Reading wants Yubaldi to avoid COVID-19 spikes

Dr. Jared Reading, an official at the Uvalde Health Department, said the United States is the second most obese country in the world, which is why the COVID-19 pandemic has made such a sacrifice to Americans. I did.

Since the end of March, Reading has been a volunteer for the Yuvalde Health Department staff, providing public health advice and pandemic protocols to the city and counties of Yuvalde.

Asked for his opinion on herd immunity and his predictions about how the COVID-19 pandemic will last, Reading said the problem was complex.

“Many of our significant populations are already infected with nursing home infections, and most of our positive tests are done in symptomatic patients, so spikes seen in Europe and elsewhere in Uvalde County. May not be seen now in parts of the United States. I hope you will never get the same level of hospitalization you saw in the summer, “he said.

He said a strong immune system can help infected people, but the immune system that has been compromised by other health problems can be destroyed by the virus.

According to reading, it’s time for locals to focus on their health and make a difference for the better.

“If you want to be protected from COVID-19, focus on improving your health now and in the long run, as the success of the vaccine is not guaranteed. Why is the United States so affected by this disease? , Because we are the second most obese country in the world, “he said.

• Confirmed case: 824
• Possible cases: 34
• Active case: 10
• Recovered case: 808
• Hospitalization: 4
• Death: 40
• Negative test: 5,422

Current outlook

As of Tuesday, there were 10 active cases of COVID-19 in the county, all of whom live in Uvalde, up from the 6 cases reported last week on October 15. The case has increased by one from last week.

The possible category is used for people who appear to be infected with COVID-19 but who do not test positive. In some cases, the person may have refused to be tested. People in this category usually show symptoms and, in some cases, may live in households with positive cases.

Four patients are hospitalized. Forty people died, including at least 19 nursing home patients. The 808 has finished quarantining and has recovered from the virus.

The number of cases per 1,000 people in Texas is about 874,000 out of a population of 29 million, or 30.14 per 1,000 people. 17,564 people have died. In the case of Yubaldi County, which has a population of about 26,741, the number of cases per 1,000 remains slightly higher at 30.81 per 1,000.

Herd immunity

The reading explained that herd immunity is a theory that assumes that the suffering or transmission of the virus is minimized when a sufficient proportion of the population develops sufficient immunity to the disease. Herd immunity can be achieved with vaccines such as those used for smallpox and polio.

“In some countries, just as COVID-19 is attempting to carry out courses with limited social control, those who believe that herd immunity may also be achieved by thorough mass exposure. There are also, “Reading said.

He is the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House Coronavirus Task Force on pandemics, claims that vaccines may be the future answer to COVID-19. He said it might not work. Or come soon.

“Fauci’s claim that herd immunity can be achieved primarily by vaccines may be wishful thinking, but we hope it will succeed. In addition, the economy we pay while we wait. Targeted and emotional costs, both now and in the future, are expected to worsen, leading to excessive death and suffering. “

Reading said that achieving immunity to the virus is a complex task as the composition of the virus changes and mutates.

“Look at the flu, for example. New flu vaccines are made every year. In some years the vaccine works very well, in other years the vaccine is so bad that you get the flu despite the vaccine (although) The vaccine may reduce the symptoms), “says Reading. “We have already seen COVID-19 mutated enough to infect a person twice. Generally, the second infection is considered less serious. However, this is not the case for some, and at least one has died from the second infection.

“Like influenza, the COVID-19 vaccine may work for one strain, but one mutation isn’t enough and the vaccine is ineffective,” Reading said. I will.

He said many people in the United States are already infected and the breakdown of how individuals react to the virus varies. As of Tuesday, there were more than 8.26 million known cases of COVID-19 in the United States, killing about 220,000.

“Herd immunity may also be much closer than expected, because about 40% of the population has no symptoms of the disease and another 45% have mild to moderate illnesses treated at home. Vaccination or just 10-20% of the population already infected can prevent the continuation. Hospitalization and death from COVID-19, “Redding said.

“The best defense against COVID-19 is your own immune system, regardless of the success of the vaccine. The biggest drivers behind hospitalization and death were morbid obesity, obesity, and overweight. These All three cause high blood pressure and uncontrolled diabetes. Another risk factor that is often overlooked is liver disease, which is not only caused by overweight, but also by the use of alcohol. “