The coronavirus pandemic is still raging around the world, with more than half a million deaths related to the disease in just the United States alone. With the world preoccupied with avoiding COVID-19, many have nearly forgotten about flu season. Around the world, this most recent flu season has been incredibly mild, and what many people may not realize is that we have coronavirus to thank for that. Specifically, the precautions taken to prevent the spread of coronavirus have worked on other types of upper-respiratory viruses like influenza. Here’s how this happened.

Extremely Mild Influenza Season

During the summer of 2020, health experts sounded the alarm about the possible implications of a flu season on top of the coronavirus pandemic, but the results have not been what was expected. The CDC has reported that the most recent flu season has been one of the mildest on record in the past decade, with hospitalization rates as of late January quite similar to the least severe season (2011-12) in recent years.

Looking at the numbers, influenza positives are staggeringly low. For comparison, during the 2019-20 flu season, around 400,000 people ended up hospitalized for flu-related illness, and there were around 22,000 deaths. In early February 2021, nearing a typical flu season’s peak, the CDC reported just 165 hospitalizations for the flu since October. So, what is responsible for these extremely low numbers?

Preventative Measures and Vaccines

Most health experts note a few factors may be responsible for the record low in influenza cases. Social distancing measures and widespread mask-wearing used to slow the spread of COVID-19 have proven themselves to be incredibly effective at stopping the flu. For those questioning the efficacy of mask-wearing, this is a great example of how such measures can be effective. Additionally, this past season saw record numbers of flu shots go out, an important factor in controlling the spread of the disease.

Kids out of School

Another important factor could be that many children around the world have been out of the classroom during the worst of the flu season. Children are the primary spreaders of influenza, as they produce much more of the virus and shed it over a longer period. With kids at home and not in schools over flu season, having minimal contact with teachers and other classmates, there was less spread of the influenza virus. COVID-19 appears to spread easily among adults, but in the case of influenza, children seem much more important in the overall spread.

The vaccine rollout around the world is an important part of helping to finally end the global coronavirus pandemic that has affected us for nearly a full year now. First only available to healthcare workers, vaccines to protect against COVID-19 infections are now becoming available to members of the general public.

Starting with members of vulnerable populations, like people who are older and people who have preexisting conditions, experts note that vaccinating as many people as possible is a key component of helping achieve herd immunity. How can vaccines do this, and can we achieve it in this case?

What Is Herd Immunity?

The spread of a virus is sharply limited when a large portion of a population has immunity, whether due to a previous infection resulting in the development of natural antibodies or through vaccination. When this happens, the virus cannot spread as quickly or easily through a population.

That is why it is so important for as many people as possible to get the vaccine. Vaccines offer a safer alternative than actually contracting the virus since the health risks associated with vaccination are relatively low. Contracting COVID-19, on the other hand, comes with significant and dangerous risks, up to and including death.

How Many People Will It Take to Reach Herd Immunity?

With herd immunity as the end goal, many people wonder exactly what percentage of the population needs to receive the vaccine before it will take effect and help to end the pandemic. That percentage can differ depending on the individual virus, but for coronaviruses, most experts believe that somewhere between 70 and 90 percent of the population would need a vaccine.

The head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Dr. Anthony Fauci, has suggested that at least 85 percent of the population needs to be vaccinated for herd immunity to be achieved. If that percentage can be achieved by the end of summer, Dr. Fauci is optimistic that we could return to a more normal existence by next fall.

Why Vaccinating Children May Be Crucial

Currently, no vaccines are approved for individuals under 16, which could pose a problem for achieving herd immunity. Children under 16 make up approximately 20 percent of the population of the United States, so this may be quite important. Mathematically, there is no way for 85 percent of the population to be vaccinated without at least some children under 16 receiving the vaccine.

Though children do not seem to have as many instances of death and extremely severe infections, it is still possible for them to spread the virus to others in the community. Once vaccines can safely be administered to children, we will likely see herd immunity take effect more quickly.

Amid the global coronavirus pandemic, most people are aware of the most common symptoms associated with the COVID-19 infection. However, since this is a new disease and scientists are still learning about how it works, symptoms that were not previously seen are still coming to light. One of the most recent symptoms that is thought to be associated with a COVID-19 infection is “COVID tongue.” What is it, and why do researchers think we are seeing this symptom associated with a coronavirus infection?

What Is COVID Tongue?

The most recent in a list of less common symptoms associated with COVID-19 is known as COVID tongue by researchers. A British researcher named Tim Spector, a professor of genetic epidemiology at King’s College London, reported numerous cases of patients complaining of tongue enlargement, discoloration, and a variety of other mouth issues. COVID tongue can include a scalloped tongue (rippled or wavy indentations along the side of the tongue) and a white or yellow “furry coating” on the tongue that cannot be brushed off. Some patients have also experienced strange mouth ulcers and increased problems with their teeth, including dental issues. A few patients have noted gray or chipping teeth, oversensitive gums, and even teeth that have fallen out as a result of a COVID-19 infection. This is likely a result of the sensitivity of the gums and mouth in general due to an overabundance of inflammation in the body, which people experience quite frequently with long-term coronavirus infections.

Unusual Symptoms

Researchers looking at COVID symptoms, including Tim Spector, who works with the ZOE COVID Symptoms Study (collecting symptoms from British citizens through an app), noted that people should pay attention to all types of unusual symptoms, even if they believe they’re not associated with COVID-19. More unusual symptoms can appear in about one out of every five COVID patients, and they cover everything from COVID tongue and unusual back pain to neurological symptoms such as brain fog and difficulty concentrating or remembering things. It is also important to note that physicians and dentists keep these unusual symptoms in mind when working with patients. Even if a patient does not experience the most common symptoms associated with COVID, they could still have an infection and pass it on to others around them. Physicians have stated that any unusual symptom, or even simple fatigue or a headache, could be a sign of a COVID-19 infection and recommend that people stay at home just to be safe.

COVID-19 has taken a staggering toll on the world. In the United States alone, nearly a half-million people have died from the disease. But beyond the overwhelming number of deaths and the many people who have struggled with severe infections requiring hospitalization are the COVID-19 “long haulers.” These people continue to experience side effects and the consequences of the disease for months or even up to a year after initially contracting the illness. What we know now about COVID-19 long haulers is minimal, since the research is only in its early stages. However, researchers are concerned about what the long-term effects might mean.

Types of Infections

In general, researchers have found that people who contract COVID-19 fall into two primary categories: mild cases that resolve within about two weeks and severe infections that can take up to six weeks from which to recover. But now there seems to be another type of infection that does not fit into either of these two main categories. These cases have symptoms that seem to linger for many more weeks—or even months—beyond the initial date of infection.        

Understanding the Symptoms

People who have been identified as long haulers have recovered from the COVID-19 infection and tested negative for the virus. However, they are still experiencing significant symptoms of COVID-19. A recent article published in The Journal of the American Medical Association suggests that approximately 10% of COVID-19 patients eventually end up as long haulers and experience symptoms long after they have overcome the disease. For many long haulers, the symptoms are significantly different from those which they experienced during the original infection. Long haulers experience symptoms such as debilitating fatigue, a cough, loss of taste or smell, shortness of breath, headache, and brain fog. Brain fog is one of the most disturbing and confusing symptoms confronting researchers. With brain fog, people report that they experience difficulty in focusing and concentrating, an unusual level of forgetfulness, and confusion.

What Now?

Researchers are studying COVID-19 long haulers and trying to determine whether there is a uniting factor, such as a similar age, underlying conditions, or something else that makes it more likely for someone to experience these long-term symptoms. While in many cases long haulers seem to fall into high-risk groups or have some type of pre-existing condition, there are also cases of younger and perfectly healthy individuals who still experience symptoms months after the initial infection. The hope is that research will find some answers.

The coronavirus pandemic has upended the world for nearly a year now. Its impact on physical health has been profound and enduring, causing more than 400,000 deaths in the United States alone. However, there is another impact that is less visible, but just as distressing: the impact on mental health.

Struggles with mental health are significantly impacted by a global event like a pandemic, and this has been no exception. Isolation, fear, and anxiety have made it incredibly difficult for those with prior diagnoses of depression and other mental health disorders to cope with the challenges caused by the pandemic, but it has also caused even more people to experience symptoms of distress.

Students Are Struggling

One somewhat overlooked group being profoundly impacted by the stress of the pandemic has been students, both college students and younger children in public schools. Even before the pandemic hit, college students were experiencing higher levels of depression and anxiety than the general population.

The stress of managing finances, trying to get a job, and acclimating socially all contribute to the struggles that college students have always had with their mental health. However, the onset of the coronavirus pandemic increased those feelings among college students. Colleges and universities need to offer resources to help their students deal with the mental health impact of COVID-19.

Educators and those working in social service also are quick to point out that younger children are also suffering. With public schools closed and most students forced into a virtual or hybrid school situation, there is little opportunity to socialize with friends, making isolation a serious issue.

The disruption of a regular routine and the isolation of virtual school has been having a real impact on the mental health of our school children. This impact on mental health has been truly alarming, with one of the nation’s largest school districts in Clark County, Nevada experiencing 18 suicides since the start of the pandemic.

Can Schools Reopen?

The mental health cost of the pandemic is clear. But now the question is, can we return to in-person school? Recently, the CDC advised that it would be safe to return to in-person learning, assuming that appropriate precautions are taken.

For example, masks must be worn, social distancing should be practiced, and certain activities may not be safe. The CDC notes that there is little evidence that primary and secondary schools produce the kind of large outbreaks that have been seen in other locations. Students, teachers, and parents alike hope that soon, students can return to school safely.

The world is now approaching nearly a year of battling the global coronavirus pandemic. In the United States alone, reported cases have reached more than 24 million. Of those cases, nearly 400,000 people have died as a result of the coronavirus.

Far more, though, have recovered, but many are still experiencing lingering long-term effects from their bout of infection. So, for these milder cases of COVID-19, what is the recovery like? What long-term effects have been experienced so far?

Mild COVID-19 Infections

Many people infected with COVID-19 experience no symptoms at all, or symptoms that are so mild they might not even know they have contracted the virus. These mild symptoms often include a cough, some nasal congestion, a sore throat, muscle aches, and maybe a low fever.

In many ways, these symptoms are similar to the those experienced with the flu or perhaps a bad cold. As a result, it can be difficult for individuals to know if they have contracted COVID-19. One trademark of this illness does seem to be a loss of taste and smell, a symptom that appears to come on quite suddenly.

If you experience a mild case of coronavirus with similar symptoms to those described here, it is possible to manage the infection at home, without seeking a doctor’s care. In these cases, you can aid your recovery by staying hydrated, getting plenty of sleep, and taking certain over-the-counter pain medications.

More Severe Infections

Unfortunately, for those who experience more severe infection with hospitalization, recovery is a less certain prospect. Studying the long-term effects of a COVID-19 infection is still in the early stages of research. So far, physicians have noted that patients report experiencing symptoms like fatigue, muscle weakness, shortness of breath, and some neurological symptoms (including trouble with memory and concentration) after they recover from the infection.

In particular, COVID-19 appears to cause long-term damage to internal organs, especially the lungs, heart, and even the brain. These complications may put people at risk for other health problems in the long run. COVID-19 is particularly damaging to the lungs, causing scar tissue that could lead to long-term breathing problems. However, it can also cause damage to the heart muscle (increasing the risk of heart failure and other complications) and the brain (causing Guillain-Barre syndrome, strokes, and seizures).

The consequences of these effects are still unclear, but the best defense for avoiding the long-term effects of COVID-19 is still to avoid contracting it in the first place. Practice good hygiene, social distancing, and obtain a vaccine as soon as possible.

With the inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden on the horizon, the focus has turned to his plan for the coronavirus vaccine rollout. He has been calling the nationwide effort to distribute vaccines his ‘number one priority’ and is planning to unveil his path forward soon.

We already know that he plans to break somewhat from the Trump administration's strategy so far, instead releasing nearly all available doses as quickly as possible. The Trump administration, by contrast, has previously held back many doses because of the recommendations that people get two doses within a certain time frame.

There are concerns that if all doses are released, there may not be enough produced to accommodate those important second vaccine doses in time. Here’s what you need to know:

Why Increase the Speed?

When the vaccines initially received FDA approval and began to roll out to individuals, many were concerned that there would be chaos. Experts worried that those receiving the first dose would not be able to receive the second, due to limited supplies. But with more than 4,000 people dying every day according to recent numbers, the United States is clearly in crisis.

As the pandemic continues to worsen and two new and faster-spreading variants have been discovered, experts now believe a faster vaccine rollout is essential. FDA officials still note, though, that trying to stretch vaccine supplies by simply taking one dose is not recommended.

Trump Administration Also Changes Tune

On January 12, Operation Warp Speed under the Trump administration has announced that they plan to release all available doses of the vaccine to speed up inoculation of those individuals at highest risk. Holding half the doses in reserve no longer seems to make sense, since it does not appear that there will be any kind of shortfall in the manufacturing process.

Some researchers also point to the fact that a first dose of either vaccine appears to reduce symptomatic COVID-19 cases by as much as 85 percent. However, the FDA still recommends both doses of the vaccine for full protection.

Mass Vaccination Sites

This shift would also change the current guidelines and allow individuals aged 65 and older immediate access to the vaccine. It will also assist states in setting up sites to provide vaccination en masse if necessary and focus on adding more accessible sites, like pharmacies. Many states have had issues with hospitals and medical providers who simply do not have the resources to issue vaccines on such a scale.

The search for solutions in the fight against COVID-19 is ongoing. Doctors and researchers are constantly looking for medications and other products that might help the body fight off the virus and its resulting disease. One important area of ongoing research right now is the use of melatonin supplements in preventing individuals from either catching the virus or from becoming seriously ill as a result. How can a simple supplement, widely available over the counter in the United States and around the world, help prevent this deadly disease?

Melatonin and COVID-19

Originally, research into melatonin and its connection to the coronavirus came about when early researchers were looking for any potential clues that might suggest how the virus entered human cells and how it might be stopped. The first to report on the link between melatonin and the coronavirus was Dr. Feixiong Cheng of Cleveland Clinic’s Genomic Medicine Institute.

Dr. Cheng’s early research was published in Cell Discovery in March 2020, and soon, other scientists were reporting similar observations. In addition to the common uses of melatonin, most commonly as a supplement to aid in sleep, the hormone also plays a role in regulating our immune systems. Specifically, it might help prevent the body’s immune system from overreacting in the fight against an invading virus. This overreaction, commonly termed a cytokine storm, is one of the things that makes COVID-19 so deadly.

Lowered Risk of COVID-19

Research shows there appears to be a link between patients taking melatonin and a lowered risk of contracting COVID-19. Right now, there are eight different clinical trials in process around the world specifically exploring the potential role of melatonin in preventing COVID-19. If the research does back this current hypothesis, individuals could begin taking the supplement right away. Melatonin is relatively cheap and widely available as an over-the-counter sleep aid. Dr. Cheng’s initial research used artificial intelligence to examine nearly 27,000 patients in a COVID-19 registry, and his team found that those who took melatonin were about 28 percent less likely to test positive for the virus.

Cautiously Optimistic

 Dr. Cheng cautions that widespread taking of melatonin to fight coronavirus is not something he would recommend right away, however. He notes that this could be a simple spurious connection, or that it could point to another correlation we aren’t yet aware of. For example, the melatonin and COVID-19 connection could be a simple indication that getting a good amount of sleep can help your body fight off the virus.

As new vaccines have begun to meet with FDA approval, the United States was just beginning to start hoping for a world beyond the COVID-19 pandemic when news broke of a new mutant variant of the coronavirus still ravaging countries all over the world. Understandably, the idea of a mutant variant has raised concerns with researchers and healthcare professionals all over the world.

So what do we know so far about this mutated version of COVID-19 and how worried should we be?

Where It Started

The initial development of a mutant variant of COVID-19 occurred when researchers were trying to discover the source of an unexpected outbreak that occurred in Kent, a southeastern county in England. After performing genetic sequencing on several samples from people that had gotten sick, they discovered a surprising number of mutations (around 23 in total, 17 non-synonymous and 6 synonymous).

This is unusual as, most commonly, a virus will mutate perhaps once or twice during the course of a month. Most importantly, it seems as though these particular mutations could cause issues. One mutation may help the virus bypass the immune system response, while another might make it easier for the virus to bind to human cells.

It is likely these mutations developed during just one individual’s fight with coronavirus. Such a scenario is quite common, particularly when a virus finds itself faced with medical obstacles, though usually these mutations die out within the individual. In this case, the theory is that this mutated variant escaped into the world.

Is It More Dangerous?

The research on this new variant is still in its early stages, but at this point, researchers have drawn a few cautious conclusions. Though there is no evidence that this variant will cause individuals to get a more severe illness, there is research that indicates it is much more contagious than the initial form of the virus. This is significant, as with greater infectiousness comes increased numbers of infections and potentially more deaths.

Will the Vaccine Still Work?

The good news is that preliminary research seems to indicate that the vaccines currently in development that are beginning to receive approval for emergency use might still be effective against this new variant. At a lab in Galveston, Texas, Vineet Menachery (assistant professor microbiology and immunology at the University of Texas Medical Branch) tested the efficacy of serum samples taken from patients that had already recovered from COVID-19 on the virus with and without the new N501Y mutation, finding no difference.

In spite of this encouraging new research, the best way to fight against virus mutation is to lower the chances of transmission by practicing social distancing, wearing masks, and using good sanitation practices.

Though Black Friday is already in the past, the holiday shopping season is well underway. With coronavirus cases continuing to surge at unprecedented levels (topping 2,000 new cases a day according to data), health and safety concerns are affecting the holiday shopping season significantly. If you are making holiday shopping plans, consider the advice of health experts before heading out to the stores.

Online Shopping Surge

Due to the health concerns that come with heading to the stores in person, online shopping is expected to see much more traffic than usual. As a result, retailers are scrambling to improve their online shopping experience and maintain product availability. However, as a shopper, you should keep in mind that you might experience some delay in receiving certain items, depending on how popular they turn out to be this holiday season. Shoppers should account for extra time for delivery and processing as well, particularly due to extra precautions put in place to deal with safety concerns amid the pandemic.

What about the Stores?

Though many Americans report that they feel safe shopping in stores (as opposed to other activities, like returning to work or flying on a plane), most experts recommend avoiding shopping in person whenever possible. Many stores have adjusted their policies, allowing for curbside pickup and other services that can minimize your exposure when out in public. If you must shop in person, try to plan your shopping trip accordingly. Be certain to wear a mask and keep your distance from other shoppers as much as possible. Consider planning your shopping trip during off-hours, when fewer individuals are likely to be out and about. This can be early in the morning or late at night, depending on your preference, but the important thing is to try and minimize your exposure to multiple strangers.

You may also want to consider making a more detailed list of exactly which items you need to pick up. Now is not the time for you to spend hours browsing the mall looking for just the right gift. Instead, you will want to make your in-person visits as quick as possible. Head in and out, minimizing your time inside the building.

Stay Home if You’re High Risk

Despite the precautions you can take when entering stores, the reality is that if you are high risk, you should limit your exposure to others as much as possible. Likely, this will mean staying home and shopping online.