While the public health emergency may be over, the COVID-19 virus has and likely will continue to change the healthcare landscape. Here are four recent updates about the virus and its continued effects across the public health spectrum:
- The Infectious Diseases Society of America published guidance May 15 detailing new recommendations for COVID-19 patients. The association does not recommend use of the immunosuppressive drug, Anakinra, for treating hospitalized patients. For ambulatory COVID-19 patients, it now recommends giving Paxlovid within five days of symptom onset.
- The latest omicron subvariant to emerge, XBB.1.16, is currently most prevalent in California and New Jersey according to data. According to CDC data, it currently accounts for 14.3 percent of COVID-19 cases in the U.S. XBB.1.5 remains the most prevalent.
- Johnson and Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine is no longer available in the U.S. The government stockpile of it expired May 7, according to the CDC.
- With the expiration of the PHE May 11, the CDC made three key changes to its COVID-19 reporting. The agency's COVID Data Tracker was redesigned and will be updated at a weekly cadence rather than daily. Reporting no longer includes data on negative COVID tests. Community transmission levels are also no longer reported.