Safely Opening Schools

Safely Opening Schools (SOS) works to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in California schools. Project of @PHIdotorg.

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

#SecretShopper Report: #COVID home test program MOSTLY works. Know your rights, stock up NOW, & check w. pharmacy on coverage after today (program only ends for SOME in CA). Get up to 8 free tests per person/per month ($100 value). Learn more: https://t.co/NWOzLbHl9l @PHIdotorg

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

3/SF's success also due to accessibility of residents to tests/vaccines, financial support for most vulnerable populations, booster recommendations, & maintaining consistent updates about #COVID. Together, responses helped curb transmission rates, hospitalizations, & deaths.

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

1/No surprise! New study by @UCSF researchers & @SF_DPH finds San Francisco’s response to #COVID resulted in 1 of lowest virus related death tolls among U.S. cities due to its “intensive, inclusive & multi-pronged" approach to crisis, reports @nbcbayarea. https://t.co/Ur6hkYc280

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

2/SF had #COVID fatality rate of 98 per 100K residents, compared to 229 COVID deaths per 100K people in CA & 301 per 100K in the entire U.S. population. Reasons for success cited incl. vigorous mitigation measures, enforcement of masking in public areas & stay-at-home orders.

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

Study in @aap_peds finds #LongCOVID (symptoms for >3 mos) affect 16% of children & adolescents. Symptoms included fatigue, depression, sleep disturbance, cough, throat pain, & gastrointestinal symptoms. Authors: More research needed. #COVIDIsNotOver https://t.co/QFUS7APAue

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

.@KingsCollegeLon study in @TheLancet finds #LongCovid symptoms comparable to ageing 10 yrs, reports @guardian. Cognitive impairment highest in those w. 3 or more mos of symptoms, incl. fatigue, difficulty concentrating, shortness of breath, muscle aches. https://t.co/VB1XQnAJA1

[Eric Topol @EricTopol]

"Our study found evidence of higher excess mortality for Republican voters compared with Democratic voters in Florida and Ohio after, but not before, #COVID-19 vaccines were available to all adults in the US."
https://t.co/OkIAPOF4Wa

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

Drastic drop in #COVID hospitalizations (95%!) vs. its peak before vaccinations widely available, reports @mercnews. Six CAs still dying (vs. 500 during deadliest surge) from virus each day. Good news: New #Booster likely available in September! https://t.co/zgxPkcZLxG

[Eric Topol @EricTopol]

Covid booster shots induced a potent, diverse, durable T-cell response vs Omicron in older and immuncompromised individuals, overriding concerns about ancestral strain imprinting
https://t.co/2OaXKo18D2 @ScienceTM by @marcus_buggert @karolinskainst and colleagues

[Cultiva La Salud @CultivaLaSalud]

Receiving the updated COVID-19 booster vaccine has several benefits, including protection against both the original virus and the recent omicron variants. Get your booster today! For more information on COVID-19 vaccines, follow us or visit https://t.co/HGHvxN6ItC. #health4todos

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

Study in @NewsMedicalfinds #COVID higher in lower-income communities (vaccination rates lower) of LA during 2 surges compared to higher-income communities & concludes efforts to increase vax confidence & accessibility needed to reduce #HealthInequalities. https://t.co/9ttP69CSKD

[KFF @KFF]

About half of the public says they would be at least somewhat likely get an annual #COVID19 vaccine if offered that way.
People who normally get a flu shot are much more likely than those who don’t to say they would likely get an annual COVID vaccine: https://t.co/NQlYiYY9iE

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

2/Don’t forget to check out our recently released SOS #SecretShopper Report to learn everything you need to know about how you can still get #COVID FreeTests, some of the minor challenges you may face, & how to overcome them!

Learn more from out 2-pager: https://t.co/NWOzLbHl9l

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

1/To remain vigilant about #COVID, & its spread, esp. in the case venture out for a social gathering, @KQED's @TeacupInTheBay recommends getting a hold of #FreeCOVIDTests (explains how) & if have #COVID, consider asking for a #Paxlovid prescription. https://t.co/cLUEr7prLG

[Daniel Griffin MD PhD @DanielGriffinMD]

“None of the incidences of myopericarditis pooled in the current study were higher than those after non-COVID-19 vaccinations, and all of them were significantly lower than those in adolescents aged 12–17 years after COVID-19 infection.” https://t.co/Br8Vp1eTVW

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

2/From @HHSGov advisory: People of color are at greater risk cos have higher rates of hospitalization due to #COVID. Reasons for disparity incl. inadequate access to safe housing, healthy food, transportation & healthcare, all which increases chronic stress. #COVIDIsNotOver

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

1/#LongCOVID can result in host of adverse mental health conditions that incl. depression, anxiety, psychosis, & post-traumatic stress disorder, reports @LATimes. @samhsagov urges healthcare providers approach patients as having undergone trauma. #COVID https://t.co/Xah2dUkBFH

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

2/While last winter was significantly better than previous two, U.S. & CA still saw significant uptick in #COVID hospitalizations & deaths. From October to early June about 75K died nationwide from virus, more than 2X’s average ANNUAL # of flu deaths. #COVIDISNotOver #GetBoosted

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

1/Health experts urge update of #COVID vaccine to target more recent #XBB strains. Since nation’s inoculation campaign is widely credited with helping end #pandemic emergency, scientists believe must continue to modify it (like with Flu). @LATimes @ronlin https://t.co/zoaOMmW6qZ

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

2/Conclusion: If state or federal health agencies can’t provide then counties need to offer “periodic updates not only for those who are searching out data but also as a general wake-up call for all of us — a reminder that while #COVID has retreated, it has not been eradicated.”

[Safely Opening Schools @SOSacrossCA]

1/@sacbee_news editorial: Over 3K people died of #COVID in CA this year & over 37K in 1st 5 months of 23’ in U.S. #COVIDIsNotOver (though vastly improved), esp. for people with weakened immune systems & unable to get accurate, up to date data about risks. https://t.co/1bDHv4xvjw