In the last month, the US has seen a notable increase in cases of Covid 19. Though the initial pandemic has been declared over, hospitals are seeing a recent increase in patients with the virus.
Mandy Slaughter, a local surgical technician, has confirmed that hospitals have seen a recent increase in Covid cases in Missoula. “I think people’s sense of security has gone up. They feel safe so they are interacting more freely which has been happening more freely and also cold and flu season has been kicking up so that may have something to do with it as well,” she said.
As far as differences in the strain go, Slaughter said, “I don’t know this for sure but I think there is less death associated with the current Covid cases. It seems more run of the mill like the flu. More cold-like symptoms.” She said that this was likely associated with better care of Covid: “The fact that people have been vaccinated and also herd immunity, so it’s more contained because of that.”
For further containment going forward, healthcare workers are starting to take extra precautions. “At St. Pat’s specifically, workers are starting to have to mask up. Everyone is wearing a mask at all times, which we weren’t previously having to do,” said Slaughter. “As healthcare professionals it’s our job to do the best we can to keep the community safe.”
Emergency Doctor Michael Masiowski has noticed a big increase of Covid hospitalizations in the past few months. He believes that it is due to the new variant. However, he said, “We definitely understand more about how to manage people.” Masiowski said hospitals have changed the way they control oxygen levels and it has shown success in treating people with Covid, resulting in a much lower mortality rate.
Masiowski believes that Covid is never going to go away but he hopes for the future that there will be a better understanding on potential negative side effects from the vaccine. “That’s one of the things that hasn’t been well studied because it was kind of a touchy political subject,” Masiowski said. He hopes that it can be studied without political intervention.
Masiowski believes that humans’ natural immunity as well as vaccinations for Covid will become very valuable and important. Masiowski is concerned about the possible future Covid variants. “Once we reach a level of immunity hopefully things will get better. The only thing I worry about is what’s going to happen with the different variants that we get, are we going to get ones that are more transmissible, more dangerous, or more lethal?”
Masiowski expressed that wearing masks might not be as beneficial as we once thought, with the exception of N95 masks, and it is much more important to not touch your face, especially around your mouth and nose. “It’s most important to have very good donning and doffing protocols (not touching your face without a glove on, washing your hands, etc.) to prevent the spread of Covid,” Masiowski said. One thing is clear, Covid is on the rise again, in our schools, in Missoula, and in the country. It’s important to take reasonable steps to reduce the spread, and protect yourself and others in the community.
