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Voice of the Fields California
January 2021
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Covid-19 Updates A FTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON, another resurgence of COVID-19 ensued. In the last few weeks, the U.S. reached new records for the most COVID-related deaths in one day and California is currently experiencing unprecedented rates of infection. Hospital capacity in the state is dwindling and Intensive Care Units (ICUs), where severely ill COVID patients are cared for, are completely full in some counties. Los Angeles County currently has the highest rates of
coronavirus infection in the world and they have zero availability in their ICUs. According to the state’s stay-athome order, counties have to surpass at least 15% ICU capacity to remove the order. In other words, hospitals have to have room for new COVID patients in order to reopen and have some restrictions removed. Many people are tired of this and understandably so. We miss being able to hug people, to share in close conversation, to carry out every day errands and our
New COVID Variant
don’t. Scientists have discovered that older people and/or those with preexisting health conditions are far more likely to have severe, life-threatening symptoms. However, there are also reports of young people with no preexisting health conditions who were unable to survive from this illness. All of this means that we really have no idea how COVID-19 will affect each one of us individually if we become infected. But, we can be prepared for what those symptoms may look like, and understand the difference between those that can be taken care of at home, and those that require emergency medical attention. After exposure to COVID-19, symptoms appear within 2-14 days and can range from mild to severe according to the CDC: n Fever or chills n Cough n Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing n Fatigue n Muscle or body aches n Headache n New loss of taste or smell n Sore throat n Congestion or runny nose n Nausea or vomiting n Diarrhea The CDC recommends seeking emergency medical attention if you experience any of the following symptoms: n Trouble breathing n Persistent pain or pressure in the chest n New confusion n Inability to wake or stay awake n Bluish lips or face To seek medical attention immediately, dial 9-1-1 and tell the operator that you or someone you know needs help and the symptoms they are experiencing. If you are driving yourself or someone you know to the hospital, call ahead to let them know you are coming and the reason so that they can be prepared for your arrival.
Recently, scientists and medical professionals discovered multiple new variants of COVID-19, and one of those variants has made its way to California. Viruses are known for their ability to mutate in order to survive and continue spreading. In many cases, these mutations strengthen the virus by making them easier to spread and more harmful to their hosts. Right now, there is no evidence that the new variant in California is more harmful to the people it infects, but health experts discovered that it does spread more easily and quickly. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is working closely with public health officials and scientists to monitor the spread of new variants. Experts who study these mutations hope to determine whether they are more harmful, more resistant to the COVID-19 vaccine, or require different medications than patients receiving treatment for the original virus. In the meantime, what we do know is that California has higher rates of the new variant compared to other states, and we all need to continue taking precautions to avoid becoming infected. Safeguard yourself and your loved ones by wearing a mask, social distancing, avoiding non-essential outings, and not gathering with those outside of your household. For more information and updates about the new COVID variants, visit the following link: English: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/ transmission/variant.html Spanish: https://espanol.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019ncov/transmission/variant.html
Monitor Your Symptoms Keep in mind that everyone experiences COVID-19 differently. Some people report very mild symptoms while others report very severe symptoms, and some report none at all. Because this is a fairly new virus, scientists still don’t fully understand how it works or why some unhealthy people live through it and other perfectly healthy people
Volume 31, Number 1
jobs without the threat of illness. We miss being able to live without the constant reminder that ourselves or our loved ones might get sick or that we might lose financial stability because of the hardships it’s caused. Together, we can do simple things to prevent the spread of COVID-19 by staying informed and following health guidelines. For the latest updates and information on COVID-19 visit covid19.ca.gov.
For more information about COVID-19 symptoms, risks, and how to keep yourself and those you love safe, visit the following link: English: https://covid19.ca.gov/symptoms-and-risks/ Spanish: chttps://covid19.ca.gov/es/symptoms-and-risks/
Contact Tracing After nearly a year of dealing with coronavirus, California has implemented a contact tracing program called California Connected to help monitor the spread of infection. Contact tracing just means that when a person What is a close contact and why is it important? Close contact refers to a person who was within 6 feet of someone with COVID-19 for 15 minutes or longer over a 24-hour period. Even if you both are in masks and practicing social distancing, it’s still possible to contract the virus under these circumstances. Those who care for loved ones with coronavirus or have physical contact with others are also close contacts if the person is positive for COVID-19. Many people do not begin showing symptoms for anywhere from 2-14 days so it’s important to maintain distance, practice health guidelines, and limit in-person interactions.
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