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If you have COVID-19 or other respiratory virus symptoms and you are at a higher risk of severe illness, you may seek COVID-19 testing and treatment, if eligible. Stay home until you have no fever and symptoms are improving for at least 24 hours (or 48 hours for gastrointestinal symptoms such as vomiting and/or diarrhea). For more information, visit the Provincial website. If you have symptoms of any respiratory viral infection, take the Ontario Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 Self-Assessment for recommendations on what to do next. Find out if you are eligible for COVID-19 treatment, continue to follow public health measures and stay up-to-date with your vaccinations including a COVID-19 booster for the best protection. Continue to wear a mask for 5 more days while out in public – following CDC guidance.To reduce the spread of all respiratory viruses, including COVID-19, anyone who feels sick should stay home and complete the self-assessment tool to learn more about what to do next. “Stay home and isolate yourself for 5 days. “Even you have been healthy recently, if you test positive for COVID-19, take it seriously,” Dr.

Wearing a well-fitting mask or face covering in crowded indoor settings.Currently, only adults ages 50 or older – or individuals who are immunocompromised – are able to obtain a second booster dose.Ĭombined with immunization against the virus, the ways individuals can appropriately protect their health remain the same as they have throughout most of the pandemic. The FDA is considering moving forward with emergency use authorization for a second booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for all adults in the U.S. Children as young as 6 months old are now eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, courtesy of recent CDC approval.Ĭurrently, Rochester Regional Health is offering only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for the 6 months through 4 years age group. The most effective way to stay protected against the virus to get vaccinated – including a second booster dose if eligible. “Even though this COVID-19 variant is not more severe than previous variants of the virus, it does not mean it is not severe or not serious for those who are susceptible to severe infection – including unvaccinated and immunocompromised individuals,” Dr. Louis found people who are infected with COVID-19 multiple times have a higher risk of developing long COVID. Recent epidemiology research at Washington University in St. Individuals who test positive risk losing time from work since they are required to stay home, and also risk spreading the virus to others. Symptoms typically seen in a COVID-19 diagnosis are similar to previous infections, such as:ĭespite symptoms not being more severe, there are still negative health consequences from contracting COVID-19 from a BA.5 variant. “With each week that has gone by, the proportion of tests showing new infections caused by the BA.5 variant is steadily increasing.” SymptomsĮven though the new variant is more transmissible, individuals who test positive for COVID-19 with the BA.5 subvariant have not been exhibiting more severe symptoms compared to previous variants. “The majority of new infections in our community are likely caused by the BA.5 variant,” Dr. Lesho.Ī pre-print analysis of data regarding the BA.5 subvariant found mutations made it more resistant to antibodies than previous variants, which also makes it “more likely to lead to vaccine breakthrough infections.” The BA.5 subvariant is more transmissible than previous variants of the virus, according to Dr.

There have been hundreds of subvariants of Omicron since then – including the BA.5 subvariant.ĬDC data shows the BA.5 subvariant is currently spreading rapidly throughout the United States – including New York. The original Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus was discovered in November 2021. The COVID-19 virus is continuing to evolve and mutate – creating new variants of the virus that infect thousands of people around the world each day.Īs of mid-July, the CDC reported the BA.5 subvariant of COVID-19 now comprises more than 80 percent of all COVID-19 cases in the United States.Įmil Lesho, DO, is an infectious disease researcher with Rochester Regional Health and explains what this new subvariant is, how symptoms are displaying, and how people can protect their health.