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Covid-19:

Background:

Covid-19, a disease caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, was discovered in December of 2019 in Wuhan China. Like other viruses from the coronavirus family, SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus and is transmitted through droplets that are produced when breathing, coughing, sneezing, or speaking. Symptoms of Covid-19 can range from mild to severe, and include, but are not limited to the following:

fever or chills
cough
shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
fatigue
muscle or body aches
headaches
new loss of taste or smell
sore throat
congestion or runny nose
nausea or vomiting
diarrhea

For some people, Covid-19 also affects other body systems beyond the respiratory system. It is recommended that emergency medical attention should be sought if difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, new confusion, an inability to wake or stay awake, or pale, gray or blue-colored skin, lips, or nail beds are observed (CDC, 2022).

Post-Covid Complications & Long-Covid:

Though it is not yet fully understood why, some people experience long-term effects of Covid-19 infection even after the virus can no longer be detected, with symptoms that can last weeks, months, or years. Some risk factors for long-covid include severe Covid-19 infection, prior underlying health conditions, racial or ethnic minority or disability status, experience of multisystem inflammatory syndrome before or after Covid-19 infection and being unvaccinated for Covid-19. Those who are of racial or ethnic minority status are at increased risk of developing long-covid due to many factors which include having prior medical conditions, occupation, location, access to healthcare, and racism (MayoClinic).

Although these risk factors exist, individuals with mild or no symptoms of Covid-19 can also develop post-covid complications. According to the CDC (CDC, 2022), long-covid symptoms can range greatly and include, but are not limited to:

tiredness or fatigue that interferes with daily life
symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort
fever
difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
cough
chest pain
heart palpitations
difficulty thinking or concentrating
headaches
sleep problems
lightheadedness
pins-and-needles feelings
change in taste or smell
depression or anxiety
diarrhea
stomach pain
joint or muscle pain
rash
changes in menstrual cycles

Literature review of post-covid hematological (blood) complications also suggests that individuals who have had Covid-19 are at greater risk of developing blood clots (Korompoki et al., 2022). Additionally, a study conducted by Sykes et al. (2021) suggests that women are more likely to report residual symptoms of anxiety, fatigue, and myalgia (muscle aches and pain) than men. The authors of the study also state that some complications of Covid-19 may not be directly attributable to the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Rather, they propose that biopsychosocial effects may play a greater role. Currently, there are no tests to diagnose post-covid conditions, and given the wide variety of symptoms, it is hard for health providers to diagnose (CDC, 2022).

Variants:

As the Covid-19 virus has progressed over the past few years, it has undergone genetic mutations and has begun to form genetic lineages like a family tree. Variants of a virus contain one or more mutations that differentiate it from the parent virus. In the case of SARS-CoV-2, two well-known variants are Omicron and Delta (CDC, 2022).

On November 30, 2021, the United States government labeled Omicron as a variant of concern. The following month, on December 20, 2021, Omicron was detected in the United States and continues to be one of the most common and prevalent variants of Covid-19. Unlike other variants of Covid-19, such as the Delta variant, Omicron is more highly transmissible. Symptoms of Omicron are similar to those of other variants, if not milder. Despite there being a larger number of mild cases with this variant, severe symptoms do still occur, and some may require hospitalization or even result in death (CDC, 2022).

Another variant of Covid-19 is the Delta variant. On June 15, 2021, the Delta variant was designated as a variant of concern, but as of April 14, 2022, it has been downgraded to a variant being monitored. This is primarily due to a reduction of national and regional Delta cases, and evidence that suggests it does not pose a significant public health risk in the United States (CDC, 2022).

Timeline of Covid-19 Variants:

(Image retrieved from https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/timeline-of-the-covid-19-variants-of-concern-1.5691314)

Protecting Yourself & Others:

The Center for Disease Control and Prevention currently recommends getting vaccinated against Covid-19 as the best way to prevent contraction of the disease. In addition to preventing illness, getting vaccinated can also reduce the likelihood of severe symptoms, hospitalization, and death if infection does occur. Other ways to mitigate the spread of Covid-19 include wearing a mask, distancing yourself from others, avoiding crowds and poorly ventilated spaces, performing proper hand hygiene, covering sneezes and coughs, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently used surfaces (CDC, 2022).

The three currently approved Covid-19 vaccines are Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson and Johnson’s Janssen. The mRNA vaccines Pfizer and Moderna are preferred, but the J&J vaccine can be used in some situations (CDC, 2022).

***(For Adults aged 18 and Older)

Information for table gathered from CDC (2022) and Yale Medicine (2022).

Covid-19 Impact and Coping:

The Covid-19 pandemic has had a large impact on people’s daily lives beyond the biological consequences of the virus. In fact, all aspects of life, including social and emotional, have been impacted by the disease.

Socially, quarantines and restricted visitations to loved ones have contributed greatly to increased feelings of isolation. This has especially impacted those who live in assisted living facilities and skilled nursing home care settings as many have significantly restricted family and friend visitations. Additionally, many people have experienced the death of a loved one, which also causes distress and grief. Not only have people’s social spheres been affected, however, but the pandemic has also resulted in significant psychological implications. Since the start of the pandemic in 2019, it has been reported that rates of anxiety, depression, and substance abuse have increased. Additionally, prior mental health problems have been exacerbated in some people (Osofsky et al., 2020). Children and young adults seen to be at an even greater risk of developing symptoms of anxiety (Saladino et al., 2020).

Healthcare workers have also been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic as staffing shortages have and continue to contribute to stress and burnout. Secondary traumatic stress disorder is also commonly reported among healthcare staff, as the pressure of having to decide which patient should or should not receive treatment or services can be an enormous psychological burden (Saladino et al., 2020).

Though social restrictions have been lifted in many areas of the United States, illness anxiety and the fear of getting sick or spreading the virus to loved ones remains a concern for many. In order to help people cope, telepsychology and online psychotherapy have been expanded to promote psychological well being. There are many advantages to telepsychology that include reduction in stress related to face-to-face interaction due to the pandemic, decreased waiting time for consultation, and less time spent traveling for the appointment. Additionally, those who are more skeptical of the benefits of psychotherapy may feel more comfortable engaging online while in their home setting (Saladino et al., 2020).

More Information:

To learn more about Covid-19 and keep up-to-date with new information, visit the CDC's website here: