US Department of Agriculture approves first-ever vaccine for honeybees
The drug could protect bees from American foulbrood, a bacteria that can devastate entire colonies.
Igor Bonifacic, Weekend Editor – January 8, 2023
NurPhoto via Getty Images
The humble honeybee hasn’t had an easy go of things recently. Between climate change, habitat destruction, pesticide use and attrition from diseases, one of the planet’s most important pollinators has seen its numbers decline dramatically in recent years. All of that bodes poorly for us humans. In the US, honeybees are essential to about one-third of the fruit and produce Americans eat. But the good news is that a solution to one of the problems affecting honeybees is making its way to farmers.
This week, for the first time, the US Department of Agriculture granted conditional approval for an insect vaccine. A biotech firm named Dalan Animal Health recently developed a prophylactic vaccine to protect honeybees from American foulbrood disease. The drug contains dead Paenibacillus larvae, the bacteria that causes the illness.
Thankfully, the vaccine won’t require beekeepers to jab entire colonies of individual insects with the world’s smallest syringe. Instead, administering the drug involves mixing it in with the queen feed worker bees eat. The vaccine then makes its way into the “royal jelly” the drones to feed their queen. Her offspring will then be born with some immunity against the harmful bacteria.
The treatment represents a breakthrough for a few reasons. As The New York Times explains, scientists previously thought it was impossible for insects to obtain immunity to diseases because they don’t produce antibodies like humans and animals. However, after identifying the protein that prompts an immune response in bees, researchers realized they could protect an entire hive through a single queen. The vaccine is also a far more humane treatment for American foulbrood. The disease can easily wipe out colonies of 60,000 bees at once, and it often leaves beekeepers with one choice: burn the infected hives to save what they can.
Dr. Annette Kleiser, the CEO of Dalan, told The Times the company hopes to use the vaccine as a blueprint for other treatments to protect honeybees. “Bees are livestock and should have the same modern tools to care for them and protect them that we have for our chickens, cats, dogs and so on,” she said. “We’re really hoping we’re going to change the industry now.”
I’m homeless in California. And I have an easy, cost-free solution to homelessness | Opinion
Lydia Blumberg – January 8, 2023
Renée C. Byer/rbyer@sacbee.com
I and my fellow residents of Wood Street Commons, an unhoused community in Oakland, believe politicians pushing sweeps of homeless encampments are only making things worse.
One thing that would dramatically improve the lives of unhoused people in California could be done today, wouldn’t cost taxpayers any money and would require no effort by politicians or city workers. It’s as simple as a governor or mayor uttering three words: Stop sweeps now.
Each time a homeless camp is dismantled, people’s lives are destroyed. All the effort we put into creating a home — we do not actually consider ourselves homeless because our camp is our home — is wiped away. Our worldly possessions, including identification, medical records, family heirlooms, clothing, electronics, furniture, instruments, bedding, tents, tools and other items that we use to earn income, are literally thrown into garbage trucks. Our handmade shelters are smashed by giant machines as we watch.
Opinion
How is this acceptable? How can the people who order and carry out sweeps live with themselves?
Each time a homeless camp is dismantled, its residents face more obstacles to overcoming what put them on the street in the first place. We create camps as a way to create stability, cultivate community, and accrue needed resources to pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps. Destroying camps pushes us down and forces us to start over, with nowhere to go and often with nothing but the clothes on our backs.
Any politician who pledges to end homelessness in one breath and then pledges to rid the streets of encampments in the next — looking at you, Gov. Gavin Newsom — is completely out of his mind.
The billions spent “helping” the homeless are profoundly undermined by the daily aggression of sweeps, which many unhoused people experience several times a year. Take it from us, the real experts on this issue: Sweeps make homelessness more entrenched.
Sweeps are also an enormous waste of taxpayer money. A 2021 sweep in Los Angeles’ Echo Park, where which roughly 200 people were removed in a violent show of police force, cost an estimated $2 million. That’s nearly $10,000 per person! These are people whose lives were destroyed at an expense that could have housed them for months.
Yet city leaders declared the Echo Park sweep a rousing success, claiming nearly everyone from the camp was placed in temporary housing. But UCLA studies conducted a year later found that only a dozen or so of them remained in temporary housing. Of the rest, four were placed in permanent housing; seven died; and most returned to the streets.
Large cities routinely sweep one or more camps per day, meaning this cruelty is repeated thousands of times each year across the state and country. Sweeps don’t get rid of camps; they just move them around, causing chaos and wasting millions in the process.
A growing body of research illustrates why we should not only keep camps intact; we should actually encourage and celebrate them. That may sound crazy to many readers, but it couldn’t be more logical.
In a review of research on the topic, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development noted that emergency shelters are unavailable, inaccessible or inhospitable to many unhoused people.
“Encampments may be the best alternative among a limited set of options,” the HUD report said.
It’s important to consider why people choose camps over other alternatives. Most temporary shelter facilities, and many of the permanent housing options designed to house the unhoused, come with a long list of rules that make them a little too much like prison. Among the most common rules are those limiting guests, spouses, pets, cooking, decorations and more possessions than can fit in a suitcase.
Tiny homes and sheds — the latest trends — are often placed like barracks on asphalt lots, surrounded by barbed wire and staffed by rude security guards. Would you give up your freedom to move to one of these places?
Humans need more than food, water and shelter. Autonomy and a sense of belonging are equally important to survival — and are actually the keys to recovery for people who have had a hard time in life. The impersonal facilities that we’re asked to move into are not designed with this in mind.
But autonomy and belonging are the essence of what camps are about. We camp together because it is essential to our physical and mental survival.
Our community on Wood Street in Oakland has recently been subjected to devastating sweeps. Caltrans has cleared an enormous section of the camp.
But the part that remains is stronger than ever. We cook for each other, distribute clothing and bedding, build our own tiny homes, play music, help each other heal, and host cultural events that have been attended by hundreds of housed residents. We see ourselves as part of a movement redefining the identity of American cities for the better: an identity based on an ethos of interdependence rather than the cult of independence that defines the world of the housed.
The last bit of land that we occupy on Wood Street is slated for clearance on Monday. We’ve been trying to work with Oakland officials to find a place where we can set up a new community and begin to rebuild yet again, but they refuse to cooperate. The city loves to tell us where we can’t be but has yet to tell us where we can be.
We do not accept this, which is why we’re taking matters into our own hands. We recently rode our bikes to the Capitol in Sacramento to speak with lawmakers there, and we will continue to press the case at City Hall. We will not be denied the essential human right to exist and exert our free will.
This piece was authored by Lydia Blumberg and other residents of Wood Street Commons, a settlement of unconventionally housed residents in West Oakland founded on the idea of “homeless helping the homeless.”
Breakfast Is the Most Important Meal Of The Day, So We Found 20 Mouthwatering Paleo Options
Kaitlin Vogel – January 7, 2023
Power your morning with these paleo-approved meals.
It’s no secret that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. If you eat a nutrient-packed, filling breakfast, you’ll be energized all day long. If you grab a sugar-packed pastry, well … hello, exhaustion.
If you’re looking for nutritious, balanced (and filling!) meals, many nutritionists recommend the paleo diet. It’s a diet focused on unprocessed, high fiber and whole foods. “Between the protein, good fat, and fiber, this is a winning combination to help you feel full and satisfied,” says Lisa Young, PhD, RDN. So when it comes to a healthy diet, paleo covers all the bases.
“When breakfast time rolls around, my rule of thumb is to eat a combination of protein and carbohydrates from whole food sources,” says Mackenzie Burgess, registered dietitian nutritionist and recipe developer at Cheerful Choices. “This balance helps supply a greater variety of important nutrients and provides long-lasting energy.”
The paleo diet is packed with protein: lean meats, fish, eggs, nuts, and seeds. While it’s important to prioritize protein in the morning, aim to pair it with a complex carbohydrate like fresh or dried fruits and colorful vegetables, Burgess says. Some examples are scrambled eggs with diced vegetables, chia seed pudding with fruit, or a sausage sweet potato scramble.
To help you get started, here are a few paleo breakfast ideas and recipes backed by experts.
Paleo breakfast ideas
Chia seed jam
Most store-bought jams are not paleo-friendly due to the added sugars included. Instead, you can make your own homemade two-ingredient jam, Burgess says. Simply combine mashed berries and chia seeds, then let sit overnight. This jam is perfect to spoon over paleo-approved bread, banana egg pancakes, or dairy-free yogurt.
Filled with soluble fiber, oatmeal can help lower your cholesterol, Dr. Young explains. The type of fiber in oatmeal, beta-glucans, may be particularly beneficial for heart health and for weight control. Oatmeal also contains the minerals magnesium and potassium also good for the heart.
Pro tip: Dr. Young recommends adding sliced apples or blueberries to your oatmeal instead of sugar. Fruit makes the oatmeal so sweet you don’t need any added sugar.
Classified as a fruit, dates contain fructose which provides a natural sweetness. Burgess says you can enjoy dates stuffed with a spoonful of nut butter and toppings of your choice. She also suggests sprinkling over pomegranate seeds, chopped nuts, or coconut flakes.
Chia pudding
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Chia seeds are full of healthy fats that help keep you full for longer, Dr. Young explains. Chia pudding is a great breakfast option because you can prepare it the night before, keep it in the refrigerator and it’ll be ready to eat in the morning. It also makes a great afternoon snack and dessert. Top it with your favorite fresh fruit and you’re ready to enjoy. She recommends this simple recipe:
Ingredients:
1/4 cup chia seeds
1 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk (or any milk)
1 cup of mixed berries
Cinnamon and vanilla
Instructions:
Add ingredients to a mason jar or container with a lid, mix and chill for 1 hour.
This recipe calls for an almond protein powder that has 20 grams of protein per serving and is made from finely ground almonds. It also has 1 cup of fresh spinach to help you meet your veggie needs. This smoothie also is high in calcium and fiber.
Breakfast sausage is rich in protein which can help us feel fuller and more satisfied for longer. One of Burgess’ favorite brands is Teton Waters Ranch’s breakfast sausage. These sausages have real ingredients and are 100% grass-fed, allowing them to have two to four times more heart-healthy omega-3 fats. She suggests pairing it with fresh fruit or scrambled eggs for long-lasting energy.
Sweet potato toast
This dish provides provitamin A, slow carbs, and fiber from sweet potatoes. Mashed avocado adds heart-healthy fat, and fried eggs add more protein.
“It’s delicious, satisfying, and makes a colorful meal,” says Summer Yule, MS, RDN. “Most people aren’t meeting the recommendations for vegetable intake and this breakfast is a great start to your morning!”
Frittata
As a crustless quiche, frittatas are paleo-approved. This egg white frittata calls for any vegetables of your choice so you can use up ingredients on hand, Burgess explains. You can omit the cheese or substitute dairy-free cheese over top.
Protein shake popsicles
Gabrielle Tafur, MS, RD recommends these tasty treats. “Though it isn’t your standard breakfast smoothie, if you have children and want to make sure they’re getting their protein in, these make for a fun breakfast or snack throughout the day.”
These popsicles are the perfect grab-and-go breakfast whether you’re commuting or heading to your home office.
Mug muffins are at the top of Burgess’ paleo breakfast list. Not only are they easy to make, but they also require minimal cleanup! Flaxseed, which is high in protein and fiber, makes the basis for this flax mug muffin.
This recipe is naturally sweetened from mashed bananas, stevia, and dark chocolate, making it paleo-friendly, Burgess says. Plus, it can be made ahead of time and is ready in just one minute.
Paleo cereal
Don’t swear this childhood favorite off just yet! You can enjoy this paleo cereal without the guilt of all of the added sugar and artificial food coloring dye, Tafur explains. It’s a wonderful way to clear out the pantry and takes minutes to prepare.
Squash hash
This healthy take on corned beef and hash switches fattier meat for lean ground turkey and substitutes summer squash for potatoes. Packed with protein, this Squash Hash breakfast recommended by a Registered Dietitian and MS, Brenda Braslow, will keep you full for hours.
Paleo breakfast bars
Do not be intimidated by the list of ingredients here. They are likely all things that can be found in the same aisle at the grocery store, and can go a long way if you are buying them in bulk, says Tafur. The best way to shop for this recipe would be to utilize the bulk grocery store items and prepare a batch to see if you like it first.
“These bars are simple and hearty, without being too sweet and making you feel like you are eating dessert for breakfast! They can be frozen as well and utilized when you are on the go.”
Paleo pistachio fig newton bread
This is an excellent paleo breakfast if you’re on the go. “I bake this delicious gluten-free, dairy-free paleo-friendly bread each week so that I can take it with me before a run or as a snack on a hike,” says Brooking. “Pistachios are a complete source of protein, providing all your essential amino acids for muscle building and repair and the figs provide natural sweetness and fiber.”
Green mango smoothie
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If you’re in need of a morning energy boost, Braslow suggests this green mango smoothie. This delicious mix of ingredients will wake you right up. The spinach, cucumber, and mango provide a boost of protein with the addition of whey protein powder and hemp seeds.
Superfood grain-free granola with wild blueberries
Wild blueberries not only taste amazing, but they have 33% more brain-healthy purply blue anthocyanins, twice the antioxidants, and almost twice as much fiber as regular blueberries, says Brooking.
“Research shows that the anthocyanins in wild blueberries benefit our brains and memory, helping to keep us sharp at any age,” she explains. “This grain-free recipe also includes a delicious blend of almonds, walnuts, flax, chia seeds to add protein and healthy fats.”
Paleo breakfast egg wrap
Eggs provide high-quality protein and have all the essential amino acids to help maintain and repair muscle while supporting bone health, Brooking explains. They also contain choline, a nutrient that helps prevent birth defects and supports overall cognitive development and health in babies and may have lasting effects on cognition and the prevention of cognitive decline in adults. This breakfast wrap is nutrition-packed and a great morning meal to start your day.
“Eggs are ideal for a paleo diet and any eating pattern,” she states. “They are a nutritional powerhouse that contributes to health and wellbeing at every age and life stage.”
Vegetable and sweet potato frittata with avocado
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“Frittatas are a great option for people following a paleo diet because they are easily customizable and you can batch cook them so you have a quick and easy grab-and-go paleo breakfast,” says Tamar Samuels, RD and co-founder of Culina Health.
A typical frittata recipe includes eggs, milk, vegetables, and cheese. To make this paleo she recommends substituting dairy milk for coconut milk, skipping the cheese and adding avocado as a garnish right before eating. Avocado contains heart-healthy, anti-inflammatory monounsaturated fats.
Samuels also likes to add a baked sweet potato on the side or chopped roasted sweet potatoes in the frittata mixture for a more satisfying breakfast with a boost of fiber and antioxidants from beta carotene.
Energy bombs
Energy Bombs are high in protein, no-grain, all-natural sugar, high-fiber, and a nutrient-dense breakfast option, recommended by nutritionist Melissa Kathryn. “Each ball provides 5 grams of protein and 9 grams of good fat to help keep you satisfied and give you ample energy,” she explains. “Whether you’re on the go or out for a long workout, these are sure to hit the spot and be a crowd-pleaser!”
In a food processor, grind walnuts to medium/fine grind.
Add flaxseed and process for 30 seconds.
Add cinnamon, coconut, hemp seeds, chia seeds, nut butter, oats, coconut oil, honey, and vanilla extract. Process for 20 seconds.
Place mixture in a bowl and add mini dark chocolate morsels. Mix gently with your hands to incorporate all ingredients.
Hand roll into 1-inch balls (about the size of a ping pong ball) and place in a single layer on a cookie sheet. Cover with foil or plastic wrap and place in the refrigerator.
Allow chilling for a minimum of one hour before serving.
Keep covered in the fridge for up to one week.
Paleo pumpkin pancake
Also recommended by Kathryn, these pancakes are filled with nutty and sweet flavors that will leave you full for longer. If you’re looking for an energy boost, these are a great breakfast choice. Each pancake is high in protein, healthy fats, and carbs to give you that morning boost.
The ‘runner’s high’ may result from molecules called cannabinoids – the body’s own version of THC and CBD
Hilary A. Marusak, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neurosciences, Wayne State University – January 7, 2023
Exercise spurs the release of the body’s natural cannabinoids, which have myriad benefits for mental health and stress relief. Luca Sage/Stone via Getty Images
Many people have experienced reductions in stress, pain and anxiety and sometimes even euphoria after exercise. What’s behind this so-called “runner’s high”? New research on the neuroscience of exercise may surprise you.
The “runner’s high” has long been attributed to endorphins. These are chemicals produced naturally in the body of humans and other animals after exercise and in response to pain or stress.
However, new research from my lab summarizes nearly two decades of work on this topic. We found that exercise reliably increases levels of the body’s endocannabinoids – which are molecules that work to maintain balance in the brain and body – a process called “homeostasis.” This natural chemical boost may better explain some of the beneficial effects of exercise on brain and body.
I am a neuroscientist at the Wayne State University School of Medicine. My lab studies brain development and mental health, as well as the role of the endocannabinoid system in stress regulation and anxiety disorders in children and adolescents.
This research has implications for everyone who exercises with the aim of reducing stress and should serve as a motivator for those who don’t regularly exercise.
More recently – over about the past two decades – mounting research shows that exercise is also highly beneficial for mental health. In fact, regular exercise is associated with lower symptoms of anxiety, depression, Parkinson’s disease and other common mental health or neurological problems. Consistent exercise is also linked to better cognitive performance, improved mood, lower stress and higher self-esteem.
It is not yet clear what is behind these mental health boosts. We do know that exercise has a variety of effects on the brain, including raising metabolism and blood flow, promoting the formation of new brain cells – a process called neurogenesis – and increasing the release of several chemicals in the brain.
Some of these chemicals are called neurotrophic factors, such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor. BDNF is intricately involved in brain “plasticity,” or changes in activity of brain cells, including those related to learning and memory.
Scientists have also shown that exercise increases blood levels of endorphins, one of the body’s natural opioids. Opioids are chemicals that work in the brain and have a variety of effects, including helping to relieve pain. Some early research in the 1980s contributed to the long-standing popular belief that this endorphin release is related to the euphoric feeling known as the runner’s high.
However, scientists havelong questioned the role of endorphins in the runner’s high sensation, in part because endorphins cannot cross into the brain through the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain from toxins and pathogens. So endorphins are not likely to be the main driver for the beneficial effects of exercise on mood and mental state.
This is where our research and that of others points to the role of our body’s natural versions of cannabinoids, called endocannabinoids.
The surprising role of endocannabinoids
You may be familiar with cannabinoids such as tetrahydrocannabinol – better known as THC – the psychoactive compound in cannabis (from the Cannabis sativa L. plant) that causes people to feel high. Or you may have heard of cannabidiol, commonly known as CBD, an extract of cannabis that is infused in some foods, medicines, oils and many other products.
But many people do not realize that humans also create their own versions of these chemicals, called endocannabinoids. These are tiny molecules made of lipids – or fats – that circulate in the brain and body; “endo” refers to those produced in the body rather than from a plant or in a lab.
Endocannabinoids work on cannabinoid receptors throughout the brain and body. They cause a variety of effects, including pain relief, reduction of anxiety and stress and enhanced learning and memory. They also affect hunger, inflammation and immune functioning. Endocannabinoid levels can be influenced by food, time of day, exercise, obesity, injury, inflammation and stress.
It’s worth noting that one should not be tempted to forgo a run or bike ride and resort to smoking or ingesting cannabis instead. Endocannabinoids lack the unwanted effects that come with getting high, such as mental impairment.
Understanding the runner’s high
Studies in humans and in animal models are pointing to endocannabinoids – not endorphins – as the star players in the runner’s high.
These elegant studies demonstrate that when opioid receptors are blocked – in one example by a drug called naltrexone – people still experienced euphoria and reduced pain and anxiety after exercise. On the flip side, the studies showed that blocking the effects of cannabinoid receptors reduced the beneficial effects of exercise on euphoria, pain and anxiety.
While several studieshave shown that exercise increases the levels of endocannabinoids circulating in the blood, some have reported inconsistent findings, or that different endocannabinoids produce varying effects. We also don’t know yet if all types of exercise, such as cycling, running or resistance exercise like weightlifting, produce similar results. And it is an open question whether people with and without preexisting health conditions like depression, PTSD or fibromyalgia experience the same endocannabinoid boosts.
To address these questions, an undergraduate student in my lab, Shreya Desai, led a systematic review and meta-analysis of 33 published studies on the impact of exercise on endocannabinoid levels. We compared the effects of an “acute” exercise session – like going for a 30-minute run or cycle – with the effects of “chronic” programs, such as a 10-week running or weightlifting program. We separated them out because different levels and patterns of exertion could have very distinct effects on endocannabinoid responses.
We found that acute exercise consistently boosted endocannabinoid levels across studies. The effects were most consistent for a chemical messenger known as anandamide – the so-called “bliss” molecule, which was named, in part, for its positive effects on mood.
Interestingly, we observed this exercise-related boost in endocannabinoids across different types of exercise, including running, swimming and weightlifting, and across individuals with and without preexisting health conditions. Although only a few studies looked at intensity and duration of exercise, it appears that moderate levels of exercise intensity – such as cycling or running – are more effective than lower-intensity exercise – like walking at slow speeds or low incline – when it comes to raising endocannabinoid levels. This suggests that it is important to keep your heart rate elevated – that is, between about 70% and 80% of age-adjusted maximum heart rate – for at least 30 minutes to reap the full benefits.
There are still a lot of questions about the links between endocannabinoids and beneficial effects from exercise. For example, we didn’t see consistent effects for how a chronic exercise regimen, such as a six-week cycling program, might affect resting endocannabinoid levels. Likewise, it isn’t yet clear what the minimum amount of exercise is to get a boost in endocannabinoids, and how long these compounds remain elevated after acute exercise.
Despite these open questions, these findings bring researchers one step closer to understanding how exercise benefits brain and body. And they offer an important motivator for making time for exercise during the rush of the holidays.
Joe Biden Wants to Change Social Security: Will the New Congress Help With Reform Efforts?
By Sean Williams – January 7, 2023
KEY POINTS
Social Security is facing a $20.4 trillion funding shortfall through 2096 that, if left unattended, could lead to sweeping benefit cuts.
Prior to his election as president, Joe Biden unveiled a four-point plan to reform Social Security.
Despite a new Congress taking shape just days ago, altering Social Security is highly unlikely.
Social Security is in trouble, and President Biden believes he has the ideal plan to fix it.
In November, nearly 66 million Americans, many of whom are aged 62 and over, received a Social Security benefit. For the 48.5 million who are retired workers, these payouts are widely viewed as a necessity to cover their expenses.
But despite providing a financial foundation for our nation’s retirees, America’s top retirement program finds itself in deep trouble. President Joe Biden believes he has the solution that can resolve what ails Social Security, but he’s going to need the help of newly elected lawmakers to fix it.
PRESIDENT BIDEN DELIVERING REMARKS. IMAGE SOURCE: OFFICIAL WHITE HOUSE PHOTO BY ADAM SCHULTZ.
Retired workers could be less than 12 years away from having their benefits cut
For each of the past 83 years, the Social Security Board of Trustees has released a report that’s examined the financial status of the program over the short term (the next 10 years) and long term (75 years following the release of a report). The Trustees Report effectively acts as Social Security’s balance sheet and allows anyone to see how revenue is collected and where those dollars end up.
In addition to backward-looking financial data, the Trustees Report factors in changing macroeconomic and demographic factors to determine the financial health of Social Security.
The 2022 Trustees Report showed that Social Security had dug its largest hole yet: an estimated $20.4 trillion funding shortfall through 2096. For what it’s worth, every Trustees Report since 1985 has projected a long-term funding shortfall.
Social Security’s increasingly dire financial footing is primarily a result of demographic shifts. Examples include historically low U.S. birth rates, a near-halving in net immigration into the country over two decades, and growing income inequality, among other factors. With these changes weighing on the worker-to-beneficiary ratio, it would appear the program’s financial foundation will only worsen.
Based on last year’s projections, the asset reserves for the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund (OASI) are expected to run out in 2034. The OASI is the Trust responsible for paying benefits to 48.5 million retired workers each month, as well as nearly 5.9 million survivors of deceased workers. If this excess cash were to be exhausted within the next 12 years, the Trustees believe an across-the-board benefit cut of 23% would be necessary to sustain payouts through 2096. For context, a 23% benefit cut would reduce the average Social Security check by roughly $420 per month (In January 2023 dollars), or $5,000 per year.
Joe Biden has proposed sweeping reforms for Social Security
In 2020, prior to his election as president, then-candidate Joe Biden released a plan he believed would strengthen Social Security for decades to come. Although there are four Social Security changes Biden is seeking, two stand out as key to shoring up the program.
This biggest Social Security change proposed by Biden would tackle income inequality head-on and generate a lot of extra revenue.
In 2023, Social Security’s 12.4% payroll tax is applicable to earned income between $0.01 and $160,200. “Earned income” means wages and salary but not any sort of investment income. Approximately 94% of all working Americans earns less than the maximum taxable earnings cap (the $160,200 figure). For the other 6% of workers, earned income above this $160,200 level is exempt from the payroll tax.
Joe Biden’s proposal would create a doughnut hole between the maximum taxable earnings cap and $400,000 where earned income would remain exempt, as well as reinstate the payroll tax on earned income above $400,000. Since the maximum taxable earnings cap tends to rise over time with inflation, this doughnut hole would eventually close decades down the line. This immediate increase in payroll tax revenue should push back the asset reserve depletion date of the OASI.
Since 1975, the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) has been used to determine Social Security’s annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Unfortunately, as its name implies, this is a price-measuring index focused on the spending habits of “urban wage earners and clerical workers.” In other words, people who generally aren’t receiving a Social Security benefit.
Biden would like to see the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) used to calculate COLA instead of the CPI-W. The CPI-E specifically tracks the spending habits of older Americans, which would likely provide a larger annual cost-of-living adjustment.
Is a new Congress the recipe Biden needs to reform Social Security?
The challenge for Joe Biden — and frankly, every other president for more than three decades — is that he needs the support of lawmakers in Congress to amend the Social Security Act. Just a few days ago, the 118th Congress officially took shape.
The big question is: Will this new Congress work with the president to effect Social Security reform? If I were to give the Magic 8 Ball a shake, the “All signs point to no” answer would almost assuredly pop up.
Whereas the previous Congress featured a razor-thin majority in the U.S. Senate for Democrats, as well as a modest majority in the House of Representatives, the new Congress features a shift to a slight majority in the House for Republicans.
Democrats and Republicans both agree that Social Security needs attention. However, they’ve approached their respective fixes from completely different viewpoints. Whereas Biden’s proposal seeks to raise additional revenue from high-earners and boost benefits for low-earning workers, the Republican solution aims to increase the full retirement age and shift the inflationary measure to the Chained CPI. Without getting too far into the weeds, the GOP plan focuses on reducing long-term outlays to save Social Security money. In short, both parties have solutions that work, albeit on very different timelines and with ideologically opposite approaches.
The other challenge for Biden is getting the necessary votes in the Senate to amend Social Security. In the upper house of Congress, 60 votes are needed to amend America’s top retirement program. Since neither party has controlled at least 60 votes in the Senate since 1979, it means all legislation proposing to alter Social Security would require bipartisan support. Garnering that support has proved virtually impossible for every president since Ronald Reagan.
Though a new Congress has taken shape, Biden’s Social Security changes are extremely unlikely to find legislative support.
‘Terrifying prospect’: Utah’s Great Salt Lake could disappear in 5 years without drastic water conservation
Dinah Voyles Pulver, USA TODAY – January 7, 2023
Scholars and conservationists released a briefing this week urging emergency water-saving measures to prevent the looming collapse of Utah’s Great Salt Lake.
Without an urgent, dramatic increase in water flow, “the lake as we know it is on track to disappear in five years,” stated the report, led by Benjamin Abbott, a professor of ecosystem ecology at Brigham Young University.
Decades of overconsumption of water throughout the region, and a mega-drought made worse by climate change, threaten to further shrink the lake and cause great harm to the region’s public health, environment and economy, Abbott told USA TODAY.
Politicians, residents, farmers and industry made great strides forward in recent years, he said, but “extraordinary, emergency measures” are needed to be better stewards.
How low is the lake?
In 2021, the lake reached its smallest point ever, 941 square miles, down from a peak of about 2,400 miles in 1986-1987, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
“We’re at a point where more than half the lake bed is exposed,” Abbott said. The lake is so low one measuring gauge has been out of use since September.
“At 19 feet below the average level the lake has maintained since 1850, the lake is in uncharted territory,” stated the report. Unsustainable water use dries out the habitat, exposes toxic dust and drives salinity higher and higher.
Salinity historically averaged between 10% and 15%, Abbott said. Today it’s at 19%, five-and-a-half times saltier than the ocean.
If the rate of decline continues, the lake’s remaining water could be depleted, he said. “It’s a terrifying prospect.”
Will there be any water left the Great Salt Lake in 5 years?
The remaining water could be gone in about 5 years if the lake keeps drying up at its current rate, the report says.
If the lake stays on that path, its food webs will collapse and “the lake as we know it will be gone,” Abbott said. “We’re not making a prediction that 5 years from now there will be no water. We are making the observation that the rate of decline if it continues is enough to deplete the remaining water in the lake.”
Over the last three years, the lake has received less than a third of its natural streamflow because of excessive water diversions.
In 2022, the lake dropped to a record elevation of 4188’ — the lowest level on the state’s contingency charts.
Water depletion is even more severe than it appears because groundwater is not included in the estimates. While the lake has lost about 26 million acre-feet of water, twice that amount may have been lost from declining water levels in aquifers around the lake. These empty aquifers could slow the rate of rebound after runoff is increased.
Report details lake’s importance
The Great Salt Lake lies along a critical flyway, attracting an estimated 10 million birds a year. Roughly 350 bird species depend on its ecosystems.
It provides $2.5 billion in direct economic productivity, primarily from mineral extraction, recreation and brine shrimp harvesting, and supports 9,000 jobs.
Evaporation from the lake increases annual snowfall in nearby mountains and ski resorts by 5-10%, supporting an additional $1.8 billion in economic activity.
Its water suppresses heavy metals and cyanotoxins that accumulated in sediments over hundreds of years. When sediments are exposed, toxic dust can blow all over the country, Bennett said. “Already dust from the lake has been observed as far away as Wyoming and Arizona.”
The report urges Utah Governor Spencer Cox to implement a watershed-wide emergency rescue, with financial support from the legislature. It also lists these items:
Enough water conservation upstream to ensure that more than a million acre feet of water per year is sent to the lake.
As much as a 30% – 50% reduction in water use in the entire watershed
A “lake first” approach to water stewardship
Increased trust and cooperation between farmers, cities and policy makers.
Overuse led to this point
Profligate water use for decades contributed to the crisis as the region grew more populous. Increasing demands for water have forced utilities, farmers and other water users to grapple with a shrinking water supply.
Today, more water needs to make its way all the way down through rivers and dams far upstream of the lake, Abbott said. “It’s like running a bank account. You have to make sure the income is greater than the expenses, otherwise you’re borrowing from the future.”
“We can be careful caretakers of this ecosystem and wise stewards,” he said. “Or we can say it doesn’t matter what happens in the future, and we’re just going to think about today.”
A call for unity
Tim Hawkes is among the state legislators who have worked to change Utah’s water laws and invest in lake restoration.
“There’s been an ethic on the lake for decades of stakeholders trying to work together,” said Hawkes, an outgoing Republican member of the House of Representatives. “It speaks to Utah and how we problem solve.”
Because some of the measures are still being implemented, the region is coming up short, thanks in part to the drought, and needs to “pull some emergency levers” to reverse the lake’s trajectory, he said. “We’re going to have to do a lot and do it fast, and the only way to do that is to try to keep people on the same script and working together.”
The Symptoms Of COVID Variant XBB That Doctors Are Seeing Right Now
Julia Ries – January 6, 2023
The Symptoms Of COVID Variant XBB That Doctors Are Seeing Right Now
If you’ve been following COVID news, then you’re likely well aware there’s a new variant in town that’s concerning the scientific community. Known as XBB, the variant is believed to be the most immune-evasive to date and currently accounts for over 40% of infections in the United States, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
That percentage is expected to grow exponentially in the coming weeks as XBB out-competes other omicron variants like BQ.1. Look at what transpired in New England: Within three weeks, the percentage of cases in the region caused by XBB jumped from 11% to 75%.
Because XBB is relatively new, scientists are still working to figure out if and how the variant behaves differently from other recent variants. Though XBB’s symptoms are expected to be on par with past omicron infections, doctors say they are seeing some issues becoming more prevalent than others.
“Viruses typically mutate to become more contagious and less severe; it appears that this is happening with this strain of the coronavirus,” Dr. Henry Redel, the chief of infectious disease at Saint Peter’s University Hospital in New Brunswick, New Jersey, told HuffPost.
We asked infectious disease experts what they’re seeing in the hospital right now. Here’s what they said:
The most common XBB COVID symptoms appear to be congestion and body aches.
There’s limited data on XBB, but experts suspect the symptoms associated with XBB infections will be similar to the symptoms people experienced with COVID throughout 2022.
That said, evidence has shown that the symptom profile has shifted a bit with each variant. Omicron caused more cold-like symptoms (like fatigue, runny nose, sneezing and muscle aches), for example, whereas delta and alpha more commonly triggered anosmia (loss of smell) and ageusia (loss of taste).
So, what is on the docket for XBB? “In general, I think people are more achy and still have congestion and headache,” Dr. Julie Parsonnet, an infectious diseases specialist with Stanford Health Care, told HuffPost. You may also expect to see the other usual symptoms: fever, chills, cough and sore throat.
Less common symptoms include loss of taste and smell and shortness of breath.
Anosmia and ageusia appear, anecdotally, to be less common with XBB. Experts don’t expect ageusia and anosmia to make a comeback just yet. “Since XBB is part of the omicron group, I expect that loss of taste and smell will not be common, but I have not seen data yet,” said Dr. Thomas Campbell, a professor in the department of infectious disease at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus.
One thing doctors on the front lines are seeing less of: severe shortness of breath, Redel said. Rarely have recent patients needed supplemental oxygen, he added. Redel noted he’s seeing many more COVID patients come in with classic upper respiratory symptoms — like runny nose, congestion and sore throats — along with fever and muscle aches.
Common symptoms have changed since the original iteration of the coronavirus.
Common symptoms have changed since the original iteration of the coronavirus.
What causes symptoms to change between subvariants?
Because so many people have been infected — in some cases, multiple times — it’s tough to pin down exactly how the symptomatology is influenced by the host versus specific traits of the virus. Parsonnet suspects that immunity plays a pretty big role.
“There is likely a strong element of underlying immunity, but there may also be differences in the virus’s ability to cause symptoms,” Parsonnet told HuffPost.
According to Dr. Martin Krsak, an infectious disease expert at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, people’s genetics and underlying health — i.e. whether they have a chronic disease or prior injury — also influence the type of symptoms they develop.
Like Parsonnet, Krsak said that each variant and the way it infects our cells likely impacts symptoms as well. “Variants have a different capacity to evade prior immunity and also a different capacity to bind to the main target on human cells,” he said.
Does the latest COVID shot prevent you from getting infected with XBB?
A pre-print study from Japan determined that XBB came to be during the summer of 2022 when two sub-variants of the BA.2 omicron lineage combined. Scientists believe that, in this process, XBB picked up mutations that help it better evade immunity conferred by both vaccination and previous infections.
XBB’s mutations also let it attach to our cells more easily, enabling it to spread more efficiently than other versions of omicron.
“It binds tighter, appears more transmissible, and is also immune-evasive,” said Dr. Eric M. Poeschla, the head of the Division of Infectious Diseases at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus. It’s unknown whether those mutations alter the virus’ clinical profile and the symptoms it causes, Parsonnet said.
The updated COVID shot, which was tweaked in 2022 to target newer variants of omicron, doesn’t work super well at preventing infections of XBB, considering there are so many new infections in the community, Parsonnet said. But the fact that there hasn’t been a rapid increase in deaths shows that the shots, combined with the immense amount of immunity gained from past infections, continue to protect many people from severe outcomes. Together, that immunity will help blunt the XBB wave, according to Poeschla. And though monoclonal antibodies are less effective with XBB, other treatments — including Paxlovid, remdesivir and molnupiravir — appear to hold up well.
Of course, there’s always the very real risk of long COVID, which is a debilitating condition that can follow even a mild case of the coronavirus. Long COVID can cause lasting fatigue, brain fog, respiratory issues and more. There’s still a lot for us to learn about XBB and the symptoms or potential complications it may cause.
But there’s one thing we know for sure: There’s a benefit to being vaccinated rather than not. “The bivalent booster offers some protection against all omicron-based variants and is highly recommended, especially for those over 65 or with serious other risks,” Poeschla said.
Experts are still learning about COVID-19. The information in this story is what was known or available as of publication, but guidance can change as scientists discover more about the virus. Please check the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for the most updated recommendations.
5 things to know about COVID variant XBB.1.5 and other strains circulating in Oklahoma
Dana Branham, Oklahoman – January 6, 2023
A new COVID-19 variant is taking hold across the country, threatening another wave of infections.
The highly contagious variant, XBB.1.5, has arrived in the United States and is quickly making up a large share of new cases across the country. In Oklahoma, the state’s Public Health Laboratory has identified two cases of XBB.1.5, according to the Oklahoma State Department of Health.
Cases and hospitalizations have begun to tick up again in Oklahoma, though they’re still at levels well below the heights they reached during the omicron surge in early 2022.
The state added 5,660 COVID-19 cases to its count this week — and that number only represents people whose tests were reported. At-home tests aren’t included in official counts.
Hospitalizations for COVID-19 climbed over 400 statewide this week.
Here’s what to know about XBB.1.5 and other COVID-19 variants circulating in Oklahoma.
1. New COVID variant has jumped significantly in just a few weeks
XBB.1.5 is getting attention because of how quickly it’s taken up a sizable share of the nation’s COVID-19 cases.
Estimates from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention show that it’s making up about 28% of cases nationwide. That’s up from about 18% the week before and about 2% in early December. (Previous estimates showed a higher percentage of XBB.1.5 cases, but new forecasts showed a less dramatic increase.)
In Oklahoma’s region, which also includes Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas and New Mexico, XBB.1.5 makes up about 17% of current cases, according to CDC’s estimates.
2. COVID-Omicron XBB is particularly evasive
Part of what’s allowed XBB.1.5 to spread so quickly is that it doesn’t seem to be affected much by antibodies developed through a recent infection or vaccination.
“People who’ve previously been infected with COVID, or who have received the vaccine, even the most recent bivalent booster, this particular subvariant doesn’t seem to be as susceptible to the antibodies that you developed when you were either infected or got vaccinated,” said Dr. Dale Bratzler, the University of Oklahoma’s chief COVID officer. “So it’s spreading quite rapidly.”
Vaccination for COVID-19 is still effective at preventing severe disease or death from the virus, though you can still be infected even if you were vaccinated.
3. BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 still dominate in Oklahoma
For now, two other omicron subvariants — BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 — remain dominant in Oklahoma.
Combined, they make up about 63% of cases in the region.
4. Some therapies no longer effective against new variants
Some treatments used for COVID-19 in the past won’t work against newer variants.
Bebtelovimab, which was the only monoclonal antibody therapy providers had to treat patients with COVID-19, is no longer authorized for use because it isn’t expected to work against BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 subvariants, according to the Food and Drug Administration.
And Evusheld, a monoclonal antibody therapy used for pre-exposure protection against COVID-19 for immunocompromised and high-risk people, is also unlikely to work against newer variants.
At OU Health, “because now more than 80% of the strains that are circulating would not be expected to be prevented with Evusheld, we’ve elected to stop offering it to our patients,” Bratzler said.
5. Antivirals are still available to treat and prevent severe disease
But there are still treatment options to help prevent severe disease and death from COVID-19.
Antiviral drugs Paxlovid and remdesivir are still available and aren’t affected by the virus’ mutations.
Bratzler said he’s seen some troubling cases of high-risk COVID-19 patients being treated with “all sorts of stuff,” including antibiotics and steroids, instead of antivirals proven to work against COVID-19.
“I’m trying to get the message out to providers that antiviral drugs are the agents of choice when a high-risk individual tests positive for COVID,” he said. “I continue to see providers giving things that have not been shown to be useful and could even be harmful.”
The XBB.1.5 variant is taking over on the East Coast. Will it happen in California too?
Corinne Purtill – January 5, 2023
A close-up view of a cell infected with an Omicron version of the coronavirus. The image has been colorized to show the virus particles in red. (National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)
You may have come home with it after a recent trip to New England. Or you may have gotten it from that friend or family member who flew in from New York over the holidays.
The newest Omicron subvariant of concern is XBB.1.5, and it has arrived in Southern California. This version of the coronavirus is more contagious and more resistant to existing immunity than any of its predecessors.
“It’s just the latest and greatest and most infectious variant,” said Paula Cannon, a virologist at USC. “It’s amazing to me that this virus keeps finding one more trick to make itself even more infectious, even more transmissible.”
Along with a related subvariant called XBB.1, XBB.1.5 is a combination of two different versions of the BA.2 subvariant of Omicron. Both parents are particularly good at binding to the ACE2 receptor — the part of the cell the virus’ spike protein attacks to initiate an infection — and their descendants seem to have inherited that talent.
In the final week of 2022, about 40.5% of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus specimens circulating in the U.S. were of the XBB.1.5 variety, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It’s especially prevalent in the country’s Northeast, where it first surfaced in early November and now accounts for more than 72% of cases.
XBB.1.5 has so far made less of an impact in the region that includes California, Nevada, Arizona, Hawaii and the Pacific islands, where its coronavirus market share is 9.2%, according to the CDC. (It’s even less prevalent in mountain and Midwestern states from Utah to Ohio, Michigan and Minnesota.)
In Los Angeles County, as in most of the country, the BQ.1 and BQ.1.1 versions of Omicron still dominate, said Dr. Paul Simon, chief science officer for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health.
Two weeks ago, XBB.1.5 accounted for about 5% of coronaviruses in the county, Simon said. But the county’s data lag real life by about two weeks, he said, and he expects to see a jump in XBB.1.5’s prevalence — and in the total number of coronavirus infections — in the last numbers of 2022.
“It’s predictable: After holidays, there’s a bump-up in cases,” Simon said. “We saw it after Thanksgiving. We’re expecting it’ll occur over the next few weeks.”
While it sounds repetitive to describe every up-and-coming new subvariant in superlative terms — more transmissible than ever before, now with unprecedented ability to evade immunity — that’s just evolution at work, said Dr. Tim Brewer, an infectious-disease physician and a professor of medicine and epidemiology at UCLA.
“The only way a new version of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is going to displace what’s already out there is that it has to have some competitive advantage,” Brewer said. “If it did not have a competitive advantage, it would not displace what’s already out there.”
And when it comes to survival of the fittest, XBB.1.5 has several things going for it.
“It’s almost like a triple threat,” Cannon said. It’s the most infectious subvariant to date. It dodges the immunity conveyed by a vaccine, booster shot or previous infection more effectively than other subvariants. And as was the case with the Delta and original Omicron variants, it emerged in late fall — just in time to proliferate during the frequent indoor gatherings of the holiday season.
XBB.1.5 isn’t just making its mark in the United States. It’s rapidly displacing other Omicron subvariants globally, the World Health Organization confirmed Wednesday.
“We do expect further waves of infection around the world,” said infectious-disease epidemiologist Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, the COVID-19 lead for the WHO Health Emergencies Program. “But that doesn’t have to translate into further waves of death because our countermeasures continue to work.”
Early data suggest XBB.1.5 and XBB.1 don’t appear to cause more serious disease than previous forms of the virus. There is also no indication that they respond differently than other subvariants to the drug Paxlovid, which reduces viral load when taken in the earliest days of the disease, Cannon said. (Like all the other subvariants currently in circulation, it does not respond to treatment with monoclonal antibodies.)
While the new strains’ characteristics make it more likely that fully vaccinated or previously infected people will test positive for an infection, the shots are still effective at preventing serious disease, Simon said.
Los Angeles County still has a lot of opportunity to weaken its transmission chains. Disappointingly few people have elected to get the new bivalent boosters, Simon said — only slightly more than one-third of people aged 65 and older and one-fifth of younger adults have rolled up their sleeves for shots that target Omicron along with the original version of the virus.
“If you’re elderly, immunocompromised or pregnant — if you’re in one of those groups, it is really, really important that you keep up with boosters,” said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious-disease epidemiologist and senior fellow at the Kaiser Family Foundation.
“Yes, you personally may have moved on from COVID. Maybe you’re a young, healthy person who’s gotten their three shots,” she said. “But this is still holding back the economy. It is still having a big impact on healthcare institutions, which means the cost is being passed on to you as a consumer. … So there are reasons collectively that we should be trying to mitigate [this].”
People who haven’t had COVID will likely catch XBB.1.5 – and many will get reinfected, experts say
Karen Weintraub, USA TODAY – January 6, 2023
The newest COVID-19 variant is so contagious that even people who’ve avoided it so far are getting infected and the 80% of Americans who’ve already been infected are likely to catch it again, experts say.
Essentially, everyone in the country is at risk for infection now, even if they’re super careful, up to date on vaccines or have caught it before, said Paula Cannon, a virologist at the University of Southern California.
“It’s crazy infectious,” said Cannon, who is recovering from her first case of COVID-19, caught when she was vacationing over the holidays in her native Britain.
“All the things that have protected you for the past couple of years, I don’t think are going to protect you against this new crop of variants,” she said.
The number of severe infections and deaths remains relatively low, despite the high level of infections, she said, thanks to vaccinations – and probably – previous infections. But the lack of universal masking means that even people like her, who do mask, are vulnerable.
A look at the state of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to data from the CDC.
Its growth is probably due to XBB.1.5’s characteristics – it appears to bind even more tightly to receptors in the human body than its predecessors – as well as human behavior, such as traveling and not masking.
It’s a good idea to do what you can to avoid getting infected, said Dr. Ziyad Al-Aly, chief of research and development at the VA St. Louis Health Care System and a clinical epidemiologist at Washington University in St. Louis.
It’s still early and there are a lot of unknowns about XBB.1.5, he said. Every infection makes someone vulnerable to a bad course of the disease and to the lingering, miserable symptoms of long COVID, Al-Aly’s research shows.
“Reinfection buys you additional risk,” he said.
As the United States enters the fourth year of COVID-19, we’re providing an update on the state of the pandemic. Here’s a preview of what you’ll learn in this article:
COVID symptoms and XBB.1.5
How long does COVID last?
Can you get COVID more than once?
How to avoid infection
What to do if you get sick
Why it’s better not to get infected
Could we be nearing the end of COVID?
What to know about XBB.1.5 symptoms and how long they last
COVID-19 symptoms typically last around five to seven days and can include fever, sore throat, muscle aches, exhaustion, nausea, cough and sinus congestion, among other problems.
Symptoms with XBB.1.5 are the same as with earlier variants and can range from almost nothing to shortness of breath and low oxygen levels that require emergency medical attention.
Early in the pandemic, COVID-19 often cost people their sense of taste and smell, at least temporarily, but that symptom seems less common, possibly because of vaccination or previous infection rather than a change in the virus, said Dr. Peter Hotez, an infectious disease specialist and co-director of the Center for Vaccine Development at Texas Children’s Hospital.
How long does COVID last? How long are you contagious?
It takes anywhere from two to 14 days for exposure to lead to symptoms and a positive test.
People with COVID-19 are contagious as long as they remain positive on a rapid test, typically for about 10 days, but often longer.
The CDC recommends people isolate for at least five days and wear an N95 or similarly protective mask for at least 10 days when around others. Day One is considered the first full day after symptoms start.
A PCR test, which is considered the gold standard for diagnosing COVID-19, can remain positive for months because it detects viral fragments as well as the whole, infectious virus. To confirm the end of the contagious period, experts instead recommend a negative rapid test after 10 days or two within 48 hours if sooner.
Can you get COVID more than once?
Yes. While a previous infection provides some protection, that fades over time and as the virus evolves into different variants.
Some people who had a mild case with a first infection get hit harder the second or third time, while others might suffer less.
“Even if you’ve had it before, that doesn’t mean your next bout is going to be the same,” Cannon said. There are lots of factors at play in determining the seriousness of an infection, she said, including prior immunity, the nature of the variant and how long it’s been since your last infection or vaccination.
It’s possible that her recent infection was much milder than her husband’s, for instance, because she had caught a head cold a few days earlier, while her husband hadn’t. A respiratory virus can put the immune system on high alert and might have provided some protection when she was exposed to COVID-19.
“It’s part of the bigger dance between our bodies and our immune system,” Cannon said.
How to avoid infection
The methods for avoiding infection haven’t changed, though it can be hard to stick with them when no one else is: Get vaccinated, wear a mask and avoid crowded spaces.
First is getting vaccinated. This will protect against severe infection as well as reduce the risk of passing the virus to others, said Hotez, also dean of the National School of Tropical Medicine at Baylor College of Medicine.
The newer boosters, which take aim at both the original virus and the BA.4/BA.5 variants common this summer, are more protective against XBB.1.5 than earlier boosters. People who are up to date on their COVID-19 shots probably don’t shed as much virus for as long, so they’re also less likely to pass it on, he added.
Past infection provides some protection against severe disease, but that protection is “highly unreliable,” Hotez said.
Second is wearing a mask. Good quality, well-fitting masks, like an N95 or KN95 can reduce the risk of infection.
N95 and KN95 masks offer more protection in comparison to other masks.
Cannon said people sometimes get annoyed at her mask-wearing “because it’s like I’m reminding them that (COVID) is still a problem.” But she doesn’t want to accidentally pass COVID on to someone who might be more vulnerable to the virus.
Third is avoiding crowded indoor spaces. You’re less likely to get infected in large indoor spaces with high ceilings and lots of ventilation than in cramped, airless ones.
What to do if you get sick
It’s a good idea to have a plan ready in case you get sick, Cannon said. She suggests every plan include:
How to isolate from others in your household
The contact number for a health care provider who can prescribe an antiviral
Equipment such as rapid coronavirus tests, extra masks, a thermometer and a pulse oximeter to make sure the patient’s blood oxygen level doesn’t drop below the low 90s
Every U.S. household is eligible for four free coronavirus tests from the government that can be ordered from this link: covid.gov/tests.
For someone over 60 or with medical conditions like obesity that raise the risk for serious disease, the first step after a positive test should be a call to the doctor to get the antiviral Paxlovid, she and others said. The government has pre-bought millions of doses, so they are available for free.
This image, provided by Pfizer in October 2021, shows the company’s COVID-19 Paxlovid pill that patients can take at home to head off the worst effects of the virus.
Some doctors are hesitant to provide the antiviral because people may need to stop taking common medications during the five-day treatment course, but it’s essential for people at high risk for serious disease, Hotez said. “Any senior going on Paxlovid is not dying,” he said.
“We can’t stop people getting infected,” Cannon added, “but we absolutely can stop people from being seriously ill. Gosh, why wouldn’t you take it?”
Why it’s better not to get infected
Every COVID-19 infection increases your risk for serious disease and for long COVID, which brings sometimes debilitating symptoms that can linger for a year or more.
More than 3,500 people have died from long COVID-19 in the US, CDC reports.
Older adults are more vulnerable, Al-Aly said, “but it doesn’t mean younger people are totally shielded.” Long COVID, too, can strike people at any age from childhood through to the 101-year-old recently treated at his hospital, he said.
Vaccination reduces the risk of long COVID by 15% to 30%, according to a study he recently published. Another study he is working on shows Paxlovid reduces the risk by 26%.
Cannon’s daughter works in a long COVID clinic and regularly sees patients who are in their 20s or 30s, “healthy people who didn’t even have a particularly bad bout of COVID who now have a massively debilitating set of symptoms.”
All six experts interviewed by USA TODAY this week dismissed the idea that there is somehow an upside to getting infected: Vaccination provides better protection against future infection without the risk.
“I’d be happy if I never got any virus again,” Cannon said. “And I say this as a professional virologist.”
Could we be nearing the end of COVID?
COVID-19 has been perhaps the most successful virus in all of human history, Cannon said, infecting billions of people across the planet.
While she worries about how it might continue to evolve, she hopes it’s a good sign that for the last year, all the variants have been descendants of omicron.
Before that, the original virus, alpha, beta and delta had been “radically” different from each other.
“The virus is now in this committed lineage,” Cannon said, which might mean it won’t evolve away from the protection against serious disease thatnearly everyone now has from vaccinations and previous infections.
Contact Karen Weintraub at kweintraub@usatoday.com.
Health and patient safety coverage at USA TODAY is made possible in part by a grant from the Masimo Foundation for Ethics, Innovation and Competition in Healthcare. The Masimo Foundation does not provide editorial input.
