CLEVELAND — A year ago we were still in masks and trying to decide if we could get together for the Easter holiday.
This year? The answer is yes.
Dr. Amy Edwards, an infectious disease specialist at University Hospitals Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, says while our circumstances with COVID-19 has changed, the science has not.
"Those unvaccinated and unboosted people who participate in these super-spreader events, some percentage of them will still end up in the hospital and see covid mortality," Dr. Edwards says.
Covid cases are up in 27 states. In Washington D.C.,77 people have tested positive after attending a dinner, some of them in President Biden's inner-circle. The new COVID-19 subvariant BA.2 is likely the cause.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, who serves as President BIden's top medical advisor, says BA.2 is more contagious than the original omicron, but is not as severe. "Right now we're watching it very, very carefully and there is concern that it's going up," he said over the weekend.
Dr. Edwards says the most common symptoms with the BA.2 subvariant include fever, chills, cough, and fatigue. She adds that there is no vaccine in human history that has had this much data taken and it's safe. If you want to get together, do it, but get vaccinated.
"There is now a mountain upon mountain of data showing people how safe and effective this vaccine is," Dr. Edwards adds.
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