As COVID Rules Ease, Common Colds Rebound Across America

[2greys]

Infectious disease expert Ravina Kullar's husband has a cold. So does her sister-in-law.

Meanwhile, the Cleveland Clinic's waiting rooms are becoming much more frequented by folks with coughs, sneezes and sniffles, said family medicine physician Dr. Neha Vyas.

These folks are part of a nationwide trend occurring as COVID-19 vaccinations rise, masks drop, protective restrictions lift, and life returns to some semblance of normal, experts say.

"Face masks have protected us not only from COVID-19 infection, but also other respiratory infections such as colds, the flu," said Kullar, a consultant with Expert Stewardship Inc., a California company that promotes infection prevention in long-term care facilities. "People now are more susceptible to catching these respiratory viruses that someone acquires through the nasal passage or the mouth. It's right on par with lifting the restrictions."

Earlier this month, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued an advisory warning that one of these bugs -- respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) -- has been on the rise in 13 states, mostly in the South.

consumer.healthday.com/6-24...

[HungryHufflepuff]

On a sort of related note, I heard that hospitals (in the U.K.) are becoming overwhelmed by children being taken in with winter bugs, I guess the parents are fearful that their kids have coronavirus so take them to the hospital. But because there’s been so little interaction people are picking up bugs that normally go round in the winter.

[HungryHufflepuff in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

bbc.co.uk/news/health-57583733

I found a link to the story.

[2greys in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

I saw that story in my local rag as well.

[Annie31 in reply to HungryHufflepuff]

I saw this too on the TV! Not surprising really!

[Hidden]

It's hard to tell the difference between covid and a regular cold!

[Annie31 in reply to Hidden]

It would be now with this delta variant as the symptoms are more in line with a cold, what a headache!

[Alberta56]

Perhaps we should keep our masks on for the time being and try to avoid anti social people without one.

[Izb1]

Will keep my mask on for a while yet x

[Patk1]

I'll still be taking precautions for the reason x

[UHelga]

Since the new Delta variant has cold like symptoms, it still pays to be cautious in my opinion.