FROM SELLING TOBACCO, RESTOCKING YOUR SUPPLY OF COVID 19 TESTS BEGINNING ON MONDAY, HOUSEHOLDS HERE CAN ORDER FOR FREE KITS THROUGH A FEDERAL WEBSITE HERE I MEAN IN THE UNITED STATES. HERE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, DR. KRISTIN MOFFAT, AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT BOSTON CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL, GREAT TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. GOOD TO SEE YOU, TOO. YEAH. HI, DR. MOFFAT. YOU KNOW, IT’S BEEN A LONG TIME SINCE SOME OF US HAVE EVEN LOOKED AT OUR STOCKPILE OF TESTS AT HOME. RIGHT. PROBABLY IN THE CLOSET. WHAT ARE THE CHANCES THAT THEY’RE ALL EXPIRED? YEAH, IT’S A REALLY GOOD POINT TO BRING UP. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT THEY ARE EXPIRED, SO EVERYBODY SHOULD CHECK THE EXPIRATION DATE ON THEIR COVID TESTS. BUT DON’T THROW THEM OUT IF YOU SEE THAT THE DATE SHOWS THAT IT’S EXPIRED BECAUSE A LOT OF THESE DIFFERENT BRANDS WERE DOING SORT OF POST DISTRIBUTION TESTING TO SEE IF THEY WERE STILL EFFECTIVE BEYOND THE EXPIRATION DATES. AND INDEED, A LOT OF THESE EXPIRATION DATES HAVE BEEN EXTENDED BY SOMEWHERE BETWEEN 6 AND 10 MONTHS. SO THERE IS AN FDA WEBSITE THAT LISTS THESE EXPIRATION DATE EXTENSIONS BY BRAND. SO I WOULD DEFINITELY RECOMMEND CHECKING THAT OUT BEFORE YOU TOSS ANY TESTS. I ACTUALLY DID THAT AND THEY’RE ALL EXPIRED. SO THAT’S THAT IS IT’S GREAT ADVICE. SO LET’S TALK ABOUT THESE NEW ROUNDS OF FREE TESTS THE WEBSITE TO ORDER THEM COVID TESTS.GOV. IT OPENS ON MONDAY. WHY WHY IS THIS BEING OFFERED NOW? YEAH, I THINK IT’S GREAT THAT THIS IS BEING OFFERED. AGAIN, IF YOU MAY REMEMBER, THERE WAS A TIME WHEN INSURANCE DID COVER THIS OR THESE WERE BEING OFFERED AT NO COST AND THEY’RE EXPENSIVE. WHEN WE GO AND BUY THESE OUT OF POCKET DRUGSTORE, THEY’RE NOT CHEAP CASES ARE RISING RIGHT NOW. HOSPITALIZATIONS HAVE BEEN RISING. AND IT’S CONCEIVABLE IN THE COMING MONTHS AS PEOPLE SPEND MORE TIME TOGETHER INDOORS WITH HOLIDAYS COMING UP TOGETHER IN THE COMING MONTHS, TRANSMISSION COULD INCREASE EVEN MORE. AND IT REMAINS TRUE THAT TESTING FOR COVID, IF YOU’VE GOT SYMPTOMS OF COVID AND ISOLATING IF YOU’RE POSITIVE, IS A REALLY IMPORTANT PART OF KEEPING ANOTHER SURGE FROM HAPPENING. SO I THINK IT’S A GREAT MOVE TO MAKE THESE AVAILABLE AGAIN, AT NO COST SO THAT EVERYBODY WHO WANTS THEM HAS ACCESS TO THEM. I THINK IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE’VE GOT TREATMENTS AVAILABLE NOW LIKE PAXLOVID, THAT WE DIDN’T HAVE AVAILABLE A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO AND TREATMENTS LIKE THAT ARE MOST EFFECTIVE IF THEY’RE STARTED AS SOON AS SOMEBODY KNOWS THAT THEY HAVE AN INFECTION DUE TO COVID. SO BEING ABLE TO HAVE TESTS AT HOME AND CONFIRM THAT YOUR SYMPTOMS ARE DUE TO COVID, IT’S REALLY HELPFUL IN A LOT OF WAYS. OKAY. AND OF COURSE, THE VIRUS, YOU KNOW, ALWAYS KEEPS CHANGING BECAUSE THAT’S WHAT VIRUSES DO. THIS ONE HAS CHANGED A LOT OVER THE YEARS. ANY CONCERNS ABOUT NEW VARIANTS DOWN THE ROAD OR TESTING OF ANY OF THAT? YEAH, IT’S A GREAT QUESTION. IT ALWAYS WOULD BE OF CONCERN. WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THE TESTS WE HAVE, IF THEY’RE NEGATIVE, CAN WE TRUST THEM? AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT THE FDA AND OTHER AGENCIES ARE REGULARLY AND SYSTEMATICALLY DOING FOR ALL OF THE AUTHORIZED TESTS. THERE HAVE BEEN SOME INSTANCES OF TESTS THAT ARE NOT THE ONES AS BROADLY AVAILABLE WHERE THEIR PERFORMANCE HAS BEEN DECREASED WITH SOME OF THE VARIANTS. BUT IT’S REALLY IMPORTANT THAT THIS CONTINUES TO BE MONITORED. FOR THE MOST PART, THE ONES THAT REMAIN BROADLY AVAILABLE HAVE NOT EXHIBITED ANY DECREASED PERFORMANCE WITH VARIANTS THAT HAVE EMERGED OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS. BUT THIS IS SOMETHING THAT NEEDS TO CONTINUE TO BE EVALUATED. ALL RIGHT, DR. MOFFITT, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR SPENDING SOME TIME WITH US.
Extra free residence COVID-19 exams out there for order from US authorities
U.S. households at the moment are eligible to order a further 4 at-home COVID-19 exams — freed from value — by means of the federal government.As of Monday, residential households within the U.S. can submit an order by means of Covidtests.gov for 4 particular person speedy antigen COVID-19 exams. Orders will begin to ship on Nov. 27, in keeping with USPS. Individuals with out an web connection can name 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to request exams.The U.S. authorities had suspended the speedy take a look at distribution program earlier in Could, then reopened it in September. Residents who haven’t positioned an order for the reason that program reopened can place two orders, which can present eight exams in whole, in keeping with USPS.COVID-19 speedy exams will be taken at residence and can be utilized no matter whether or not somebody has signs. The exams ought to work by means of the top of the 12 months; a few of the dates on the exams might present that they’re expired, however the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration has prolonged these dates.The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends folks take a look at if they’ve any COVID-19-like signs together with a sore throat, runny nostril, lack of scent or style, or a fever. Individuals may wish to take a look at earlier than they’re going to be part of a big occasion, like a live performance or a convention, notably if individuals are not up-to-date on their vaccines. Antivirals can be found to deal with COVID-19 and flu, and testing may also help decide which remedy is required.COVID-19 hospital admissions and emergency division visits are as soon as once more on the rise after a couple of weeks of downturn, in keeping with the CDC. For the week ending Nov. 11, the share of COVID-related emergency division visits was 1.4%, or simply over 16,200 folks — much like charges seen all through this month and final month.Total, outpatient visits for flu-like sickness are decrease than they have been right now final 12 months however increased than within the earlier 4 seasons. CDC forecasting means that this respiratory virus season will lead to about the identical variety of hospitalizations as final season.Seasonal flu exercise can be growing in most elements of the nation with flu-like exercise labeled as excessive in New Mexico, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, in keeping with the CDC. There have been no less than 780,000 sicknesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths from flu up to now this season, the company estimates.Greater than a 3rd of adults and almost a 3rd of youngsters have gotten their flu shot this 12 months, CDC information reveals. About 14% of adults and 5% of youngsters have gotten the brand new COVID-19 vaccine whereas 14% of older adults ages 60 and up have gotten the brand new RSV vaccine.
U.S. households at the moment are eligible to order a further 4 at-home COVID-19 exams — freed from value — by means of the federal government.
As of Monday, residential households within the U.S. can submit an order by means of Covidtests.gov for 4 particular person speedy antigen COVID-19 exams. Orders will begin to ship on Nov. 27, in keeping with USPS. Individuals with out an web connection can name 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489) to request exams.
The U.S. authorities had suspended the speedy take a look at distribution program earlier in Could, then reopened it in September. Residents who haven’t positioned an order for the reason that program reopened can place two orders, which can present eight exams in whole, in keeping with USPS.
COVID-19 speedy exams will be taken at residence and can be utilized no matter whether or not somebody has signs. The exams ought to work by means of the top of the 12 months; a few of the dates on the exams might present that they’re expired, however the U.S. Meals and Drug Administration has prolonged these dates.
The U.S. Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention recommends folks take a look at if they’ve any COVID-19-like signs together with a sore throat, runny nostril, lack of scent or style, or a fever. Individuals may wish to take a look at earlier than they’re going to be part of a big occasion, like a live performance or a convention, notably if individuals are not up-to-date on their vaccines. Antivirals can be found to deal with COVID-19 and flu, and testing may also help decide which remedy is required.
COVID-19 hospital admissions and emergency division visits are as soon as once more on the rise after a couple of weeks of downturn, in keeping with the CDC. For the week ending Nov. 11, the share of COVID-related emergency division visits was 1.4%, or simply over 16,200 folks — much like charges seen all through this month and final month.
Total, outpatient visits for flu-like sickness are decrease than they have been right now final 12 months however increased than within the earlier 4 seasons. CDC forecasting means that this respiratory virus season will lead to about the identical variety of hospitalizations as final season.
Seasonal flu exercise can be growing in most elements of the nation with flu-like exercise labeled as excessive in New Mexico, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia and South Carolina, in keeping with the CDC. There have been no less than 780,000 sicknesses, 8,000 hospitalizations, and 490 deaths from flu up to now this season, the company estimates.
Greater than a 3rd of adults and almost a 3rd of youngsters have gotten their flu shot this 12 months, CDC information reveals. About 14% of adults and 5% of youngsters have gotten the brand new COVID-19 vaccine whereas 14% of older adults ages 60 and up have gotten the brand new RSV vaccine.
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