SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – President Biden tested positive for the coronavirus as cases are on the rise for older adults.
The coronavirus is a summer cold so it is not unusual to see it reappearing with a subtle rise in cases but it is still important to protect yourself and others.
Dr. Robert Baldor, a chair in the Department of Family Medicine at Baystate Health tells 22News that over 80% of deaths from COVID were individuals over the age of 65. He also said we are not past this rise in cases and in many ways, this is like the flu where we will see annual outbreaks.
“As we get older, like most things in our body, they get a little weaker, not as strong as we were when we were a little younger, so more susceptible to getting sick or coming down with infections such as the COVID-19 virus,” said Dr. Baldor.
The symptoms of COVID are generally also flu-like symptoms, Dr. Baldor encourages adults to get tested if they are experiencing fevers, coughs, aches and pains, or fatigue. The newer strands of COVID-19 are less likely to cause loss of smell or taste. Since the virus has been around for a few years, there are now treatments for the virus either orally or through an IV.
He does not think we have to go back to the original degree of protection we were before, but perhaps thinking about masking, less gathering of large numbers of people and Dr. Baldor also mentioned keeping up with the vaccinations.
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