As we Americans remove our masks and start living like we did back in 2019, some of us are aware that we’re courting the virus. Sure, we might get COVID-19 now—but if we’re vaccinated and boosted, it’s unlikely to make us seriously ill.
However, that type of thinking ignores a major risk. The possibility of Long COVID lurks behind every new COVID-19 case—no matter how mild—and the consequences could last for months.
"The pandemic is very much not over for people with Long COVID,” says my colleague Jamie Ducharme. In her new story, Jamie explores how to navigate the risks of Long COVID, which can cause long-term headaches, nerve pain, cognitive issues, and more. “This condition can be miserable and truly life-altering.”
It will be a while before we understand the full impact of Long COVID, but current best estimates are that it strikes about 10% to 30% of people who get COVID-19. They can be young or old, healthy or vulnerable. And though the most recent research suggests vaccination can reduce your risk of Long COVID by roughly half, people who are fully vaccinated and boosted still get it.
Because Long COVID can be serious but is also relatively rare, it’s difficult to pinpoint how concerned people should be, experts told Jamie. “Anybody who is healthy and wants to remain healthy and live a normal lifestyle is going to have to be aware” of the risks that Long COVID poses, said Dr. Wes Ely, a professor at the Vanderbilt University School of Medicine. He and others say that, besides staying up to date on vaccinations, wearing an N95 mask is still a good idea for people who want the most protection from both acute COVID-19 disease and the possibility of a long, unpleasant aftermath.
“While I don't think anyone should live in constant fear of Long COVID, especially if they're triple vaccinated,” says Jamie, “it's a risk worth considering when making decisions about how to act during this confusing phase of the pandemic.”
More than 463.8 million people around the world had been diagnosed with COVID-19 as of 12 a.m. E.T. today, and nearly 7 million people have died. On March 16, there were more than 2.2 million new cases and 6,912 new deaths confirmed globally.
Here's how the world as a whole is currently trending, in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
And here's every country that has reported over 7 million cases:
The U.S. had recorded more than 79.6 million coronavirus cases as of 12 a.m. E.T. today. More than 968,000 people have died. On March 16, there were 45,014 new cases and 1,943 new deaths confirmed in the U.S.
Here's how the country as a whole is currently trending in terms of cases:
And in terms of deaths:
Here's where daily cases have risen or fallen over the last 14 days, shown in confirmed cases per 100,000 residents:
All numbers unless otherwise specified are from the Johns Hopkins University Center for Systems Science and Engineering, and are accurate as of Mar. 17, 12 a.m. E.T. To see larger, interactive versions of these maps and charts, click here.
WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD KNOW
Jeff Zients, the White House’s COVID-19 coordinator, is leaving the administration next month, the Associated Press reports. Zients was instrumental in the rollout of vaccines, rapid tests, and therapeutics in the U.S. and was emblematic of the government’s initially aggressive response to COVID-19. (“We’re at war with this virus,” he once told the Associated Press.) Dr. Ashish Jha, the dean of the Brown University School of Public Health who is known for communicating clearly about the pandemic as a frequent guest on news shows, on Twitter, and as a contributing writer to various publications, will succeed him. In a statement, President Biden lauded Jha’s “wise and calming public presence” and noted that he is the “perfect person for the job” of leading the nation’s management of the virus.
A deal finalized today allows more than 30 companies around the world to start manufacturing generic versions of Pfizer's Paxlovid pill, a COVID-19 antiviral medication that drastically cuts the risk of hospitalization and death, the Associated Press reports. The pills are expected to be available in a dozen countries starting in 2023. “This will make an enormous difference for countries,” said Charles Gore, executive director of the U.N.-backed Medicines Patent Pool, which negotiated the deal.
President Biden canceled his in-person meeting with Ireland's Prime Minister Micheal Martin today after Martin tested positive for COVID-19 during a gala event in Washington last night, the New York Timesreports. Martin was scheduled to spend St. Patrick's Day with Biden at the White House and Capitol, but the meetings were moved to a virtual format. The White House said that Biden was not in close contact with Martin during last night's gala.
Omicron cases are rising quickly in Europe, and experts warn that a similar surge could soon be headed for the U.S., according to the New York Times. The surge in Europe is being fueled by BA.2, a variant of Omicron. The good news is that hospitalizations have not significantly increased in Europe alongside cases, BA.2 does not seem to cause more severe illness than Omicron, and vaccines work against it. BA.2 now makes up about 23% of new COVID-19 cases, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Thanks for reading. We hope you find the Coronavirus Brief newsletter to be a helpful tool to navigate this very complex situation, and welcome feedback at coronavirus.brief@time.com. If you have specific questions you'd like us to answer, please send them to covidquestions@time.com.
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Today's newsletter was written by Mandy Oaklander and edited by Elijah Wolfson.
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