It looks like there’s a new Covid variant making a run through the country.
As news broke that this new Covid-19 variant has surfaced in the United States, medical experts are stressing the importance of high-risk individuals wearing masks to prevent potential severe infections. These warnings from healthcare professionals coincide with a continuous rise in Covid-19 hospitalizations.
Dr. Michelle Pricket, MD, said in relation to this uptick, “There have been a ton of new variants, and there will be more variants. It’s not a time to panic. We have knowledge and tools to keep [infection rates] low.”
The CDC has officially reported the detection of a new variant, named BA 2.86, or Eris, as part of their routine wastewater monitoring efforts. Officials have expressed concerns about this variant due to its “significant number of mutations,” which raise worries about its potential to evade immunity acquired through vaccination or prior infections more effectively than other variants.
While the CDC has cautioned that it is “premature” to determine whether Eris, which is considered the “grandchild” of the Omicron variant, will lead to more severe illnesses compared to other variants, authorities have noted that regions where it has been identified have not exhibited any conspicuous signs of heightened virulence. These areas have not reported increased transmission rates, such as higher infection rates or more frequent emergency room visits.
However, the CDC emphasizes that it is still “early” to draw definitive conclusions regarding the impact of Eris based solely on this data. One thing that remains the same for Eris is the testing and treatment that we’ve all come to know since the pandemic began; the virus responds no differently than other variants to testing and medication.
While we’re all familiar with the covid symptoms by now, here is a list of what to expect if you contract Eris:
- cough
- headache
- muscle aches
- sore throat
- fatigue
- fever or chills
- congestion or runny nose
- nausea or vomiting
- diarrhea
- shortness of breath or difficulty breathing