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Dr. Leslie Kantor purchased tickets for Citi Open tennis tournament in Washington, D.C. She was informed that the outdoor stadium would be limited to 50% due to COVID-19 precautions. The tournament was already underway when organizers decided to fill the stadium with 7,500 people, none of whom had to wear masks.
Kantor chose to wear a mask, despite the heat and the fact she was fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
Kantor says that I moved around a lot as I was nervous about the noises from others.
Kantors cautious stance was not based on the news about the deadly delta virus variant, but her experience. She is a Rutgers University School of Public Health professor in New Jersey. Reading recent reports from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and other public health agencies has opened up her eyes, she said.
Kantor says that we are now learning that delta is an extremely contagious variant. It is not necessary to wait for delta's prevalence to become extremely high before you start taking precautions.
Follow the COVID-19 data
A number of recent reports shed light on the delta variant, and the potential risks it presents.
Data shows that breakthrough infections are still rare. The Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF), which examined the data on COVID-19 infection provided by 25 states, found that more than 9 out of 10 hospitalizations and deaths were in people who had not been vaccinated. A New York Times analysis of 40 states revealed that less than 5% of hospitalizations, and 6% of deaths occurred in vaccinated individuals.
A separate report by the CDC raised serious concerns about whether it is safe for people to return to their pre-pandemic, freewheeling, social activities.
This report featured breakthrough cases that were triggered by crowded summer celebrations held in Barnstable County (Mass.). Provincetown was included on Cape Cod. The CDC reported 469 cases of COVID-19, 74% occurring in fully vaccinated individuals. Seventy-nine percent of those cases were symptomatic, and four needed hospitalization.
According to Dr. Jennifer Kates (senior vice president, director of global health policy and HIV policy at KFF), the data revealed that even people who have been fully vaccinated, they can still get infected. This is alarming. She warns those who have been fully vaccinated to be extra cautious, especially if they spend too much time with young children or unvaccinated people.
School mask mandates
Pati Dunn (58), a Phoenix resident, is acutely aware of the importance of taking precautions. She lives with her husband, and their two adopted grandchildren, aged 14 and 16. Dunn's husband is fully vaccinated. However, Dunn is currently undergoing treatment for colon carcinoma and was advised to delay the vaccination. Both her teens are returning to school full-time, and neither of them has been vaccinated due to medical conditions that increase the risk of side effects.
Dunn is pleased that the children are learning in person again. However, masking is not an option in schools and several teachers and parents are working to make this a reality.
Dunn says that the new masks are making it difficult to keep people from seeing her face, especially when she is required on-site for her job as a food service supervisor at sporting events. Dunn is hopeful that the school district will soon make a decision on a new mask mandate.
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Despite a new state law that bans such mandates being challenged in court, some Phoenix school districts have begun mandating masks.
More mitigation strategies are needed.
Dr. Adupa Rao is a Pulmonologist and Clinical Associate Professor at the University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine Los Angeles. She believes that public health agencies as well as local governments should reconsider implementing mask mandates.
Rao states that vaccines do what they are supposed to, but we can reduce the chances of getting infected by wearing masks and practicing good hygiene.
According to the CDC, there were 8054 COVID-related breakthrough infections as well as 1,587 deaths in more than 166 million people who were vaccinated. This confirms the belief that most breakthrough cases are mild or asymptomatic.
Similar: 74% of people who tested positive for COVID-19 during the Massachusetts outbreak had been vaccinated
What does mild actually mean?
Rao states that the vast majority of people who get infections after getting vaccines have symptoms similar to those experienced by a cold. These symptoms can last anywhere from a day to a full week.
Linda Haynes, aged 73, is a part-time medical records admin who lives at home in Woodburn. She has been vaccinated, but she still wears her mask indoors and avoids outdoor crowds. After a relative with COVID-19 developed a severe case, Haynes was scared to death.
Haynes states that she was healthy, young, and had been vaccinated. Haynes also says that she only removed her mask for a short time. I wish people would be more sensible. This is the only way to get rid of it.
Read more: The U.S. is ready to give 100 million booster shots, as Biden tells Americans that it will speed up the end of the pandemic
Kantor suggests that vaccinated patients also consider COVID-19 testing. This is free for all insured patients and is available regardless of whether or not they have symptoms.
Are you planning a large family event? She suggests that you ask your guests to be tested for COVID-19 at least a few days in advance. Are you going out to dinner with people who have just been to a concert? Ask them if they are going to be tested. You can ask them if they are not planning to get tested.
Kantor describes each prevention strategy as a slice of Swiss cheese. Every one of these strategies has its flaws, but none are perfect. If you stack a lot of them together, you can create a solid block.
Arlene Weintraub, a science journalist, author, has contributed to Forbes.com and U.S News & World Report. She also contributes to Cure, Fierce Markets, Cure.com and other media outlets. Her previous position was as a senior writer at Businessweek's New York City headquarters. She wrote hundreds of articles about the science and business behind health. She is also the author of Heal, The Vital Role of Dogs In the Search For Cancer Cures and Selling the Fountain of Youth.
This article was reprinted with permission from NextAvenue.org, Inc. 2021 Twin Cities Public Television, Inc.
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