I heard this song come on the other day "The Rubberband Man" by The Skinners. In my mind, it created an image of a large rubber band being stretched multiple times, to its limits, and then released, the elastic recoiling back to its original shape, over and over again. On the surface, the rubber band appears to go back to its original shape, but if examined microscopically, I'm sure changes are happening.

We are all being stretched thin. Maybe on the outside we appear okay, but day in and day out, over the last 2 years, we are changing - maybe not in a negative way. Perhaps we are stronger. Pandemic-induced resilience.

COVID-19 Updates:

• Omicron, generally a milder illness, is the current predominant strain.

• Omicron attaches to cells in the upper airway

•  If you are vaccinated and boosted, you are very unlikely to have more than a mild illness.

• The percent of positive samples of those who are being tested, "prevalence", is falling.

• The prevalence in Maryland last week was 30%, today it is 20%.

• ·Hospitalizations in Maryland are slowly ticking down.

• If you have had a known positive exposure and you develop symptoms, assume you have it. I do not advise getting tested unless it is convenient. Waiting in line for long periods to find out you have it, is not worth the exposure to others.

• ·If you have symptoms, or test positive, isolate for 5 days. After 5 days, once you are asymptomatic (no fever, no cough) you can go out, but wear a mask - either KN95 or N95. After 10 days, you are at minimal risk to others and there is no need to be tested.

DOs and DON'Ts:

• Do wear a KN95 or N95 mask

• Do avoid all indoor crowds

•  Do get a booster

• Don't seek out the infection thinking that a mild case of Omicron will enhance your protection. This is NOT a good strategy. We don't know the long-term effects of getting this virus, particularly for those over 60. It may play a role in increasing one's risk for a number of chronic illnesses as we age.

Further COVID thoughts, in my opinion:

• Since so many people are contracting this, soon this virus will have no one else to infect, and then it should go into hibernation.

• COVID will soon be classified as endemic.

• We will be living with this for a least the next 2-3 years, but life will improve, unless...another variant pops up.

• I believe that once the prevalence is below 5%, perhaps as early as mid-March, then spring and summer will trend towards normal.

• Second generation vaccines that have longer durability are just around the corner, and those vaccines will not be mRNA vaccines. This may be be more appealing to the vaccine-hesitant.

•  In the future, expect that, along with an annual flu shot, we will be taking an annual COVID vaccine as well.

On a musical note:

The Spinner's The Rubberband Man - resilience!

On a Lighter Note:

As a reminder, I'm no longer sending out daily updates and instead, I'm updating you periodically. I continue to enjoy writing these updates. Initially, these were only sent to my patients, however, I've been humbled to learn that, through social media, these writings have been forwarded and re-forwarded to many. This has brought me great joy to know that this simple act of sharing facts, thoughts, opinions, and hopes have touched you in some way. Hopefully I've been able to reassure you, maybe make you smile and laugh, soothe your worries, and comfort you. And maybe, just maybe, I've helped you to be in the moment!

Reach out. Stay connected. Stay home. Save lives. The power of one. Be well.

Feel free to forward this on: spread the word, not the virus.

HAO

24/7

Harry Oken, M.D.

Adjunct Professor of Medicine

University of Maryland, School of Medicine

Office 410-910-7500

Fax   410-910-2310 

Cell   443-324-0823