THE U.S. SILENT BATTLE WITH COVID-19 2025

THE DANGERS OF DEATH REMAIN

A BETRAYAL OF HEALTH BY THE U.S GOVERNMENT

Reaper

COVID continues to circulate quietly across the country. It remains a serious threat—especially for vulnerable groups—and even mild infections can trigger Long COVID, with lasting effects on brain and body health.

Yet the U.S. government has essentially walked away from pandemic safety measures. Free testing and vaccines are no longer widely accessible, particularly for low-income communities. Hospitals are no longer required to report COVID cases, leaving the public in the dark about the virus's true reach.

THE COVID CRISIS WE'RE NO LONGER COUNTING: INVISIBLE SURGES AND LASTING BRAIN DAMAGE

As 2025 unfolds, America finds itself in a paradoxical position. COVID-19 hasn't gone away—but much of the infrastructure to track it has. While the virus continues to evolve and affect millions, the nation has primarily stopped counting. At the same time, a quieter, more profound crisis is emerging: the long-term neurological damage caused by the virus, known commonly as Long COVID.

A VANISHING DATA LANDSCAPE

The most concerning COVID-19 development in 2025 isn't just the virus itself—it's the growing lack of visibility into its spread. Over the past year, many states have significantly scaled back or eliminated COVID-related reporting. Most hospitals are no longer required to submit real-time data on infections, hospitalizations, or deaths. Health departments rely on wastewater surveillance or outdated emergency department data to guess community spread in many areas.

This shift means the public has little concrete information about current case counts or variant prevalence. For example, the CDC no longer publishes regular updates on hospitalization trends for many areas and only offers national estimates based on modeling.

Without reliable tracking, the country flies blindly into each new variant wave.

Current Epidemic Trends (Based on Rt) for States (CDC, 3-27-25)

EVOLVING VARIANTS, UNSEEN SURGES

While hard numbers are scarce, experts agree that COVID-19 continues to circulate widely, driven by new, immune-evasive variants like LP.8.1 and XEC—descendants of Omicron. These strains are more contagious than their predecessors, but with limited testing and reporting, even large surges can go undetected until emergency rooms begin to fill.

Though many Americans have been vaccinated or previously infected, the virus continues to find vulnerable hosts—especially older adults and those with chronic conditions. And with masking and other precautions now rare, the risks of exposure remain high, especially in crowded or poorly ventilated indoor settings.

What COVID-19 variants are going around in March 2025? (Nebraska Medicine, 3-28-25)

THE LONG COVID CRISIS: A SLOW-MOTION DISASTER

Perhaps the most alarming legacy of the pandemic is only just being fully recognized: the neurological toll of Long COVID.

Millions of Americans continue to experience persistent symptoms—months or even years after their initial infection. Chief among them are cognitive issues: memory lapses, poor concentration, chronic mental fatigue, and a phenomenon commonly described as "brain fog."

What the Research Shows:

Cognitive Impairment: Long COVID has been linked to deficits in attention, executive function, and processing speed.

IQ Decline: Some studies suggest patients may suffer cognitive declines equivalent to a 6-point IQ drop.

Persistent Symptoms: A majority of Long COVID sufferers report no significant improvement over time.

Neurological Risk: Even mild COVID cases may increase the risk of Alzheimer's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

These effects are believed to result from a combination of inflammation, immune dysregulation, and possibly direct viral damage to neurons. They affect not only those who were hospitalized but also those with initially mild cases.

Neurocognitive effects of long covid are numerous and troubling (The Washington Post, 3-27-25)

A MENTAL HEALTH AND ECONOMIC FALLOUT

The cognitive impacts of Long COVID don't come alone. They're often accompanied by depression, anxiety, and chronic fatigue—creating a full-spectrum assault on mental health. Many patients struggle to return to work, care for family, or manage daily tasks. And with many Long COVID clinics underfunded or shuttered, access to care remains spotty at best.

This has created an invisible public health emergency that's difficult to quantify but impossible to ignore.

MOVING FORWARD WITHOUT A MAP

The absence of real-time surveillance leaves us vulnerable to future waves. At the same time, the failure to meaningfully address Long COVID threatens to deepen a national crisis in brain health and disability. What's needed now is a reinvestment in public health infrastructure, long-term research, and social safety nets for those affected.

COVID-19 may no longer dominate the news cycle—but its consequences are still shaping lives. And ignoring them won't make them disappear.

COVID is still evolving and will find new ways to evade immune systems, scientists say (NPR, 3-11-25)

HIGH RATES OF COVID 2024

COVID-19 is silently but significantly resurging with its evolution, posing new threats.

According to the Virginia Department of Health, there were 2,820 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 3,719 probable cases for a total of 6,539 in the week ending August 3, 2024, with an increase of nearly 2,000 cases from the previous week ending August 27, 2024 (4,764). New virus variants primarily drive this uptick, specifically KP.2 and KP.3, which have been identified as significant contributors to the increased transmission rates. These variants have shown higher transmissibility compared to previous strains. The Week of May 5, 2024, only saw 288 confirmed COVID-19 cases; the current numbers are a nearly 900% increase in less than four months, with cases growing daily. However, due to the April 30, 2024, hospital COVID-19 data reports end date, this number may be much more significant than the VDH can presently show with the data they can access.

Despite efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic, the virus continues to spread and mutate, posing a significant threat to public health. COVID-19 can cause severe respiratory illness, long-term health complications, and death, especially among vulnerable populations such as the elderly and those with underlying conditions. It is imperative to remain vigilant by following public health guidelines, including wearing masks and practicing social distancing. Cooperation is essential to protect yourself and others from this ongoing dangerous virus.

COVID-19 in Virginia Cases (Virginia Department of Health)

COVID is on the rise again in Virginia (Axios, 7-18-24)

Virginia one of 27 states with ‘very high’ COVID wastewater levels (ABC News/WRIC, 8-13-24)

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT'S DERELICTION OF DUTY

The Biden administration ended all COVID-19-related emergency declarations on May 11, 2023. On March 8, 2024, the U.S. government ceased providing free testing for COVID-19, and in August 2024, free vaccinations for the uninsured will end. April 30, 2024, marked the last day hospitals reported their COVID-19 data to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) National Healthcare Safety Network (NHSN). Without the data provided by healthcare services, the actual numbers for the infected and death tolls will be unknown. The potential impact of this decision on public health is a cause for concern as the information is just as imperative now to have as it was during the initial outbreak in 2019 to monitor and control the virus's spread. The government's withdrawal from its responsibilities only adds significant obstacles that put lives at risk.

The CDC now uses wastewater testing as a tool for tracking COVID-19 information. According to their data for the week ending July 6, 2024, California and nineteen other states have very high levels of coronavirus in their wastewater. The data also estimates there's a probability that COVID-19 will grow substantially in 44 states and the nation's capital in the coming months. However, It is impossible to reliably and accurately predict the total number of infected individuals in a community based on sewage surveillance alone. Wastewater surveillance will not represent homes on septic-based systems, meaning the numbers could be substantially higher than predicted.

President Joe Biden and the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Xavier Becerra tested positive for COVID-19 in July 2024, highlighting the ongoing challenges in the fight against the virus. Their illness shows that the people most at risk should take precautions despite their vaccination status. Infections can still occur, particularly with new variants that may partially evade immune protection. Social distancing, wearing an N95 mask, and other safety precautions are recommended. The pandemic is not over.

Democrats and Republicans greet Covid spike with a collective shrug (Politico, 8-28-24)

UNDERSTANDING COVID: WHO IS AT RISK AND HOW TO DEAL WITH IT

COVID-19, caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, is a highly contagious respiratory illness. It primarily spreads through respiratory droplets and can lead to symptoms ranging from mild respiratory issues to severe pneumonia and, in some cases, death. Long COVID refers to a range of symptoms that persist for weeks or months after the acute phase of the infection has resolved. These symptoms can include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive difficulties, and other health issues, significantly impacting individuals' quality of life and requiring ongoing medical attention.

Who is Most at Risk for COVID-19?

Certain groups are at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19:

Older adults, particularly those over 65 (More than 81% of COVID-19 deaths occur in people over the age of 65)

Individuals with underlying health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases, and weakened immune systems

Pregnant women

People living in congregate settings like nursing homes or prisons

Individuals with obesity

Safety Measures to Prevent COVID-19 Spread:

Masking: Wear masks in crowded or indoor public spaces, especially if community transmission rates are high. (Respirator masks like the N95 give the highest level of protection against the coronavirus)

Social Distancing: Maintain a safe distance from others, particularly in crowded places.

Hand Hygiene: Wash hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. Use hand sanitizer when soap and water are not available.

Avoid Crowded Spaces: Limit time spent in crowded places and opt for outdoor activities when possible. The longer people are together in an enclosed space, the higher the risk of transmission. Please use extreme caution when in these environments.

Stay Home When Sick: If you experience symptoms of COVID-19, stay home and seek medical advice. Get tested and isolate to prevent spreading the virus.

Ventilation: Improve indoor ventilation by opening windows and using air purifiers to reduce the concentration of viral particles in the air. People tend to spend more extended periods indoors during the extreme summer heat/winter cold in closer proximity to each other, which increases the duration of potential exposure to the virus. Air conditioning/heating systems can recirculate air within a closed space, potentially spreading virus particles if someone in the room is infected. Without sufficient fresh air exchange, the risk of airborne transmission increases.

Regular Testing: Get tested regularly, especially if you have been exposed to someone with COVID-19 or if you are experiencing symptoms.