By: Sarah VonBerge

The information and understanding of the newest COVID-19 variant, called Omicron, is very limited, as the first case of it was only found about a month and a half ago in Botswana, and the first case in the United States was on December 1, 2021. This variant is more contagious than even the Delta variant, although the Omicron symptoms are more mild. Omicron is currently the most dominant strain, as 73% of new cases are from it.

Omicron hasn’t shown a few of the normal COVID symptoms, such as a loss of taste and smell, but it still has had some of the regular symptoms, such as muscle aches, itchy throat, and fatigue. A new symptom that hasn’t been seen in any of the other strains has been night sweats. People have said that the night sweats are so bad that they have had to get up and change their clothes since they are so drenched in sweat.

This new variant has roughly 50 new mutations as compared to the original COVID-19 virus, 30 of which are in the spike protein. The spike protein is the mRNA that is used in the vaccine to help fight the virus and cause your immune system to fight it. Luckily, however, there have been no mutations found in the T cells, which is your immune system‘s second layer of protection.

So far, Omicron has affected young people the most; of the new cases reported from December 23rd-29th, 16% were minors, 54% were ages 18-39, 25% were ages 40-64, and 5% were 65 and older. It only takes 2 days for infection to occur and for the infected person to be contagious and Omicron cases are doubling every 2-4 days. Currently, unvaccinated people have a 10 times higher risk of testing positive and a 20 times higher risk of dying as compared to vaccinated people.

The best ways to fight Omicron and all other strains of COVID right now are to get vaccinated, get a booster shot, wear your mask and get tested as soon as you think you might have contracted COVID from someone. “This is not March of 2020. We are not defenseless,” Governor Kathy Hochul of New York said.

Booster shots have been shown to raise protection to the virus by 80%. The CDC recommends anyone 5 years and older gets vaccinated and everyone older than 18 should get a booster after at least 2 months of getting their original vaccination. Even though vaccination is the best way to protect yourself, you should continue to wear a mask. Anyone can contract and spread the virus. Vaccinations lessen symptoms, but they do completely cure you of Omicron or the other strains of COVID.

For more information, please visit:

• https://www.cdc.gov/

By: Grace Blumer-Lamotte

We are currently living in a worldwide pandemic. This is a very unusual time that we have been put in. The future is unknown with the infection that is going on around the world. 

In order to get information on how to address the cases, it’s important to test for COVID-19. There are two different types of COVID-19 testing: diagnostic and antibody tests.

According to the FDA, “Diagnostic tests can show if you have an active COVID-19 infection and need to take steps to quarantine or self isolate. Antibody tests look for antibodies in your immune system produced in response to SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19, but antibody tests should not be used to diagnose an active COVID-19 infection.”

There are two different types of COVID-19 tests. One is a saliva test. The saliva test is where you spit into a tube and then send it into testing. Saliva tests can be self-collected. They are as good as the nasal swabs, according to health care workers.

The second type of COVID-19 tests are the nasal swab. According to the Mayo Clinic, “A fluid sample is collected by inserting a long nasal swab (nasopharyngeal swab) into your nostril and taking fluid from the back of your nose or by using a shorter nasal swab (mid-turbinate swab) to get a sample.”

The saliva test is easier to perform because you can do it at home. The saliva test does not require interaction with a healthcare worker. For the long nasal swab you normally have to go to a testing site. 

Some commonly asked questions are: Do the tests hurt? When should I get tested? Which COVID-19 test should I take?

A COVID-19 nasal swab may cause some pain. If it is extremely painful, say something to the healthcare worker that is swabbing your nose. You may feel some discomfort when the test is being performed, but you shouldn’t feel any pain. 

If you begin to develop symptoms, you should consider getting tested right away. The CDC also encourages you to get tested every two weeks to be cautious. 

For which test to take, you should consider the situation you are in right now. If you need fast results, get a rapid test. According to UC Davis, in other instances, “A molecular PCR test is more appropriate. A PCR test can be used for asymptomatic testing or to confirm a positive antigen test.”

By: Grace Blumer-Lamotte

The COVID-19 vaccines that are being used right now are the Pfizer vaccine, Johnson & Johnson, and Moderna. The Pfizer vaccine is the only vaccine cleared for children currently; it is cleared for children ages 5 through 11.

There is also a COVID booster shot. Everyone over the age of 18 can get it. At first they were just giving it to first responders and people who were more susceptible to get COVID, but now it has opened up more to the public and everyone of the age of 18 can get the booster shot.

According to the CDC, “COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective, once fully vaccinated, people can start doing more, and a safer way to help build protection.” 

One of the reasons the vaccine is safe is because millions of people in the US have received the vaccine since they were authorized by the FDA. Another reason is that they have undergone “The most insensitive safety monitoring in US history.” A third reason is “There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems.” The last reason, the CDC had stated was “The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination outweigh the known and potential risks.”

I interviewed a freshman and a junior. I asked them these questions: Have you heard anything about the COVID-19 vaccine causing fertility issues? Have you heard about the tedious monitoring that the US has undergone trying to make the vaccine?

The freshman answered the first question saying, “No, I haven’t.” 

They then answered the second question saying, “Yes I have. I know it took lots of scientists to make the vaccine. They also had a very short period of time to make the vaccine.”

The junior answered the first question saying, “I’ve only heard conspiracy theories about it.”

They then answered the second question saying, “Yes I have. My Mom works at the U of MN and she tells me stories about how long it was taking and what a tedious process it was.”

The COVID-19 vaccine is effective. It helps children and adults from getting very ill. Another reason the CDC states about this was “Getting children ages 5 years and older vaccinated can help protect them from serious short- and long-term complications.”

Once fully vaccinated, people can progressively start doing more. Families/people can resume many activities that they did before the pandemic started. Some activities that you could return to doing that are low risk are: eating outdoors at a restaurant, getting a haircut, going to an outdoor concert, hugging vaccinated family and friends, and visiting elderly relatives that have also been fully vaccinated.

Some other activities that you could return to doing that are medium risks are: eating indoors at a restaurant, going to the theaters, traveling, going to the gym, and getting a massage.

The COVID-19 vaccine is a safer way to help build protection. According to the CDC, “Children ages 5 years and older and adults who are eligible should get vaccinated regardless of whether they already had COVID-19. Evidence is emerging that people get better protection by being fully vaccinated compared with previously having a COVID-19 infection.”

To learn more about the benefits of getting vaccinated, please go to:

• https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/vaccine-benefits.html?s_cid=10466:should%20i%20vaccinate:sem.ga:p:RG:GM:gen:PTN:FY21

By: Mary Koch

Quarantine had overwhelming effects on everyone, especially teenagers. Spending months at home and not being able to see friends in person isn’t healthy, and teens’ mental health is an example.

Not being able to go to school in person made things more difficult, and it was harder to keep up with classes and assignments. Stress of staying on top of working and trying to understand lessons without having as easily accessible help wasn’t easy.

Things like school dances, performances, and sports were cancelled or postponed, so students ended up missing out on things they won’t have a chance to do again. Graduations and school events were socially distanced or virtual, and the overall experience wasn’t the same.

A poll taken in New York indicated that 1 in 3 girls and 1 in 5 boys, from the ages of 13 to 18, have had more severe anxiety since quarantine began.

Without the pandemic, 14.3% of teens will experience depression or bipolar disorder. Adding on the effects of quarantine over 22% of teens are meeting criteria for having one or both of those mental illnesses.

When people are suffering from depression, it’s recommended that people don’t isolate themselves, but with the lockdown, there was no other option. Kids have to stay home, they couldn’t see their friends or non-immediate family, and they had fewer activities.

Having a good steady sleep schedule can make positive changes in people’s lives. With lockdown school was done online, so students didn’t need to wake up at the same time everyday. Instead of going to bed and getting a good night’s sleep, they stayed up doing homework, watching TV, and going on their phones.

Lockdown also strained relationships with friends, and many teens came out with fewer than they had when the lockdown started. With fewer friends and less of a support system, people’s mental health will decline.

For more information, please visit:

• https://www.healthline.com/health-news/impact-of-covid-19-lockdown-on-teens-mental-health?s crlybrkr=3372162e