Cough cough cough cough! More and more people around me are catching colds and fevers. Is the new coronavirus making a comeback?

Audit expert: Chen Ying

Doctor of Traditional Chinese Medicine Respiratory Medicine, Beijing Hepingli Hospital, attending physician

Have you noticed that recently there are a lot of people around you who have fever and colds? After testing, they found that they were positive. Many netizens also said on social media that they were positive again. The symptoms were fever, cough, fatigue, sore throat...

Is the new coronavirus making a comeback?

According to the latest data released by the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on August 8, from July 1 to July 31, 203 new severe cases and 2 deaths were reported in 31 provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (including 0 deaths due to respiratory failure caused by new coronavirus infection and 2 deaths due to underlying diseases combined with new coronavirus infection).

New reports of severe cases and deaths of novel coronavirus infection nationwide

Image source: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

Worldwide, coronavirus infections are also on the rise. Maria Van Kerkhove of the World Health Organization said, "Data from WHO's sentinel surveillance system across 84 countries show that the percentage of positive coronavirus tests has been increasing over the past few weeks . Overall, the percentage of tests coming back positive is over 10%. This percentage fluctuates differently in different regions. In Europe, the positive rate is over 20%."

The World Health Organization logo and the WHO headquarters building (file photo).

Image source: Xinhua News Agency

Many athletes at the just-concluded Paris Olympics were diagnosed with COVID-19. According to the World Health Organization, at least 40 athletes were infected with the new coronavirus and other respiratory disease pathogens during the Paris Olympics.

Why have there been more cases of novel coronavirus infection recently?

In fact, the COVID-19 infection has been showing a trend of cyclical fluctuations . Professor Zhang Wenhong , Director of the National Center for Infectious Diseases and Director of the Department of Infectious Diseases at Huashan Hospital Affiliated to Fudan University, pointed out that COVID-19 infection has been alternating in a cycle of 5-6 months worldwide, and has gradually become a respiratory disease that is prevalent in China. The main reason for the epidemic is the cross-mixing of strain mutations and the attenuation of the staged immune barrier.

"Huashan Infection" WeChat public account/photo

Secondly, during the summer vacation , students have their holidays and family travel activities have increased. Whether it is domestic tourism or international travel, the large-scale movement of the population has led to more frequent interpersonal contact , which to a certain extent has created more opportunities for the spread of the virus.

At the same time, the virus itself is constantly mutating, and over time, protective antibodies acquired through natural infection or vaccination will gradually decay , increasing the risk of individuals being re-infected with the new coronavirus. Therefore, multiple factors have contributed to this peak in new coronavirus infections.

Source: Screenshot from netizens’ Weibo

Can the new coronavirus infection be treated as the common cold?

The Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention said that the main strains currently circulating are all Omicron variants, which are JN.1 series variants and XDV series variants. The characteristics of these two strains are consistent with Omicron, with the main characteristics of strong transmission ability, easy infection, and weak pathogenicity . The main clinical symptoms of infected people are sore throat, nasal congestion, fever, and myalgia.

Trend of changes in variants of local cases of novel coronavirus infection across the country Source: Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention

For special groups such as the elderly, people with chronic diseases, cancer patients, pregnant women, etc., due to their low immune function, they may face a higher risk of hospitalization or death than the general population after being infected with the new coronavirus. If confirmed, anti-new coronavirus drugs need to be used as soon as possible .

As for young people with normal immune function , people are no longer panicking about the new coronavirus. After being infected with the new coronavirus, if the symptoms are mild, many people regard it as a common cold and only treat it symptomatically. Experts recommend that such people should also use anti-new coronavirus drugs as soon as possible to reduce the viral load in the body, reduce the risk of long-term new crown, shorten the course of the disease, and reduce the risk of transmission. If the symptoms are more serious, some cold medicines can be used at the same time for symptomatic treatment to relieve symptoms such as fever, cough, and nasal congestion. However, if you encounter severe coughing and sputum, persistent high fever, and difficulty breathing, you must go to the hospital for specialist diagnosis and treatment to avoid delaying the condition.

How can uninfected people prevent it?

Although the recent symptoms of new coronavirus infection are generally mild, the elderly, people with underlying diseases and those with weakened immunity should avoid going to crowded places in the near future. If they must go to public places, be sure to wear medical masks correctly and maintain good hand hygiene .

As the summer and autumn seasons change, in addition to the new coronavirus, we must also remind everyone to be wary of respiratory diseases caused by influenza virus, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), adenovirus, etc.

On August 6, the National Health Commission held a press conference on "Seasonal Terms and Health". Wang Liping, a researcher at the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, suggested that people "adjust clothing in a timely manner according to temperature changes, and actively get vaccinated, such as influenza and pneumonia vaccines, which can effectively protect susceptible populations, especially the elderly, children, and those with some chronic underlying diseases, and reduce the risk of infection and severe illness."

Image source: Healthy China WeChat official account

If you do not take adequate rest or overwork during this period, your body's immune function may decline, making you more susceptible to infection. If you have fever, sore throat, cough, etc., you should seek medical attention immediately. After the virus is cured, you should also pay attention to a light diet, adequate sleep, proper exercise, and avoid strenuous exercise during the recovery period.