What to know about the latest COVID variants, Minnesota testing, vaccines

Advice is evolving along with the coronavirus. Here's the latest from staff and wire reports.

What's the latest?

The COVID vaccine provided some protection this winter, even if only one in five Minnesotans got it.

The U.S. is having its mildest COVID winter yet, but there have been plenty of other illnesses to go around.

CIA now favors lab leak theory to explain COVID's origins.

Four in 10 Minnesotans who contracted COVID-19 reported in a new state survey that they struggled with lingering health problems such as fatigue and brain fog for months after their illnesses. For some, the symptoms never went away.

The omicron relative now dominant in the U.S. is called XEC, which accounted for 45% of variants circulating nationally in the two-week period ending Dec. 21, the CDC said.

Is it COVID or the flu? New tests can check for both.

The University of Minnesota is expanding research of an experimental treatment that saved COVID-19 patients.

Americans can order COVID-19 tests, without being charged, sent straight to their homes.

Should you cancel your vaccine appointment if you're sick? Can you lessen side effects? What about if you're pregnant? Experts answer common questions.

Why were COVID air filter units removed from Minneapolis Public Schools — and what about in St. Paul?

How well did Minnesota endure the pandemic, relative to other states?

Free COVID vaccines will soon become harder for some to find.

Vaccines significantly reduce the risk of long COVID, study finds.

Gastrointestinal issues are a common but often unrecognized sign of infection.

Thousands believe COVID vaccines harmed them. Is anyone listening?

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled as constitutional the law under which Gov. Tim Walz declared a peacetime emergency during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients with COVID-19 had lower viral loads if treated with metformin, according to new University of Minnesota research that argues for broader use of the cheap anti-diabetes drug and against the controversial use of ivermectin.

Some people who experience cognitive issues after long COVID continue to struggle with brain function for at least two years, a study shows. Research shows a majority of people experiencing long COVID symptoms have reported brain fog — a collection of symptoms, including impaired attention, concentration, memory and processing speed. Read more here.

A study published in the scientific journal Nature suggests people with a specific version of a gene were far more likely to experience an asymptomatic infection than those without. The relevant set of genes is known as the human leukocyte antigen, or HLA. Read more here.

What are symptoms?

Symptoms include sore throat, runny nose, coughing, head and body aches, fever, congestion, fatigue and, in severe cases, shortness of breath. Fewer people lose their sense of taste and smell now than did at the start of the pandemic.

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong, an infectious disease specialist at the University of California, San Francisco, said that patients were often surprised that diarrhea, nausea and vomiting could be COVID symptoms as well and that they sometimes confused those issues as signs that they had norovirus.

Where can I get tested for COVID-19?

The Minnesota Department of Health's free COVID-19 at-home test ordering program has ended. People who do not have health insurance can find no-cost tests using the CDC's COVID-19 Testing Locator. You may find home rapid tests at pharmacies including Walgreens and CVS, grocery stores, health care providers and online. Americans may get free virus test kits mailed to their homes at COVIDtests.gov

Where can I see Minnesota COVID-19 updates?

See Minnesota's weekly pandemic update with new numbers Thursdays at 11 a.m.

How do I get antiviral treatments?

Oral antivirals are no longer being distributed by the federal government but are available in pharmacies for free or at low cost for the majority of patients until the end of 2024, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. There is also a new monoclonal antibody treatment called Pemgarda that has been authorized for the prevention of serious illness from COVID-19 in people who have a suppressed immune system. For more information, go to MDH: COVID-19 Medications.

Where can I get a vaccine?

Check the state of Minnesota's vaccine page or vaccines.gov. The white COVID-19 vaccination cards have been phased out, now that vaccines are not being distributed by the federal government.

How can I make a COVID-19 vaccine appointment for kids in Minnesota?

Minnesota has a webpage (mn.gov/vaxforkids) to help parents and guardians find a vaccine and answer questions. U.S. regulators cleared doses of the updated COVID-19 vaccines for children younger than age 5. Read CDC vaccine advice here.

What should I do if I've been exposed?

To be confident you do not have COVID-19, FDA recommends two negative antigen tests for individuals with symptoms or three antigen tests for those without symptoms, performed 48 hours apart. Read more here.

The CDC updated its guidance March 1 to adopt a unified approach to addressing common respiratory viral illnesses, such as COVID-19, flu and RSV.

What should I do if I test positive for COVID-19?

If you feel sick, stay home and away from others until 24 hours after you are fever-free (without fever-reducing medications) and your symptoms are getting better, according to Minnesota Department of Health guidelines. (The Mayo Clinic has guidelines for home care here.) Then layer on added prevention strategies (such as masks, distancing and tests) for the next five days. Talk to your doctor right away about medications that can help you recover faster, especially if you are in a high-risk group.

How does getting vaccinated affect the menstrual cycle?

A study of nearly 20,000 people around the world shows that getting vaccinated against COVID can change the timing of the menstrual cycle. Vaccinated people experienced, on average, about a one-day delay in getting their periods, compared with those who hadn't been vaccinated.

What is the Novavax vaccine?

Novavax shots — used in Australia, Canada, parts of Europe and dozens of other countries — are a protein vaccine that's made with a more conventional technology than the other U.S. options. Protein vaccines have been used for years to prevent other diseases including hepatitis B and shingles.

How do variants work?

At first, SARS-CoV-2 followed the slow and steady course that scientists had expected based on other coronaviruses. Its evolutionary tree gradually split into branches, each gaining a few mutations. Evolutionary biologists kept track of them with codes.

But then one lineage, initially known as B.1.1.7, defied expectations. When British scientists discovered it, in December 2020, they were surprised to find it bore a unique sequence of 23 mutations. Those mutations allowed it to spread much faster.

Within a few months, several other worrying variants came to light around the world — each with its own combination of mutations, each with the potential to spread quickly and cause a surge of deaths. To make it easier to communicate about them, the WHO came up with its Greek system. B.1.1.7 became alpha.

Alpha came to dominate the world, whereas beta took over only in South Africa and a few other countries before petering out. Beta did not descend from alpha. Instead, it arose with its own set of new mutations from a different branch of the SARS-CoV-2 tree. The same held true for all the Greek-named variants, up to omicron.

It's likely that most of these variants got their mutations by going into hiding. Instead of jumping from one host to another, they created chronic infections in people with weakened immune systems. These victims harbored the virus for months, allowing it to accumulate mutations. When it eventually emerged from its host, the virus had a startling range of new abilities — finding new ways to invade cells, weaken the immune system and evade antibodies.

What is the omicron variant?

First identified in Botswana and South Africa in November 2021, the omicron variant surged around the world. Scientists first recognized omicron thanks to its distinctive combination of more than 50 mutations. Some of them were carried by earlier variants such as alpha and beta. Read more here.

All the most significant COVID-19 variations today are descending from omicron. After the original omicron virus evolved in the fall of 2021, its descendants split into at least five branches, known as BA.1 through BA.5. As it spread and caused an unprecedented spike in cases, it drove most other variants to extinction. Over the next few months, the subvariants took turns rising to dominance.

What is "long COVID" and how many people get it?

Long COVID is the term used to describe an array of symptoms that can last for months or longer after the initial coronavirus infection. A study zeroed in on a dozen symptoms that may help define long COVID: fatigue; brain fog; dizziness; gastrointestinal symptoms; heart palpitations; sexual problems; loss of smell or taste; thirst; chronic cough; chest pain; worsening symptoms after activity and abnormal movements.

The federal definition of long COVID is symptoms that linger for four or more weeks. Cases vary in their duration, intensity and symptoms, but they often involve fatigue, headaches, dizziness and cognitive problems (or brain fog) — especially after exertion or exercise.

About 10% of people appear to suffer long COVID after an omicron infection, a lower estimate than earlier in the pandemic, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Some people who experience cognitive issues after long COVID continue to struggle with brain function for at least two years, a study shows. In the United States, millions of people have reported symptoms of long COVID. Research shows a majority of people experiencing long COVID symptoms have reported brain fog — a collection of symptoms, including impaired attention, concentration, memory and processing speed. Read more here.

The Defense Department will buy an Edina firm's drug for radiation exposure that could also treat long COVID.

There is evidence that vaccination may reduce the chances of developing long COVID.

How often do COVID vaccines cause heart problems in kids?

While the COVID-19 vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna do seem to be associated with an increased risk of myocarditis, the latest data indicate that the absolute risk remains very small and that most cases are mild and resolve quickly. Read more here.

How does pregnancy affect immunity?

Pregnant women who are vaccinated are nearly twice as likely to get COVID-19 as those who are not pregnant, according to a study, and have the greatest risk among a dozen medical states, including being an organ transplant recipient and having cancer.

Dr. David R. Little, a researcher at Wisconsin-based Epic, said the findings buttress CDC recommendations that additional precautions against the virus should be taken during pregnancy, such as wearing masks and maintaining safe distances. Read more here.

Should pregnant women get the vaccine?

The CDC urged all pregnant women to get the COVID-19 vaccine. Expectant women run a higher risk of severe illness and pregnancy complications from the coronavirus.

A research study based on data from Bloomington-based HealthPartners and medical centers across the country finds that pregnant women who received COVID-19 vaccines did not experience an increased risk of miscarriage.

If you're thinking of getting pregnant, there's no evidence that any vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, influence your chances of getting pregnant despite a myth suggesting otherwise.

Do pregnant women who get vaccinated pass the protection to their babies?

COVID-19 vaccines during pregnancy can protect babies after they're born and lead to fewer hospitalized infants, a U.S. government study suggested.

Are the vaccines safe?

A review of 6.2 million vaccine recipients in Minnesota and seven other U.S. regions found no significantly elevated rates of conditions such as stroke or heart attack immediately following COVID-19 vaccination. Bloomington-based HealthPartners participated in the study, which looked for elevated rates of 23 potential side effects in the first three weeks after people received Pfizer or Moderna COVID-19 vaccines.

What's going on with Johnson & Johnson shots?

U.S. regulators strictly limited who can receive Johnson & Johnson's COVID-19 vaccine due to the ongoing risk of rare but serious blood clots. The FDA said the shot should be given only to adults who cannot receive a different vaccine or specifically request J&J's vaccine.

Can I get a vaccine incentive?

Those programs have ended.

Can kids get long COVID?

Yes, but studies indicate they're less likely than adults to be affected by symptoms.

Kids can develop other rare problems after a coronavirus infection, including heart inflammation or a condition known as multisystem inflammatory syndrome. Because of the potential for long-term consequences, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends follow-up doctor visits after children recover from an initial coronavirus infection.

What is the Docket app?

Minnesota introduced the Docket app for viewing personal immunization records in response to rising demand — largely because of COVID-19 vaccination requirements by employers and organizations.