With multiple Covid variants on the rise, caregivers must adapt to changes and challenges at all times.

The Covid-19 Pandemic is still out there. As of this writing, the cure against the novel Coronavirus has yet to be discovered. The virus is the latest to put the world at a standstill, and just like other viruses, it constantly changes through mutation. Variants in viruses are nothing new. New ones often emerge, and while many just come and go, a handful of strains can persist and create more fatal versions of an already deadly virus. In the case of the Coronavirus, it has rapidly created several variants; some spread faster than the other variants. Today, we will learn about the different Covid variants and how our caregivers handle these new strains that are more deadly than the 2019 strain.

The Covid Variants in the United States

According to cdc.gov, there are four “variants of concern” in the United States. These are the Alpha – B.1.1.7, Beta – B.1.35, Gamma – P.1, and the Delta – B.1.617.2 variant, common in many parts of the world.

 

“Scientists monitor all variants but may classify certain ones as variants of interest, concern, or high consequence based on how easily they spread, how severe their symptoms are, and how they are treated.

Some variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on healthcare resources, lead to more hospitalizations, and potentially more deaths.” –Center for Disease Control and Prevention.

It is essential to note that all these Covid variants have high transmission rates, putting children and the elderly at particularly high risk. With the emergence of these new variants, taking care of elderly family members is paramount, especially for caregivers.

How Caregivers are Handling Variants?

Covid-variants, especially the Gamma and Delta types, make it difficult for caregivers to shelter and take care of elderly patients against the virus. The Gamm variant, which was first identified in Japan and Brazil, is faster than other variants. Although present data do not indicate more severe illness or death than other Covid variants, the fact that it is highly transferrable is already a burden to caregivers who have terminal or severely sick elderly patients and those with low immune systems.

The Delta variant is perhaps the current most common worldwide. It is extremely dangerous because preliminary evidence suggests that unvaccinated people who become infected with the Delta variant can spread the virus to others. It is risky for unvaccinated people to interact with sick and elderly patients, even with fully vaccinated caregivers. 

Although many are already fully vaccinated, caregivers in the United States are not taking any chances. Observance of health protocols even for fully vaccinates caregivers are still strict. New protocols have also been added to combat the surge of cases brought by the Delta variant. Layers of protection are being applied to reduce the transmission of this highly contagious variant. Aside from these new protocols, the whole medical community advise everyone to get vaccinated, even those with co-morbidities and senior individuals. The vaccines available in the United States have proven to fight covid and reduce severe illness, hospitalization, and death to those infected.

About sixty percent of health workers now fully vaccinated, all caregivers are advised to be fully vaccinated before taking care of their patients. For family caregivers, getting vaccinated is the first step to providing care to family members who are sick and elderly. To date, it is still our most effective layer of defense along with strict health protocols and social distancing.