Crook County currently experiencing sporadic positive COVID-19 cases

Almost a third of people who were hospitalized with COVID-19 are now believed to go on to experience post-COVID conditions six months later. Among everyone who contracted the virus, 13.3% of people are thought to have still been experiencing symptoms of “long COVID” one month or more later.

The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has updated its guidance for “long COVID” and post-COVID conditions. However, with a wide range of possible symptoms under investigation and no clear onset or duration, work to define these conditions is very much ongoing.

The updated guidance arrives as United States pays its respects to the one million lives lost to the pandemic. U.S. and state flags were flown at half staff over the weekend to mark, as noted in President Joe Biden’s proclamation, “One million empty chairs around the dinner table. Each an irreplaceable loss. Each leaving behind a family, a community and a Nation forever changed because of this pandemic.”

In Crook County, COVID-19 remains a relatively low risk at this time.

“We are currently in the yellow,” said Micki Lyons, CEO of Crook County Medical Services District, last week.

“There have been a few random cases positive in the county, but we have had no positive inpatients for a few months now.”

A total of six people in Crook County are reported to have died due to COVID-19 during 2022 so far, according to Wyoming Department of Health figures, including an older adult man whose death was reported on May 10. This brings the overall total to 29.

Lyons was not aware whether the current cases are being caused by a new variant of the virus. However, she was able to state that the cases have been “pretty mild” symptom-wise.

Long COVID

It is now believed that post-COVID conditions can cause a wide range of ongoing health conditions that can last anywhere from weeks to years. These conditions are thought to be more common in people who suffered a severe case of COVID-19, but can be experienced by those who had either a mild case or experienced no symptoms at all.

No single test yet exists for post-COVID conditions and the range of symptoms are wide. The CDC says it’s still working with partners to understand more about who experiences them and why.

At this time, the term “post-COVID” includes a wide range of health problems, whether new, returning or ongoing. Conditions appear to affect people differently, which means people can experience different health problems with different combinations of symptoms happening over different lengths of time.

However, according to the CDC, the most common general symptoms appear to include tiredness or fatigue, symptoms that get worse after physical or mental effort, fever, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, heart palpitations, difficulty thinking or concentrating, headache, sleep problems, lightheadedness, pins and needles, changes in smell or taste, depression or anxiety, diarrhea, stomach pain, joint or muscle pain, rash and changes in menstrual cycles.

Some people with post-COVID conditions have symptoms that are not explained by tests, according to the CDC. Clinical evaluations, blood tests, x-rays and ECGs may appear normal and symptoms are said to be similar to those reported in chronic fatigue syndrome.

People who have had COVID-19 are also thought to be more likely to develop new health conditions such as diabetes or neurological conditions.

Though researchers are still working to understand who is more likely to develop post-COVID conditions and why, studies have shown that some groups may be affected more than others. The list so far includes people who experienced more severe COVID-19 illness, those who had underlying health conditions, those who did not get a vaccine for COVID-19, people who experienced multisystem inflammatory system during or after COVID-19 illness and some people affected by health inequities, such as people with disabilities.

If you believe you may be experiencing a post-COVID condition, the CDC recommends that you seek help from your healthcare provider to come up with a personal medical management plan to improve your symptoms and quality of life.