Omicron Variant: What We Know So Far Updated: Jan 1, 2022 As a staggering number of cases are surging across the nation, one thing is clear: Omicron is a hyper-contagious virus. Now, even a quick, transient encounter can lead to an infection; including if someone’s mask is loose, or a person quickly pulls their mask…
Cold, Flu or COVID? They have similar symptoms and are spread by respiratory droplets. How can you tell the difference? As winter sets in and the COVID pandemic infections rise, every cough and sniffle will carry an extra worry: is it COVID? Because some of the symptoms of flu and COVID-19 are similar, it may…
Preventing Substance Misuse During the Holidays Be Prepared & Practice Self-Care Becoming aware of potentially triggering situations and developing a plan to deal with them can help minimize your risk of relapse during the holiday season. Whether you are currently in recovery or want to curb your substance use during the holidays, these tips can…
Covid-Safe Tips for Halloween Keep safe on Halloween in 2021 by following the basic principles: limit close contact with other people, limit touching points, and practice good hand hygiene. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently gave the OK for Halloween activities but warned that many traditional activities can be high-risk for spreading…
One Pill Can Kill The DEA has issued a warning that counterfeit pills purchased outside of a licensed pharmacy are illegal, dangerous, and potentially deadly. The Drug Enforcement Administration has issued a Public Safety Alert warning Americans of the alarming increase in the lethality and availability of fake prescription pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine. Fentanyl…
The Best Ways to Prevent the Flu Influenza A and B viruses travel through the air in droplets when someone with the infection coughs, sneezes or talks. You can inhale the droplets directly or you can pick up the germs from an object — such as a telephone or computer keyboard — and then transfer…
5-2-1-0 Let's Go Arizona What are the main causes of childhood obesity? Lifestyle issues — too little activity and too many calories from food and drinks. Children rely on adults to shop for groceries, prepare meals, have snacks available, organize their schedules, and set boundaries on screen time. Set a positive example and get back…
Be The One to Ask If you think someone might be considering suicide, take the first step and #BeThe1To ask. Asking the question “Are you thinking about suicide?” communicates that you’re open to speaking about suicide in a non-judgmental and supportive way. Listen, and help them focus on their reasons for living and avoid trying to impose your…
How Symptoms of the Delta Variant are Different Doctors are reporting that the symptoms of the Delta variant are different from the previous COVID-19 symptoms. Recognizing symptoms of the Delta variant is important for getting timely medical care and for preventing further spread of the virus. Symptoms Among Children Among children, the more severe cases…
60% More Contagious Delta Variant Now in Arizona The Delta variant originally found in India is estimated to be 60% more contagious than U.K. alpha variant, which recently caused 70% of COVID-19 cases in Arizona. Arizona Public Health Association Executive Director Will Humble said experts “expect that the Delta variant will be dominant by mid-to-late…