Scientific American: This COVID Winter May Cause Fewer Deaths yet Still Bring a Surge

Since the recent peak in coronavirus cases in September, the case count in the United States have been steadily but rapidly decreasing. Scientists say that this winter will be “somewhat less of a disaster” compared to winter of 2020. Despite this, experts caution against letting the guard down too quickly as cases plateaued in early November. As winter approaches, colder states like Alaska and North Dakota have become COVID hotspots as activities begin to move indoors. Moreover, experts fear that the protection provided by COVID vaccines are beginning to face; although the decline is not massive, it is still significant enough that scientists recommend giving booster shots—at least to those who are more vulnerable—is a good idea to increase overall protection. Another reason for concern about this winter is the virus’s seasonality. Data suggests that, like the flu, COVID may spread faster and more easily in the cold. Nevertheless, scientists suggest that the biggest factor in COVID spread in human behavior during the winter season. For the full article, click here. For more information on vaccines and preparedness, visit here.