Weekly Update: October 31 – November 6, 2022

A new study highlights the increased risk of long-term cardiovascular disease for those who have had COVID–19. While people who were hospitalized or in an intensive care unit had greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease than those who were not hospitalized, people who were not hospitalized still showed an increased but smaller risk for developing cardiovascular disease after a COVID-19 infection.
As you begin to make holiday plans, check out this recent article that provides tips for planning safe family gatherings. To make sure COVID-19 isn’t an uninvited guest at your holiday parties:
- Plan around the highest risk member of your family, for example, those who are over 60 or immunosuppressed.
- Get your updated bivalent booster!
- Watch for symptoms (sore throat, congestion, coughing, fatigue, headaches, and muscle pain) and stay home if you feel sick.
- Test – some experts recommend taking two tests 12 to 24 hours apart prior to gathering with friends and family.
- Consider quarantining to limit your exposure before the gathering, especially if you live in an area with lots of COVID cases. Simply wear a mask in indoor spaces and avoid crowds.
- The CDC still recommends masking while traveling, including on planes and in transit hubs.
- Ventilate the space where you are gathering by cracking the windows and running fans.

Check out this new video in Spanish and hear why our Digital Organizer, Ricardo, made the decision to get the updated booster!

Download video in English and Spanish.

Download audio in English and Spanish.

Is your organization interested in supporting the development of the next generation of public health leaders? Consider applying for a 2023 Public Health Americorps grant! The application deadline is January 4, so you’ve got plenty of time! Visit this website for additional information, including registration details for upcoming webinars.

Seeking volunteers to assist with community health surveys in Kent and Sussex counties! The University of Delaware’s Epidemiology program and Partnership for Healthy Communities will use data from these surveys to better understand community concerns and needs as part of Delaware’s State Health Improvement Plan (SHIP). Volunteers can receive a $150 gift card for each day of volunteering. Kent County surveying will be conducted November 10-12, and Sussex County surveying will be conducted Feb. 16-18, 2023. Sign up here!

The Somerset County Local Management Board will host a Racial/Ethnic Disparities on December 6 from 10 to 12 PM. Register here!

The Virginia Department of Health has reported an increase in people seeking care at hospitals and urgent care centers for respiratory illnesses like the flu. Children 0 to 4 years of age appear to be particularly impacted. To prevent respiratory illness, anyone 6 months and older should get a COVID-19 vaccine & flu shot.

Last week, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services released bilingual graphics to announce the new availability of the updated booster for everyone 5 years of age and older and encourage eligible North Carolina residents to visit MySpot.nc.gov to find an updated booster.

South Carolina residents who have Medicaid can now call a regional hotline number to schedule transportation to local departments of health! Review these bilingual (English & Spanish) graphics for additional information.

Have you checked out Sur Legal’s TikTok? Our PPP partner publishes videos in English and Spanish about topics such as Georgia labor laws, filing OSHA complaints, and OSHA citations related to COVID-19. Like, follow, & share to support Sur Legal’s creative efforts to share critical information about workers’ rights, health, & safety!

Data Sources:

The New York Times. (2020). Coronavirus (Covid-19) Data in the United States. Retrieved [11/01/2022], from https://github.com/nytimes/covid-19-data.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). COVID Data Tracker: COVID-19 Integrated County View. Retrieved [11/01/2022], from https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view.