Epidemiologist Katelyn Jetelina, author of , said more at-home antigen testing helps people track their exposure to the virus. But when people test at home, it's challenging to get an accurate case counts.
鈥淯nfortunately, we didn鈥檛 put systems in place to accurately capture [the data],鈥� Jetelina said. 鈥淭he gaps between true cases and reported cases have gradually started widening and widening. So, it doesn鈥檛 look like it鈥檚 that bad of a wave right now in Texas, but we estimate this is actually the second-largest wave in the pandemic that we鈥檝e experienced.鈥�
While the number of infections is high, hospitalizations are still low, which Jetelina said means vaccines and booster shots are helping prevent more serious outcomes.
Chief Medical Officer for Sharon Davis said she鈥檚 not surprised by the increase.
鈥淧eople are tired of getting vaccinated, and they鈥檙e not getting their boosters, and so the things that we know that are going to help stop spread unfortunately people are not doing anymore,鈥� she said.
With summer events in full swing and reporting 鈥渕asking behavior is at the lowest levels observed since the start of the pandemic,鈥� there might be more chances to come in contact with someone who has COVID-19.
鈥淓verybody in the medical community, I feel like we鈥檙e all just waiting and holding our breath a little bit,鈥� Davis said.
So, when should I test for COVID-19?
Omicron is the most prevalent strain of COVID-19 in the United States, (CDC), which also lists multiple Omicron variants from BA.1 to BA.5. Since home testing is widely available (), Davis said it鈥檚 better to test if any symptoms appear.
Right now, COVID-19 symptoms can manifest as allergies: mild sore throat, itchy or runny nose, and sneezing. Dallas is one of the worst cities nationally for seasonal allergies, . But if there鈥檚 a question, Davis recommends testing twice within 48 hours to ensure it鈥檚 not COVID-19.
鈥淎ntigen tests are a lot better at telling us what we care about, which is if we鈥檙e infectious or not,鈥� Jetelina added. 鈥淪o, if you get a positive antigen test right now, trust it.鈥�
What if I have a positive COVID-19 test?
People who are immunocompromised or have health complications may be eligible for , like Paxlovid, that reduce the chance of hospitalizations and death. The series of oral treatments are prescribed by a doctor and must be taken within five days of when symptoms start.
People can also visit , which can test for COVID-19 then provide medication and support on-site with a positive test.
But bottom line, it鈥檚 time to stay home and isolate.
鈥淭he time spent at home depends on a lot of things, but mainly whether you鈥檙e boosted or not,鈥� Jetelina said. 鈥淚t can range from five to 14 days, but on average is between eight and nine days.鈥�
The CDC recommends that after a negative test and no symptoms, people can leave isolation at day five for groceries or other tasks if wearing a well-fitting mask. Davis said even with a negative test around five days, she doesn鈥檛 recommend people travel until 10 days after the first positive test.
COVID-19 recovery and immunity
When recovering at home, it鈥檚 important to monitor fluid levels. Davis said it鈥檚 common to have nausea, vomiting or diarrhea, so having popsicles or other drinks with electrolytes on hand is helpful.
鈥淕o back to the basics,鈥� Jetelina said. 鈥淩est. Take Tylenol if you have a fever. Manage and keep track of your symptoms. For example, if your breathing is getting worse, keep track of that with at-home oxygen monitoring. Give your body a chance to fight the virus.鈥�
People living with others in their home should stay in one specific area, use a separate bathroom, and wear a mask to ensure the virus is contained as much as possible.
, which can include persistent feelings of fatigue, headache, insomnia, anxiety and trouble concentrating even after a negative test. A studied patients with COVID-19 to identify who develops these symptoms, and why they develop in the first place, but didn鈥檛 find anything conclusive.
鈥淲hat I鈥檓 hearing from a lot of folks is even after they鈥檙e over COVID, so to speak, the fatigue lasts,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淪o try to take care of yourself, because that鈥檚 normal.鈥�
In addition, while previous research showed people who recover from the virus have immunity anywhere from , Jetelina said the Omicron strain has so many variants now the length of immunity isn鈥檛 clear.
鈥淥micron is mutating to escape our immunity even if we just got infected,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t feels like just yesterday, but the peak of the Omicron tsunami is now about six months ago. That immunity is waning pretty quickly. Since that January Omicron wave, Omicron has already changed substantially.鈥�
Davis said she recommends still wearing masks in crowded public places and when traveling.
COVID-19 case increases heading into summer
Jetelina and Davis are both watching to see if cases and hospitalizations rise as more people travel over the summer and into the fall.
Davis said the number of people with booster shots or second booster shots is low, even though they are a helpful tool in lessening the virus鈥檚 severity. According to the CDC, almost in the United States have not received one.
鈥淲ithout a doubt, it definitely keeps people from dying, and it looks like it definitely keeps down the severity of the disease,鈥� Davis said. 鈥淟et鈥檚 stick with the things we know, even though we鈥檙e tired.鈥�
Got a tip? Email Elena Rivera at鈥�erivera@kera.org. You can follow Elena on Twitter鈥�.
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