July 30,2021 CDC Update on Covid (Delta Varient) Precautions

Good morning!

Covid-19 news continues to flood our inboxes and news feeds and sifting through it all can be time consuming and confusing.

Attached is today’s update from the CDC.

A few things are clear: 

·         Nationally (and internationally) we have escalating cases of COVID-19 again – mostly the Delta Variant in our country – and mostly in unvaccinated individuals. The daily average of confirmed U.S. coronavirus cases has quadrupled in July, rising from around 13,000 per day at the beginning of the month to 43,243 per day at the month’s close. According to the CDC, the delta variant now accounts for more than 83% of Covid-19 cases in the United States.

·         "The delta variant is more aggressive and much more transmissible than previously circulating strains. It is one of the most infectious respiratory viruses we know" (CDC Director Rochelle Walensky). According to Anthony Fauci, the surge in cases is occurring primarily among those not yet been vaccinated against Covid-19. "If you look at the inflection of the curve of new cases … [the growth] is among the unvaccinated. And since we have 50% of the country [who are] not fully vaccinated, that's a problem."

·         It appears that breakthrough infections (mostly Delta variant) are rising in those who are fully vaccinated and vaccine protection may wane slightly after six month - but accurate data models are still in evolution – giving rise to speculation that a Covid-19 booster may be needed.  NOT required yet, but stay tuned. 

·         When people are infected with Delta, they carry approximately 1000 times more virus compared with previous versions of the virus. The virus can overwhelm even the strong protection from the vaccines. The vast majority of illnesses in vaccinated individuals are mild, and are to be expected. The vaccines were designed to keep us out of the hospital and to keep us from dying. As good as they are, their protection differs from person to person depending on age and underlying health. People with immune function that's weakened because of age or a health condition can still become seriously ill, and, in very rare cases, die after vaccination.

·         Thus prevention and mitigation strategies are STILL REQUIRED.

·         Much of the country is considered areas of high risk – not in our specific area of Illinois (yet), but the southern part of the  state is hot on the heat map.

ACTIONS NOW:

·         No matter what the requirements are for the lay public – healthcare workers are expected to stay masked when caring for patients and at all times within hospitals with rare exceptions.

·         Hospitals are reporting that some EMS personnel are coming in without masks and are taking them off in the chart rooms or when walking through the ED.  

·         We urgently want to keep our providers and patients as safe as possible.

·         Please enforce that MASKS ARE MANDATORY while caring for patients and while in hospital patient care areas and in public spaces until we provide notice of a change in policy.

COVID-19 vaccination

FYI: We will be publishing guidelines with respect to COVID-19 vaccination requirements for the incoming EMT and paramedic students very shortly based on rapidly developing trends and legal decisions supporting hospital and secondary education institution mandatory vaccination policies.

The American Medical Association, American Nurses Association and more than 50 fellow organizations of doctors, nurses, pharmacists and other health professionals have called for mandatory COVID-19 vaccination of their colleagues. The American Hospital Association and four other hospital organizations issued a statement "strongly urging" vaccination of all healthcare personnel, in order "to protect themselves, their patients and peers."  Legal counsel for the American Hospital Association has advised that hospitals can legally require vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine even though, as of this date, the vaccines have received approval from the FDA through the Emergency Use Authorization process.

As always, please contact Dr. Jordan or myself if you have any questions at all about the System’s policies, positions, or recommendation about anything to do with the ongoing pandemic and/or vaccinations.