Latest news with #Schaffner
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Summer Covid cases are rising across the U.S. — Is it time for a vaccine?
As Covid cases begin to rise this summer, many may be wondering: What are my risks, and is it time to get another vaccine? As of July 15, Covid cases were growing or likely growing in 27 states including Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of positive Covid tests have also been increasing in recent weeks, the CDC says, specifically in the southern region of the country. N.B.1.8.1 is the current dominant variant in the United States, accounting for 43% of all new Covid cases, according to the CDC. It's an offshoot of the XVD.1.5.1 strain, a descendant of the omicron variant. N.B.1.8.1 was responsible for a surge in hospitalizations in China earlier this year. It's been nicknamed 'razor blade throat,' as there have been anecdotal reports of some people getting painful sore throats, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Schaffner noted, however, that sore throats have been a common symptom of Covid since it first began spreading. 'I doubt the clinical spectrum of Covid has changed substantially,' Schaffner said. Do I need a Covid booster? When will the new vaccines be available? The uptick in cases comes as many Americans have likely gone a year or longer without a Covid shot. In May, the Food and Drug Administration asked drugmakers to update their Covid vaccines to target the LP.8.1 strain, a descendent of JN.1, which began spreading widely in 2023 and is another offshoot of omicron. LP.8.1 currently accounts for 31% of all new cases, per the CDC. The new shots won't be available until the fall, and are expected to be approved only for adults 65 and up and kids and adults with at least one medical condition that puts them at risk of severe illness. Healthy kids and adults who want a shot may have to find an older version or pay out of pocket. A single dose can cost as much as $140. Experts say, however, that population immunity — whether from vaccination, prior infection or both — may shield much of the public for now. 'While we don't have a lot of high level of immunity in the population right now, because it's been so long, we may have enough low level immunity to just make it a little bit harder for that virus to transmit easily from person to person,' said Andy Pekosz, an infectious disease researcher at Johns Hopkins University. Indeed, weekly hospitalization rates have remained low, suggesting that the new variant may not be leading to severe illness. The number of cases are still drastically lower than those this time last year, when the test positivity rate peaked in August at 17.9%. The 2025 season has yet to scrape 5%. Pekosz said it isn't unusual for cases to rise during the summer time, when people are likely to crowd indoors to escape the heat. However, he believes that if there is a summer surge of cases, it will be a small one. 'The variants have been around for a while and haven't caused any major surges up until date,' Pekosz said. 'So again, I'm hopeful that if we see a surge, it'll be a low level surge compared to previous years.' Dr. Ofer Levy, director of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children's Hospital, who has advised the FDA, said people who are at high risk of severe illness still may want to consider getting a Covid shot, if they can find one. High risk groups include: Older adults People with weakened immune systems Pregnant women Those with underlying health conditions, such as asthma and heart disease Getting a shot is especially important, Levy said, for those who haven't had one in over a year and whose immunity has likely waned. 'If you're in a high risk group and you're in a state where cases are rising, you may want to just get the first available appointment and get a shot to protect yourself,' he said. People at high risk can then consider getting an additional Covid shot when the updated vaccines are distributed in the fall, he said. Covid has two waves a year Schaffner, of Vanderbilt, said people in the high risk groups may also want to consider wearing a mask during indoor activities, such as the movies. Healthy adults and children may be able to wait longer before getting another shot, Levy added. 'If you're in a lower risk group, that's where things get fuzzy,' he said. 'I mean if you want a vaccine and your health care provider concurs and you can get it.' Dr. Michael Phillips, an infectious disease doctor at NYU Langone, said that he sees mostly immunocompromised and older adults test positive for the virus. For those who haven't gotten a Covid shot in years, Phillips said he doesn't think they should worry just yet. 'If you're younger, otherwise healthy, I think you're OK,' Phillips said. 'If you have underlying pulmonary disease, you know, if you're an older age group, now that's a time when you should be really talking to a doctor and saying, 'Gosh, should I be getting a booster for Covid?'' He said that the amount of positive Covid tests NYU Langone has seen has decreased 40% since February. Fatima Amaeka, a senior analyst at the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins, said she expects the current wave to peak around September. Schaffner said to expect another wave in the late fall and winter. '[Covid] has two increases each year,' he said. 'Everyone is familiar with the winter increase that goes along with flu and RSV.' This article was originally published on Solve the daily Crossword
NBC News
6 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
Summer Covid cases are rising across the U.S. — Is it time for a vaccine?
As Covid cases begin to rise this summer, many may be wondering: What are my risks, and is it time to get another vaccine? As of July 15, Covid cases were growing or likely growing in 27 states including Texas, Illinois, Kentucky, Virginia and Ohio, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Rates of positive Covid tests have also been increasing in recent weeks, the CDC says, specifically in the southern region of the country. N.B.1.8.1 is the current dominant variant in the United States, accounting for 43% of all new Covid cases, according to the CDC. It's an offshoot of the XVD.1.5.1 strain, a descendant of the omicron variant. N.B.1.8.1 was responsible for a surge in hospitalizations in China earlier this year. It's been nicknamed 'razor blade throat,' as there have been anecdotal reports of some people getting painful sore throats, said Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease expert at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Schaffner noted, however, that sore throats have been a common symptom of Covid since it first began spreading. 'I doubt the clinical spectrum of Covid has changed substantially,' Schaffner said. Do I need a Covid booster? When will the new vaccines be available? The uptick in cases comes as many Americans have likely gone a year or longer without a Covid shot. In May, the Food and Drug Administration asked drugmakers to update their Covid vaccines to target the LP.8.1 strain, a descendent of JN.1, which began spreading widely in 2023 and is another offshoot of omicron. LP.8.1 currently accounts for 31% of all new cases, per the CDC. The new shots won't be available until the fall, and are expected to be approved only for adults 65 and up and kids and adults with at least one medical condition that puts them at risk of severe illness. Healthy kids and adults who want a shot may have to find an older version or pay out of pocket. A single dose can cost as much as $140. Experts say, however, that population immunity — whether from vaccination, prior infection or both — may shield much of the public for now. 'While we don't have a lot of high level of immunity in the population right now, because it's been so long, we may have enough low level immunity to just make it a little bit harder for that virus to transmit easily from person to person,' said Andy Pekosz, an infectious disease researcher at Johns Hopkins University. Indeed, weekly hospitalization rates have remained low, suggesting that the new variant may not be leading to severe illness. The number of cases are still drastically lower than those this time last year, when the test positivity rate peaked in August at 17.9%. The 2025 season has yet to scrape 5%. Pekosz said it isn't unusual for cases to rise during the summer time, when people are likely to crowd indoors to escape the heat. However, he believes that if there is a summer surge of cases, it will be a small one. 'The variants have been around for a while and haven't caused any major surges up until date,' Pekosz said. 'So again, I'm hopeful that if we see a surge, it'll be a low level surge compared to previous years.' Dr. Ofer Levy, director of the precision vaccines program at Boston Children's Hospital, who has advised the FDA, said people who are at high risk of severe illness still may want to consider getting a Covid shot, if they can find one. High risk groups include: Older adults People with weakened immune systems Pregnant women Those with underlying health conditions, such as asthma and heart disease Getting a shot is especially important, Levy said, for those who haven't had one in over a year and whose immunity has likely waned. 'If you're in a high risk group and you're in a state where cases are rising, you may want to just get the first available appointment and get a shot to protect yourself,' he said. People at high risk can then consider getting an additional Covid shot when the updated vaccines are distributed in the fall, he said. Covid has two waves a year Schaffner, of Vanderbilt, said people in the high risk groups may also want to consider wearing a mask during indoor activities, such as the movies. Healthy adults and children may be able to wait longer before getting another shot, Levy added. 'If you're in a lower risk group, that's where things get fuzzy,' he said. 'I mean if you want a vaccine and your health care provider concurs and you can get it.' Dr. Michael Phillips, an infectious disease doctor at NYU Langone, said that he sees mostly immunocompromised and older adults test positive for the virus. For those who haven't gotten a Covid shot in years, Phillips said he doesn't think they should worry just yet. 'If you're younger, otherwise healthy, I think you're OK,' Phillips said. 'If you have underlying pulmonary disease, you know, if you're an older age group, now that's a time when you should be really talking to a doctor and saying, 'Gosh, should I be getting a booster for Covid?'' He said that the amount of positive Covid tests NYU Langone has seen has decreased 40% since February. Fatima Amaeka, a senior analyst at the Center for Outbreak Response Innovation at Johns Hopkins, said she expects the current wave to peak around September. Schaffner said to expect another wave in the late fall and winter. '[Covid] has two increases each year,' he said. 'Everyone is familiar with the winter increase that goes along with flu and RSV.'
Associated Press
30-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
U.S. Supreme Court Asks for Views of Solicitor General in Durnell Case
LEVERKUSEN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jun 30, 2025-- The U.S. Supreme Court today asked the Solicitor General to provide the Court with the views of the U.S. government in the Durnell case, following a petition for a writ of certiorari by Bayer's indirect subsidiary Monsanto in April 2025. 'We see this request as an encouraging step and look forward to hearing the views of the government on FIFRA's federal preemption provision, which relies on language common to several federal laws that cover a number of industries,' said Bayer CEO Bill Anderson. 'The security and affordability of the food supply depend on companies' and farmers' ability to rely on decisions made by responsible federal regulatory authorities. When courts permit companies to be punished under state law for following federal law, it makes companies like ours a prime target of the litigation industry and threatens farmers and innovations that patients and consumers need for their nutrition and health.' In its petition, the company argues that a split among federal circuit courts in the Roundup™ litigation warrants review and resolution by the country's top court. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously held in the Schaffner case that the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) expressly preempted the plaintiff's state claims based on failure-to-warn theories. The 9th and 11th Circuits and Missouri's intermediate appellate court in Durnell have reached different conclusions on the preemption question and the petition argues that both state and federal courts require guidance that only the U.S. Supreme Court can provide. Durnell is the first case for which Monsanto has sought Supreme Court review since the Schaffner decision created a split among the federal circuit courts. Once the Solicitor General provides its views, the Supreme Court will then make a decision on the company's petition during the 2025-2026 Court session. If the Court accepts the case, a decision on the merits could still happen during the Court's next session which ends in June 2026. A positive ruling on the central, cross-cutting issue in the Roundup™ litigation – whether federal law preempts claims based on state failure-to-warn theories – could help to largely contain this litigation. In the past weeks, 18 organizations and coalitions, representing agriculture, legal thought leaders, U.S. manufacturers, scientific communities, and a broad swath of business leaders from across the nation, filed amicus briefs urging the Supreme Court to grant Monsanto's petition. The Chamber of Commerce wrote: 'The stakes of this case, and others like it, are enormous … [I]f federal preemption is discarded in cases like this one, manufacturers will routinely face potentially crushing liability under state law for failing to give warnings that federal law forbids.' Several grower groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation wrote in their amici briefs: 'Put simply, America's agricultural industry could not operate without glyphosate ... Immediate devastation will occur for agricultural operations and American food supply.' 'The litigation industry is spending hundreds of millions of dollars targeting Monsanto for not providing warnings they allege are required under state law, even though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and every other health regulator worldwide that has assessed the safety of glyphosate has found that it is safe to use and does not cause cancer,' Anderson said. Bayer remains committed to significantly containing the U.S. litigation by the end of 2026. To achieve this goal, the company will continue its multipronged strategy. The company supports regulatory measures that would reinforce the preemptive effect of the EPA's human health assessments and approved labeling for products registered under FIFRA. FIFRA already prohibits states from imposing 'any requirements for labeling or packaging in addition to or different from' those required under federal law. The company supports a petition filed by 11 state Attorneys General calling on the agency to strengthen its regulations and specify that state labeling requirements, which are different than those determined by the EPA, would render the product misbranded. This petition, which received broad industry support, is now under consideration by the EPA. Building off the efforts of elected officials and farmers in Georgia and North Dakota, the company will continue to work with state and federal legislators, along with more than 360 grower and industry groups, to reinforce that compliance with federal labels is sufficient to meet state warning requirements, consistent with the uniformity provision of FIFRA. The company has obtained favorable outcomes in 17 of the last 25 trials and will continue to try cases based on the overwhelming scientific support for glyphosate's safety. It will also consider resolving claims by settlements if the terms are in Monsanto's strategic interest. Additional options under consideration include state and federal executive branch actions consistent with current FIFRA policy on preemption, and limiting or ending the sale of glyphosate-based products. Lastly, the company continues to assess other options that would help protect the company and its other products from the financial threats posed by the litigation industry and its ceaseless attacks on glyphosate-based products. In October 2023, Durnell was tried in Missouri Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis and the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The jury found the company failed to warn of the product's risk and awarded 1.25 million U.S. dollar to the plaintiff, but it rejected all other claims and declined to award punitive damages. The company appealed the verdict in August 2024 and the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District upheld the verdict in February 2025. Monsanto promptly filed a writ to transfer the case to the Missouri Supreme Court, and it declined review on April 1, making it ripe for U.S. Supreme Court review. About Bayer Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, 'Health for all, Hunger for none,' the company's products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. Bayer AG is a holding company with operating subsidiaries worldwide. References to 'Bayer' or 'the company' herein may refer to one or more subsidiaries as context requires. View source version on CONTACT: Contact for media inquiries: Brian Leake, phone +1 314.370.3285 Email:[email protected] Blank,phone +49 214 30-20499 Email:[email protected] Hartel, phone +49 214 30-47686 Email:[email protected] for investor inquiries: Bayer Investor Relations Team, phone +49 214 30-72704 Email:[email protected] KEYWORD: GERMANY EUROPE UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: LEGAL COURTS PROFESSIONAL SERVICES PUBLIC POLICY/GOVERNMENT WHITE HOUSE/FEDERAL GOVERNMENT GENERAL HEALTH PHARMACEUTICAL HEALTH AGRICULTURE NATURAL RESOURCES SOURCE: Bayer Copyright Business Wire 2025. PUB: 06/30/2025 10:52 AM/DISC: 06/30/2025 10:52 AM
Business Wire
30-06-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
U.S. Supreme Court Asks for Views of Solicitor General in Durnell Case
LEVERKUSEN, Germany--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The U.S. Supreme Court today asked the Solicitor General to provide the Court with the views of the U.S. government in the Durnell case, following a petition for a writ of certiorari by Bayer's indirect subsidiary Monsanto in April 2025. 'We see this request as an encouraging step and look forward to hearing the views of the government on FIFRA's federal preemption provision, which relies on language common to several federal laws that cover a number of industries,' said Bayer CEO Bill Anderson. 'The security and affordability of the food supply depend on companies' and farmers' ability to rely on decisions made by responsible federal regulatory authorities. When courts permit companies to be punished under state law for following federal law, it makes companies like ours a prime target of the litigation industry and threatens farmers and innovations that patients and consumers need for their nutrition and health.' In its petition, the company argues that a split among federal circuit courts in the Roundup™ litigation warrants review and resolution by the country's top court. The 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously held in the Schaffner case that the Federal Insecticide Fungicide and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) expressly preempted the plaintiff's state claims based on failure-to-warn theories. The 9th and 11th Circuits and Missouri's intermediate appellate court in Durnell have reached different conclusions on the preemption question and the petition argues that both state and federal courts require guidance that only the U.S. Supreme Court can provide. Durnell is the first case for which Monsanto has sought Supreme Court review since the Schaffner decision created a split among the federal circuit courts. Once the Solicitor General provides its views, the Supreme Court will then make a decision on the company's petition during the 2025-2026 Court session. If the Court accepts the case, a decision on the merits could still happen during the Court's next session which ends in June 2026. A positive ruling on the central, cross-cutting issue in the Roundup™ litigation – whether federal law preempts claims based on state failure-to-warn theories – could help to largely contain this litigation. In the past weeks, 18 organizations and coalitions, representing agriculture, legal thought leaders, U.S. manufacturers, scientific communities, and a broad swath of business leaders from across the nation, filed amicus briefs urging the Supreme Court to grant Monsanto's petition. The Chamber of Commerce wrote: 'The stakes of this case, and others like it, are enormous … [I]f federal preemption is discarded in cases like this one, manufacturers will routinely face potentially crushing liability under state law for failing to give warnings that federal law forbids.' Several grower groups like the American Farm Bureau Federation wrote in their amici briefs: 'Put simply, America's agricultural industry could not operate without glyphosate ... Immediate devastation will occur for agricultural operations and American food supply.' 'The litigation industry is spending hundreds of millions of dollars targeting Monsanto for not providing warnings they allege are required under state law, even though the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and every other health regulator worldwide that has assessed the safety of glyphosate has found that it is safe to use and does not cause cancer,' Anderson said. Bayer remains committed to significantly containing the U.S. litigation by the end of 2026. To achieve this goal, the company will continue its multipronged strategy. The company supports regulatory measures that would reinforce the preemptive effect of the EPA's human health assessments and approved labeling for products registered under FIFRA. FIFRA already prohibits states from imposing 'any requirements for labeling or packaging in addition to or different from' those required under federal law. The company supports a petition filed by 11 state Attorneys General calling on the agency to strengthen its regulations and specify that state labeling requirements, which are different than those determined by the EPA, would render the product misbranded. This petition, which received broad industry support, is now under consideration by the EPA. Building off the efforts of elected officials and farmers in Georgia and North Dakota, the company will continue to work with state and federal legislators, along with more than 360 grower and industry groups, to reinforce that compliance with federal labels is sufficient to meet state warning requirements, consistent with the uniformity provision of FIFRA. The company has obtained favorable outcomes in 17 of the last 25 trials and will continue to try cases based on the overwhelming scientific support for glyphosate's safety. It will also consider resolving claims by settlements if the terms are in Monsanto's strategic interest. Additional options under consideration include state and federal executive branch actions consistent with current FIFRA policy on preemption, and limiting or ending the sale of glyphosate-based products. Lastly, the company continues to assess other options that would help protect the company and its other products from the financial threats posed by the litigation industry and its ceaseless attacks on glyphosate-based products. In October 2023, Durnell was tried in Missouri Circuit Court for the City of St. Louis and the jury returned a verdict in favor of the plaintiff. The jury found the company failed to warn of the product's risk and awarded 1.25 million U.S. dollar to the plaintiff, but it rejected all other claims and declined to award punitive damages. The company appealed the verdict in August 2024 and the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District upheld the verdict in February 2025. Monsanto promptly filed a writ to transfer the case to the Missouri Supreme Court, and it declined review on April 1, making it ripe for U.S. Supreme Court review. About Bayer Bayer is a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of health care and nutrition. In line with its mission, 'Health for all, Hunger for none,' the company's products and services are designed to help people and the planet thrive by supporting efforts to master the major challenges presented by a growing and aging global population. Bayer is committed to driving sustainable development and generating a positive impact with its businesses. At the same time, the Group aims to increase its earning power and create value through innovation and growth. The Bayer brand stands for trust, reliability and quality throughout the world. In fiscal 2024, the Group employed around 93,000 people and had sales of 46.6 billion euros. R&D expenses amounted to 6.2 billion euros. For more information, go to Forward-Looking Statements This release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer's public reports which are available on the Bayer website at The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. Bayer AG is a holding company with operating subsidiaries worldwide. References to 'Bayer' or 'the company' herein may refer to one or more subsidiaries as context requires.
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
This Alarming COVID Symptom Is Everywhere With The Latest Variant. We Asked Experts What You Need To Know.
A positive COVID-19 test result is not something that anyone wants to see — but now there may be an extra reason to avoid getting sick. COVID infections cause miserable symptoms such as fever, fatigue, congestion and more. Now, though, some people infected with COVID in China are reporting a very sore throat that's been nicknamed 'razor blade throat.' According to Google trends data, people throughout the U.S. are now, too, worried about this scary-sounding symptom and are searching for things like 'new covid variant painful symptom' and 'covid razor throat.' Just how worried do you need to be about a super-painful sore throat during a COVID infection? Below, doctors weigh in on the supposed 'razor blade' sore throat symptom: Some people with COVID are reporting a 'razor blade throat,' but you don't need to panic. It's nothing new. Related: I Was Widowed At 29. Then An Unexpected Phone Call Led Me To Discover My Husband's Affairs. 'In the past, as new variants have come on the scene, there almost invariably have been questions about distinctive symptoms, and after a while, when you gather a lot of data, turns out not to be the case — all of these symptoms have occurred before,' said Dr. William Schaffner, a professor of preventive medicine in the department of health policy at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. Meaning, the circulating COVID variants tend to produce the same sort of symptoms and disease as the ones from years ago, Schaffner added. 'Although the more recent variants, these omicron variants, are less severe,' he said. A very sore throat isn't specific to the circulating COVID variants, said Dr. Carrie Horn, the chief medical officer and chief of the division of hospital and internal medicine at National Jewish Health in Colorado. Instead, it's a symptom that has been associated with COVID infections for a while, Horn said. Schaffner had not heard of the 'razor blade' sore throat symptom particularly, but has heard of people having a severe sore throat with COVID infections. While some people can have a very sore throat that could be described as razor-like, it doesn't mean it's going to happen to everyone — and it also isn't some new, scary symptom that is associated with new COVID infections. There is not one outstanding COVID symptom that marks an infection, said Dr. Mark Burns, an infectious disease expert at UofL Health in Louisville, Kentucky. 'A sore throat is a symptom of this, but also fever and cough and fatigue, these are all symptoms as well,' Burns added. 'To sum it all up, the symptoms, including sore throat, are really no different. There's no increased intensity based on sore throat or anything like that,' added Burns. Here's how you can protect yourself from a COVID infection: Related: "People Are Creepy, And I'm Paranoid": 23 Safety Tips And Tricks Women Who Live Alone Do To Feel Safe And At Ease COVID tends to surge twice a year — once in the winter and once in the mid-to-late summer, Schaffner said. 'And so there has been a longstanding recommendation by the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices that people who are at increased risk of getting severe COVID should actually get two COVID vaccinations a year. Obviously, one in the fall to prevent the winter increase, but another right now in order to help prevent serious disease during the late summer and early fall,' Schaffner said. This goes for people 65 and older, younger people with underlying chronic medical conditions and pregnant people, he said. 'The recommendation is take special precautions and get that extra dose, because if we get infected ... we get that extra protection and to help keep us out of the hospital,' Schaffner said. Wearing a mask in indoor spaces, social distancing, washing your hands often and increasing ventilation when possible are more ways to protect yourself from COVID and other respiratory viruses, too, said Burns. If you do get sick, there are treatments available. If you have any COVID symptoms, such as sore throat, fatigue, cough or fever, take a test to see if you have COVID. If you are infected, get in touch with your doctor, particularly if you're high-risk as there are treatments available, said Schaffner. It's important that you talk to your primary care provider as the guidance will vary depending on your age, underlying conditions and other risk factors. COVID is a miserable infection, Horn added. 'Over-the-counter meds help — Ibuprofen alternating with Tylenol, if you're able to take those ... there's no reason to be miserable,' Horn said. 'So, take the medicine that you are able to take to help,' she said. It's also important to stay hydrated when you're sick even if you do have a painful sore throat. A sore throat can make hydration feel like more of a chore, but it's important to drink water and herbal teas as dehydration can further irritate the dry membranes in your throat, Horn said. 'If you are sick, it's best to keep your germs to yourself,' said Horn. This means canceling the dinner plans, not going to the party and calling out of work if you can — if you can't, wearing a tight-fitting mask is key, Horn added. 'Preventing transmission is the biggest thing that we can do to help keep everybody healthy,' Horn article originally appeared on HuffPost. Also in Goodful: "It's Nice To Feel Wanted": Guys Are Sharing The Small Gestures Women Do That Make Them Weak At The Knees Also in Goodful: "I Can't Wait For This To Go Out Of Style": People Are Sharing Popular Modern Trends That Are Actually Pretty Toxic Also in Goodful: I Was Devastated When The Love Of My Life Died. Then I Started Seeing Signs I Couldn't Explain.
