March saw one of the lowest death tolls since the virus first overwhelmed hospitals and intensive care units in early 2020. Nearly 8,800 Americans died in March, the lowest monthly death total since last summer. But the virus continues to be a significant health threat for the elderly and others with compromised health.
Across the country, an average of nearly 300 people died from the virus every day in March. Who is dying still?
“They tend to be over 75,” said Dr. Chin-Hong, a UCSF professor of medicine who specializes in infectious diseases. “And they tend to have gotten the first two shots in December of 2020 but didn’t get a booster,” he said, reminding those who are over 65 or eligible to get the most recently available booster.
“Age is the most powerful risk factor,” said Chin-Hong. “It’s still the same group in the hospital that I’m seeing, even though it’s fewer.”
COVID hospitalizations have been declining since a winter surge, approaching but not quite reaching the lows we saw in the summer of 2021.
Along with stronger population immunity from infections and vaccinations and low community spread, Chin-Hong has noticed another factor that might be contributing to better outcomes and fewer deaths. “There’s more comfort in Paxlovid,” he said, pointing to the trend over the past six months with Pfizer’s anti-viral medication to treat the illness.
“At some points in the pandemic there were a lot of fears about Paxlovid,” he said, including high-profile reports of “rebound” infections after taking the drug. But now? New evidence suggests the rebound infections can happen at a similar rate without Paxlovid use, and primary care physicians are getting more familiar with the drug. “I think there’s more comfort in health care providers and prescribing it.”
Now, on the heels of mask mandates ending in many places, the national COVID emergency is set to end in May, and with it the availability of the free at-home…
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