Introduction
The novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has been a major health concern for the past year, and it’s likely to remain a threat for some time. Even if you’ve already had COVID-19, you should still take precautions to protect yourself and others from the virus. In this article, we’ll discuss why it’s important to remain vigilant even if you’ve already had the virus, and provide tips on how to stay safe.
Already Had COVID? Here’s Why You Should Still Worry
If you’ve already had COVID-19, you may think you’re in the clear. After all, you’ve already been through the worst of it, right? Unfortunately, that’s not necessarily the case. Even if you’ve already had the virus, there are still plenty of reasons to worry.
Long-Term Health Effects
One of the biggest concerns for those who have already had COVID-19 is the potential for long-term health effects. While the virus is usually mild in most people, some people may experience lingering symptoms for weeks or even months after they’ve recovered. These symptoms can range from fatigue and shortness of breath to joint pain and cognitive issues.
Reinfection Risk
Another reason to worry if you’ve already had COVID-19 is the risk of reinfection. While it’s still unclear how long immunity lasts after you’ve had the virus, there have been reports of people getting reinfected with the virus months after their initial infection. This means that even if you’ve already had the virus, you could still be at risk of getting it again.
Spread to Others
Finally, even if you’ve already had COVID-19, you could still be at risk of spreading the virus to others. While it’s unclear how long the virus can remain in your body after you’ve recovered, it’s possible that you could still be contagious even if you’re not experiencing any symptoms. This means that even if you’ve already had the virus, you should still take precautions to protect yourself and those around you.
If you’ve already had COVID-19, it’s important to remember that you’re not necessarily in the clear. While the virus is usually mild in most people, there are still plenty of reasons to worry. Be sure to take the necessary precautions to protect yourself and those around you.
Another COVID summer is here, and cases are increasing in many states, driven by subvariants of Omicron. If you’re one of the many people who contracted Omicron since it became the dominant form of the virus earlier this year, you’re in the clear, right? Not exactly. Here’s why if you’ve already had COVID, you should still worry—and why it’s still important to follow health experts’ advice on taking precautions against the virus. Read on to find out more—and to ensure your health and the health of others, don’t miss these Sure Signs You’ve Already Had COVID.
Even if you’ve contracted the Omicron variant already, mutations in the virus mean you can catch it again. Earlier in the pandemic, it was believed that you could be reinfected three months after your initial infection. This week, the New York Times reported that window of immunity after an infection could be as short as 20 days. The good news: Reinfections tend to be shorter and less severe.
At the same time, experts say there’s no way of knowing whether a reinfection will lead to the symptoms of long COVID. The risk is still there. Studies have found that between 10 to 30 percent of people who contract the coronavirus will develop long COVID, and 75% of people with long COVID had mild initial infections. Some experts believe that long-term COVID infections might lead to dangerous new variants.
Long COVID is the umbrella term for a wide range of symptoms that last after a COVID infection. They can include fatigue, breathing difficulities, and neurological issues ranging from brain fog to depression, and can vary in severity from mild to debilitating.
The General Accounting Office estimates that between 8 million and 23 million Americans have developed long COVID so far. According to CDC data through November 2021, one in five Americans aged 18 to 64 reported a later health condition that may be attributable to COVID-19. Among adults over 65, the number was one in four.
Says the CDC: “People who experience post-COVID conditions most commonly report:
General symptoms
- Tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
- Symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort (also known as “post-exertional malaise”)
- Fever
Respiratory and heart symptoms
- Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
- Cough
- Chest pain
- Fast-beating or pounding heart (also known as heart palpitations)
Neurological symptoms
- Difficulty thinking or concentrating (sometimes referred to as “brain fog”)
- Headache
- Sleep problems
- Dizziness when you stand up (lightheadedness)
- Pins-and-needles feelings
- Change in smell or taste
- Depression or anxiety
Digestive symptoms
Other symptoms
- Joint or muscle pain
- Rash
- Changes in menstrual cycles.”
Follow the fundamentals and help end this pandemic, no matter where you live—get vaccinated ASAP; if you live in an area with low vaccination rates, wear an N95 face mask, don’t travel, social distance, avoid large crowds, don’t go indoors with people you’re not sheltering with (especially in bars), practice good hand hygiene, and to protect your life and the lives of others, don’t visit any of these 35 Places You’re Most Likely to Catch COVID.
Michael Martin