases and new information about <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/cdc-fully-vaccinated-people-can-spread-delta-variant-2021-7">how vaccinated people can spread the Delta variant</a>. "The war has changed," CDC officials warned in a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/health/2021/07/29/cdc-mask-guidance/">presentation obtained by The Washington Post</a>.The headlines about mask guidelines and rising case counts makes me think of this piece we put out in February titled: "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/when-will-the-pandemic-end-depends-on-coronavirus-variants-vaccines-2021-2">The coronavirus is going to stick around forever. Get ready for the new normal.</a>" We're starting to get a picture of how long protection will stick around with current vaccines as well. Pfizer <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-makes-case-for-booster-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-2021-7">said on Wednesday that protection from mild illness starts to wane around six months</a>. The finding adds to the company's push to offer booster shots. <h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-makes-case-for-booster-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-2021-7">Here's what Pfizer found&gt;&gt;</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pfizer-makes-case-for-booster-dose-of-covid-19-vaccine-2021-7">Pfizer doubles down on the case for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots</a></h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/upstarts-are-shunning-insurance-in-favor-of-cash-for-mental-health-treatment-2021-7"><div type="image" title="Mental Health" height="1409" width="1879" msid="84892861" hostid="261"></div></a><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/upstarts-are-shunning-insurance-in-favor-of-cash-for-mental-health-treatment-2021-7">Reaching more people through virtual care</a></h3>A push from the US government to get faster internet to more households could have a big impact on <keyword id="1477984" type="PERSON" weightage="60" keywordseo="telehealth">telehealth</keyword>'s future. That's because experts <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/pandemic-subsidies-broaden-telehealth-user-base-experts-say-2021-7">expect that more internet access could mean more access to virtual care</a>, Mohana Ravindranath reports. That in turn could lead to better access to medical care. Increasing access through virtual care is something a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/upstarts-are-shunning-insurance-in-favor-of-cash-for-mental-health-treatment-2021-7">group of upstarts</a> is after too, Shelby Livingston reports. They're <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/upstarts-are-shunning-insurance-in-favor-of-cash-for-mental-health-treatment-2021-7">shunning insurance and charging as much as $100 a visit</a> for mental-health treatments, such as therapy or medication management. Critics worry the approach could leave out vulnerable people. <h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/upstarts-are-shunning-insurance-in-favor-of-cash-for-mental-health-treatment-2021-7">Check it out&gt;&gt;</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/upstarts-are-shunning-insurance-in-favor-of-cash-for-mental-health-treatment-2021-7">A crop of startups is charging up to $100 a visit for mental-health treatment, and they're betting it's the future of healthcare</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/people-who-make-or-break-your-digital-health-startup-2021-7"><div type="image" title="Headshots of Michael Esquivel, Julie Yoo, and Stephanie Davis against a teal gradient background with pixelated cross symbols" height="1134" width="1512" msid="84892863" hostid="261"></div></a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/people-who-make-or-break-your-digital-health-startup-2021-7">9 people every startup founder should know</a></h3>Over the summer, the team has had some time to sink into bigger projects and lists. This week, we put out two new lists. The first: Andrew rounded up<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/list-11-biotechs-to-know-leading-gene-editing-2021-7"> the 12 biotechs pioneering cutting-edge cures that stand to upend how we treat diseases and transform pharma.</a><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/list-11-biotechs-to-know-leading-gene-editing-2021-7">Read the full list&gt;&gt;</a>Meanwhile, Megan Hernbroth and Mohana Ravindranath pulled together a new exclusive list for the team. We often think about the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/23-most-promising-healthcare-startups-of-2021-according-to-vcs-2021-6">startups people expect to take off</a>, or the <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/meet-the-16-rising-star-investors-healthcare-venture-capital-2020-9">rising stars of venture capital.</a>But there are often a bunch of other professionals who tend to go unnoticed but can be critical to a startup's success. We identified 9 such folks. <h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/people-who-make-or-break-your-digital-health-startup-2021-7">Get the exclusive list&gt;&gt;</a></h3><h3><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/people-who-make-or-break-your-digital-health-startup-2021-7">The 9 behind-the-scenes players who can make or break a digital-health startup</a></h3>I'll leave you with some pitch decks we got our hands on this week: <ul><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/deep-genomics-pitchdeck-softbank-180-million-series-c-round-biotech-2021-7">Here's the presentation Deep Genomics used to raise $180 million in a round led by SoftBank.</a></li><li><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/see-pitch-deck-clinical-trial-firm-castor-used-raise-45m-2021-7">See the pitch deck a doctor used to sell F-Prime on his vision for an entirely new way of testing experimental drugs</a>.</li></ul>Interested in more pitch decks? <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-biotech-pitch-decks-that-raised-millions-from-vc-investors">You can find all of the ones the healthcare team has published over the years here&gt;&gt;</a>- Lydia

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Most people don't really care about COVID anymore. That's good — and bad.

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