Free COVID-19 tests coming to your mailbox, but why?
>> PRE-COVID-19 TEST WILL APPEAR SOON. IF I SAID ABOUT USING THEM AS THE DEAN OF TUFTS MEDICAL SCHOOL AND AN INFECTIOUS DISEASE SPECIALIST AT TUFTS MEDICAL CENTER. THANKS FOR JOINING US. >> IT’S BEEN A WHILE, I THINK ABOUT SIX MONTHS OR SO SINCE AMERICANS COULD ORDER FREE TEST FROM THE GOVERNMENT, WHY ARE HEALTH OFFICIALS OFFERING THEM NOW? I HAVE HEARD THAT PERHAPS WE ARE PAST THE PEAK OF OURS BEING FLEW BED AS COVID OBVIOUSLY STILL RISING? >> IT IS IN SOME PLACES AND IT IS ALSO WINTER, PEOPLE ARE COMING INDOORS TO DRIVE PLACES WHERE THE VIRUSES TRANSMIT MORE EASILY, IT’S HOLIDAY TIME SO THERE’S TRAVEL AND INDOOR GATHERING SO TESTING IS A GREAT WAY TO LOWER RISK SENT TO HELP FOLKS MAKE DECISIONS ABOUT THE WRIST THEY WANTED TAKE IF THEY WILL BE AROUND THOSE FORMAL RELATIVES AND FRIENDS. >> WE HAVE NEW COVERT STRAINS THAT ARE CIRCULATING. DQ ONE, BQ 1.1, THOSE OF THE MOST PREVALENT IN NEW ENGLAND, SO CAN THE TEST STILL DETECT THOSE SUBVARIANTS? >> A SUBVARIANTS MAKE UP ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE STRAINS IN THE TEST DETECT THEM JUST FINE. BEN: A LOT OF FOLKS ARE WALKING AROUND WHAT COUGHS AND CONGESTIONS. SOME MIGHT BE FROM COVID, OTHERS MIGHT HAVE THE FLU OR A COMMON COLD. THE SYMPTOMS FOR ALL OF THOSE THINGS ARE PRETTY SIMILAR, SO IS TESTING THE ONLY WAY TO TELL THEM APART EVEN FOR DOCTORS? AND WE’VE ALL HEARD SORT -- STORIES FROM SOMEONE WHO MIGHT ON THE SURFACE APPEAR TO HAVE COVID BUT NEVER TEST POSITIVE ON ONE OF THOSE TAKE-HOME TETS. >> A LOT OF THINGS PACKED IN HERE. THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW IF IT’S FLU, COVID OR RSV IS BY TESTING. IT’S IMPORTANT TO TEST IF YOU’RE CONCERNED ABOUT COVID OR FLU AND YOU MIGHT NEED TREATMENT, SO IF YOU’RE AT WRIST THOSE ARE REASONS TO TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR. IT’S MORE IMPORTANT TO STAY HOME WHEN YOU ARE SICK AND REMEMBER WE HAVE VERY EFFECTIVE VACCINES FOR COVID AND INFLUENZA AND MANY PEOPLE, INCLUDING PEOPLE AT RISK YOU HAVEN’T TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THOSE VACCINES. >> AND TREATMENTS TO, SO FOR PEOPLE WHO TEST POSITIVE. HE SAID PAXLOVID IS EFFECTIVE FOR CERTAIN PATIENTS BUT DO THEY NEED TO HAVE SERIOUS SYMPTOMS BEFORE THEY CAN GET IT? >> THE INDICATIONS FOR PAXLOVID IS MILD TO MODERATE COVID AND PEOPLE AT RISK OF GETTING COMPLICATIONS. THAT INCLUDES MANY ADULTS, THE PEOPLE WHO ARE OVER DEEP -- OVERWEIGHT HAVE LUNG DISEASE, HEART DISEASE AND OLDER ADULTS. IF YOU HAVE COVID AND MILD SYMPTOMS IT’S REASONABLE TO SEE IF YOU QUALIFY FOR IT. BE
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Free COVID-19 tests coming to your mailbox, but why?
Free COVID-19 tests volition look soon successful mailboxes passim the country, months aft Americans could bid escaped tests from the government."People are coming indoors to adust places wherever the viruses transmit much easily," Dr. Helen Boucher, the dean of Tufts Medical School and an infectious illness specializer astatine Tufts Medical Center, said. "It's besides vacation time," Boucher said. "There's question and indoor gatherings and investigating is simply a large mode to little hazard and to assistance folks marque decisions astir the risks they privation to take, particularly if they're going to beryllium astir those susceptible relatives and friends."
Free COVID-19 tests volition look soon successful mailboxes passim the country, months aft Americans could bid escaped tests from the government.
"People are coming indoors to adust places wherever the viruses transmit much easily," Dr. Helen Boucher, the dean of Tufts Medical School and an infectious illness specializer astatine Tufts Medical Center, said.
"It's besides vacation time," Boucher said. "There's question and indoor gatherings and investigating is simply a large mode to little hazard and to assistance folks marque decisions astir the risks they privation to take, particularly if they're going to beryllium astir those susceptible relatives and friends."
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