“Eris”: The new COVID-19 variant
You might have caught wind of a new buzz in the world of viruses: Eris, the new COVID-19 variant. Let’s dive right into some important stuff about it:
First things first: Eris is one of those new kids on the block in the world of viruses. Just when we thought we were done with COVID, here comes Eris, showing up uninvited to the party.
What is what we know about it so far?
According to scientists and the World Health Organization, EG.5 -unofficially named Eris- is another off-shoot of the Omicron variant of COVID, and it was first seen in February of this year. The WHO has asked countries to monitor this new variant as it has spread through more than 50 countries.
Like its relatives Delta and Lambda, it has some mutations that make scientists raise their eyebrows. The symptoms are fairly the same: runny nose, cough, sore throat, and congestion. Less likely with this strain is the no taste or smell symptoms. But hey, we’ve been through this before, haven’t we? We’ve got vaccines, masks, and social distancing in our arsenal, so no panicking yet, but we should still be well informed.
We’re sure everyone’s thinking how effective the existing vaccines are against the Eris variant. The good news is that vaccines, like those developed for previous variants, still provide significant protection. While the level of protection may vary, getting vaccinated remains one of the most effective ways to reduce the severity of illness and prevent hospitalization.
To stay safe from the Eris variant and other strains of COVID-19, it’s essential to continue practicing preventive measures. This includes wearing masks in crowded or indoor settings (we know it can be a pain), practicing good hand hygiene, a healthy diet and lifestyle, and maintaining physical distance when necessary.
Public health guidelines may evolve as we learn more about Eris, so staying updated is crucial. Since COVID seems to be sticking around the most important thing is to stay informed, stay safe, and make the choices that best suit you and your loved ones.
The Ministry of Health in Mexico (Secretaría de Salud en México) has not issued any statement on the matter so far, although 2 cases of this new variant have been reported.
As far as proper medical equipment and qualified doctors and nurses, hospitals in Mexico can cope with this new variant, and just like with the previous COVID variants, some insurance companies are covering the expenses associated with Eris.
Keep in mind that pandemics and epidemics are part of the exclusions of the General Terms and Conditions of insurance companies. However, when COVID arose some companies decided to provide coverage. At first, there were only a few companies that did so, but later on, others decided to follow through.
If you’re looking for a company that provides coverage against COVID and other major medical expenses you may have to face in the future, contact one of our brokers today.
