Jim Dey: As predicted, diminished coronavirus remains part of daily life

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"Heard the news? So-and-so has come down with COVID-19."

Talk like that is all over town.

Well, it's that time of year. Or is it? Flu season is in its early stage, vaccinations widely recommended to stave off that annual fall-winter scourge.

But what about the coronavirus? It hasn't been around long enough to know if it's a virus for all seasons or merely one or two. But Carle Foundation Hospital CEO Jim Leonard said it's "lurking in the background."

He warns people to "keep an eye" on both viruses but said neither is a source of great concern.

"I am no more concerned about the coronavirus than I am about the flu," Leonard said.

Last year at this time, Leonard was among thousands of medical professionals across the country deeply concerned about the mysterious virus from Wuhan, China, that spread all over the globe.

But he said that was then, that people now need take only ordinary measures, not extraordinary measures, to protect themselves.

Once again, numbers tell the tale.

Leonard said Carle's hospital system has roughly 25 coronavirus patients this week, none in intensive care. Last year, he said its hospitals had more than 200, many in intensive care.

Leonard noted one significant change from a year ago.

He said the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is recommending coronavirus vaccines for "everyone six months and older."

A year ago, children and infants were not among the groups targeted for the vaccine. But he said new variants of the virus have changed circumstances, making them a "small sub-portion" of those likely to come down with it.

The coronavirus has evolved from a pandemic posing a widespread threat to background noise.

Why?

Leonard said much has been learned about treating the virus, and U.S. public health has been strengthened by vaccines and natural immunities acquired by those who became ill.

As was the case last year, Leonard said those most vulnerable are the elderly as well as younger people who have co-morbidities (diabetes, heart-lung issues, weight issues, systems depleted by chemotherapy) or bad habits (smokers and sedentary habits).

He urged individuals in those categories to pursue more healthy lifestyles that include increased exercise, better eating habits and weight loss. Noting that "40 percent of our population in the U.S. is overweight or obese," Leonard said those practices not only build a better defense against the virus but improve overall health.

"It's still the blocking and tackling, take care of yourself," he said.

Like many people, Leonard has re-examined the almost fanatical response of U.S. public health and political leaders to the initial outbreak.

He defends the widespread shutdowns of everyday life as a necessary response to the unknown.

But he said a key failure was to modify those policies as more was learned about the virus.

For example, he said public health efforts should have shifted focus earlier to protecting the elderly and younger people with health issues. He further said insufficient attention was paid to the exorbitant social and economic costs of the shutdowns and the negative effects on children's education because of school shutdowns.

"There are lessons to be learned to prepare for what may come next," he said.

The pandemic, which is not yet officially over, was a widespread disaster. But Leonard said one huge positive is that vaccines developed to disrupt the spread of the virus are having spinoff benefits.

He called the developments "amazing" and said "they will help us move ahead in multiple areas," including treatments for AIDS and cancer.