COVID-19 News and Updates

Hello all,

This is the fifth installment of Healthy Acadia’s weekly COVID-19 update. This week we have updated information on COVID-19 in the state of Maine, continuing messaging around COVID prevention and long Covid, and information on the new variant that is making the news “stealth omicron” (or BA.2).

COVID Communication:

COVID Prevention Messaging Switching Gears to Effects of Long Haul COVID-19 Cases:

Many vaccine promoters throughout the state are turning to messaging on the effects of a post-COVID syndrome known as “long COVID” on the human body and on people’s lives.

Long COVID is a series of symptoms that persist in the body after the individual has recovered from the initial infection. Researchers still aren’t entirely sure how the mechanics of long COVID work in the body, or how long the symptoms will ultimately persist, but the evidence is clear that it can have life altering effects on the person impacted.

Symptoms of long COVID typically persist for months or longer after the initial infection (some people reporting persisting symptoms even after as long as a year), and include a wide array of symptoms such as:

  • Difficulty breathing

  • Continued loss of taste or smell

  • Extreme fatigue

  • Digestive issues

  • Joint pain

  • “Brain Fog” or difficulty concentrating 

  • Inflammation

  • Weight loss

  • Fever and/or fever pain

  • Decreased Mobility

  • Chest pain or heart palpitations

  • Rashes

  • Increased anxiety

Furthermore, the rates of long COVID in unvaccinated individuals (adults and children alike) vary widely but are proving to be quite high. While some studies in the UK suggest a rate of roughly 18% of infected individuals developed long COVID, a study in the Journal of American Medicine (JAMA) estimated roughly half of those who were infected with the virus developed long COVID.

The vaccines very effectively work against preventing severe COVID infections (meaning COVID does less damage to the body), and preliminary data suggests that even if you are to have a breakthrough infection the vaccines more than halve your risk of developing long COVID. Preliminary data out of Israel even suggests that for unvaccinated individuals with long COVID, the vaccine helped to alleviate some of their symptoms.

As the situation around the pandemic evolves and we face increased burnout around safety measures and lifting mask mandates, it is crucial to communicate that anyone can be affected by this little understood syndrome. Even if you are young and healthy and death from COVID-19 is unlikely, or developed a mild or asymptomatic infection, developing long COVID is still a very real possibility.

Links and further sources: Voices of Long CovidLong Covid SupportPenn State University: How Many People Get Long COVID?

COVID in the News:

State of COVID-19 in Maine

Rates of COVID-19 in Maine continue to show improving trends. Rates of hospitalization and death are now more akin to numbers we were seeing in October of 2021 rather than the intense surge of January 2022. 

The high numbers of daily cases being reported by the state are due primarily to a large backlog of cases from the Omicron surge. This meaning that the state could only get through a certain number of tests per day, having been overwhelmed by numbers from Omicron and Delta combined. This past week the state still faced a backlog of roughly 50,000 reports to assess.

Overall, hospitalizations and levels of COVID-19 in wastewater testing remain the best markers for the state of COVID-19 in Maine. As of Friday last week, there were 181 hospitalizations across the state of Maine, with 39 people in critical care. These numbers are down nearly 60% from the height of the surge. 77.1% of eligible Mainers are fully vaccinated. 

Breakthrough cases remain present but the efficacy of the vaccines remains strong as cases of severe COVID-19 and death in vaccinated individuals remains much lower than in unvaccinated individuals.

Links and Sources: Bangor Daily News COVID-19 TrackerCOVID-19 Metrics by Maine County

Preliminary Data on the New “Stealth Omicron” (Variant BA.2):

Omicron (BA.1) made headlines for its incredible ability to spread, even as compared to the original COVID strain and the Delta variant. A new variant, very similar in many ways (including virulence), has been on the rise lately as numbers from Omicron begin to subside. Dubbed “stealth Omicron”, variant BA.2 is a sub-lineage of Omicron that is a little harder to detect and is proving to be quickly on the rise.

Preliminary data coming out of Denmark answers some important early questions about reinfection with BA.2 and the severity of BA.2. As it stands, this is all evolving data and could change but the present information shows an encouraging amount of immunity regarding BA.2.

Of 263 cases of reinfection in the Denmark study:

  • 187 cases were due to BA.2

  • 140 were in those who had previously had Delta but not BA.1 (Omicron)

  •  47 were in those who had had BA.1 (Omicron)

Importantly, of these cases:

  • 89% were unvaccinated individuals

  • 4% had one dose of vaccine

  • 6% had received two doses of vaccine

Final analysis of the data showed that:

  • Reinfections were typically milder than the initial infection.

  • Reinfections were uncommon in the 20-60 days following infection

  • BA.2 caused reinfection, but more so in those who had Delta

  • The vast majority of reinfections of BA.2 in those that had BA.1 were in unvaccinated individuals

This preliminary data really underscores the value of being vaccinated against COVID-19 rather than relying on natural immunity alone. Though the data is constantly evolving as we receive more information, encouragingly, the data suggests that so far another wave due to BA.2 is unlikely.

Links and Sources: Science Whiz Liz post and infographics on the dataOccurrence and significance of Omicron BA.1 infection followed by BA.2 reinfection full paper

 Featured in the Field:

AK Health and Social Services

This week’s featured account is from a local organization in Lewiston, Maine. AK Health and Social Services is a community-based organization that works with immigrants, refugees, asylum seekers, and BIPOC communities primarily in Lewiston and Auburn, Maine.

Founded by a former refugee and immigrant, Abdikhadar Shire, the non-profit focuses on aiding people in the specific challenges new Mainers face.

They have been doing tremendous work to help combat vaccine misinformation and hesitancy here in Maine.

Check out their InstagramFacebook, and Website here.

Thanks again everyone for checking in this week. Stay safe, and remember to take care of each other. ~ Nina

Nina Duggan is Healthy Acadia’s COVID-19 Vaccine Equity Project Coordinator. They share weekly updates about COVID-19 in the state of Maine and beyond, along with resources you may find useful on testing, vaccination, and best practices in preventative measures. 

Sign up here to receive Nina’s weekly updates via email.

Follow Healthy Acadia on TikTok (@healthyacadia) for more updates!

If you or anyone you know have questions or concerns about COVID-19 or the available vaccines please call or text our COVID-19 Peer Support Line at 207-271-6023, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

POSTTracey CarlsonCE, SPR, SB, HA, HFFA, HPE, AHE