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?

A federal website that used to feature information on vaccines, testing and treatment for COVID-19 has been transformed into a page supporting the theory that the pandemic originated with a lab leak.

Federal funding cuts at the University of Minnesota's antiviral research center left researchers scrambling.

The federal government froze $226 million in support to Minnesota's COVID-19 and broader public health response programs.

Five years later, long COVID remains a frustrating medical mystery for thousands of Minnesotans.

The pandemic propelled 3M's N95 to international stardom. What's next?

Minnesota had the ninth-lowest COVID death rate among states and the 10th lowest rate of long COVID, according to federal data. But it also ranked in one think tank's analysis among the 10 worst for economic and academic declines during the pandemic. Read how COVID-19 changed Minnesotans.

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

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.

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 are no longer able to get free virus test kits mailed to their homes from a federal site.

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 COVID-19 medications?

A monoclonal antibody treatment called Pemgarda 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.

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 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. All the most significant COVID-19 variations today are descending from omicron.

The omicron relative now dominant in the U.S. is called LP.8.1, the CDC said.

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.

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.

Should pregnant women get the vaccine?

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.

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.