COVID-19

Tips

Is It Safe To Attend Thanksgiving Dinner During Coronavirus?

In 2020, traveling and gathering in large groups for Thanksgiving puts you, friends, and your family members at elevated risk for contracting coronavirus. In this article, we outline some ways that you can have a COVID safe Thanksgiving. Some alternative ideas for Thanksgiving include keeping dinners to only members of your household, have dinner outside, social distancing, keeping windows and doors open, and wearing masks unless eating. In terms of traveling for Thanksgiving, you should analyze your risk and your mode of transportation. If gathering with family members from outside your community, it is advised that everyone quarantines or minimizes contact with other people for the two weeks leading up to Thanksgiving.

Mira Research Team27 Oct 2020
Public Health

When will things go back to normal? What will the future look like with COVID-19 in 2021??

According to health experts, two things affect when things will go back to normal after the coronavirus pandemic: the arrival of a COVID-19 vaccine and the strength of immunity that people develop after a COVID-19 exposure. If we are able to begin distributing an effective vaccine by early 2021, Dr. Anthony Fauci predicts that we will begin to see going back to normal by the end of 2021. Until then, it is highly important to continue to wear a mask and practice social distancing. In addition, it is highly recommended that everyone over the age of 6 months receives a flu shot this season.

Mira Research Team29 Oct 2020
Public Health

How long am I contagious with coronavirus COVID-19? When can I be around people?

Coronavirus is a highly contagious virus that spreads through respiratory droplets. Some researchers believe that coronavirus is much more contagious than the flu. In general, if you were exposed to someone with COVID-19 you need to self isolate for 14 days after developing symptoms. If you test positive for COVID-19, you need to self isolate for 10 days and make sure that you do not have a fever or worsening symptoms before seeing others. If you believe you have COVID-19, you may want to get a PCR or antigen (rapid) test. These tests detect active COVID-19 infections; however, these tests may yield false-negative results. Therefore, getting a negative test does not rule out the chance of having COVID-19.

Mira Research Team28 Oct 2020
Public Health

How long after exposure should I get tested for COVID-19?

There are three different types of COVID-19 tests: the PCR test, the antigen test, and the antibody test. If you have symptoms of COVID-19, you should get a PCR or antigen test about 3-4 days after symptom onset. If you had any exposure to someone who tested positive for COVID-19 you should get a PCR or antigen test about 4-5 days after the exposure. Note - these tests are not 100% accurate and may yield false-negative results. Thus, if you had exposure, it is best to isolate from other people for 14 days.

Mira Research Team15 Oct 2020
Public Health

Will The United States Face A Second Wave of Coronavirus COVID-19?

Health experts are predicting that there will likely be a second or third wave of coronavirus as we enter the fall and winter. The second wave may be worsened by a lack of compliance with mask-wearing/social distancing, the cold weather, and the presence of other illnesses. Based on data from the spread of H1N1 and the 1918 flu, there is reason to believe that the second wave may be worse than the first. However, if projections show that if there is high compliance with mask-wearing and social distancing, we can save close to 100,000 lives this year, decrease our chance of contracting COVID-19, and lower the risk of overwhelming our health care systems.

Mira Research Team30 Oct 2020
Insights

When Will The Flu Peak in the United States? Data for 2020-2021

In this article, we explain when flu cases are typically the worst and how COVID-19 may affect the spread and severity of the flu, also known as when it peaks and ends. Flu season in the U.S. is typically from October until April; however, the national peak of cases typically occurs in the first week of February. There are several ways that COVID-19 may affect the severity of the flu this season. If everyone continues wearing masks and social distancing, we may be able to reduce the spread of the flu. However, it is possible that getting COVID-19 can exacerbate the severity of the flu and put a strain on hospital systems. Therefore, it is recommended that everyone over the age of 6 months gets a flu shot before the end of October. Getting a flu shot, wearing a mask, social distancing, and having good hygiene will help reduce your chance of getting sick from the flu this season. 

Mira Research Team30 Oct 2020
Public Health

A Cold vs. The Flu vs. COVID-19- Similarities and Differences in Symptoms

As flu season is quickly approaching, it is important to be able to distinguish between COVID vs. Flu vs. a cold. The best way to know what type of infection you have is to get a diagnostic test for COVID-19 or the flu. There are some symptoms you can use to distinguish between these illnesses. It is possible to lose your sense of smell or taste when infected with COVID-19, but unlikely with the flu or a cold. Additionally, it is unlikely that you will have a fever or difficulty breathing with a common cold, but possible with coronavirus and the flu. Since having the flu makes you more susceptible to COVID-19, it is highly recommended to get a vaccine this season. If you have symptoms, stay home to avoid infecting others and inquire about getting a test. 

Mira Research Team30 Oct 2020
Public Health

Can You Get COVID-19 Twice? Research On Coronavirus Reinfections

Researchers are currently reporting that it is unlikely that you will get infected with coronavirus COVID-19 twice in a short period of time. However, there have been a couple of anecdotal cases of reinfection where individuals have recovered and then developed symptoms again. It is unclear whether these people were reinfected or had a dormant case of COVID-19. Some explanations for reinfection include different strands of the virus and mild or non-infection the first time. In order to test if you have had COVID-19 or potentially have immunity, you should seek out an antibody blood test. 

Mira Research Team07 Oct 2020
Tips

COVID-19 State by State Travel Restrictions

Due to coronavirus COVID-19, there are travel bans and travel restrictions in multiple states in the U.S. as well as international countries. Many European countries are open to air travel but are currently not allowing U.S. citizens. Countries such as Columbia, Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina are closed for travel right now. And states such as Arkansas, California, and Colorado do not have statewide restrictions. Many states and countries require a negative test result before entering and you must self- quarantine for 14 days once you return. New York City, Los Angeles, Boston, Houston, Orlando, Hawaii

Mira Research Team23 Oct 2020
Public Health

What Are The Long-Term Side Effects of COVID-19?

Onset symptoms of COVID-19 include fever, shortness of breath, and fatigue; however, around 40% of people may be asymptomatic. The most common long-hauler effects include respiratory issues, fatigue, heart failure, and neurological issues. Tips for reducing your chance of contracting COVID-19 include wearing a mask, frequent hand washing, and social distancing. Resources for support, such as hotlines, groups on social media, and websites are provided. This article reviews the most common symptoms and long-term effects of COVID-19 by utilizing data from various surveys and an interview with a coronavirus survivor.

Mira Research Team30 Oct 2020
Tips

Is It Mandatory To Wear A Mask? States That Require Face Masks

Guidance on wearing a mask has been confusing. We are offering a comprehensive guide to wearing a face-covering in public. This article explains the benefits of wearing a mask during the COVID-19 pandemic, which masks are best, and how to properly wear masks. It some states it is mandatory to wear a mask. States that require masks are Alabama, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

Mira Research Team07 Oct 2020