COVID-19 Updates: Virus Variants, Virtual Visits and More

As springtime nears, we’re unfortunately still in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. There’s a lot in the news about the disease, new variants of the virus and how to continue staying safe. As a physician-led organization, we remain committed to giving you the most accurate and up-to-date information. Here’s the latest you should know.

Virus Variants

As you’ve probably heard, scientists have discovered new variants of the virus that causes COVID-19. Here’s the important information, from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):

“Viruses constantly change through mutation, and new variants of a virus are expected to occur over time.”

“Information about the characteristics of these variants is rapidly emerging. Scientists are working to learn more about how easily they spread, whether they could cause more severe illness and whether currently authorized vaccines will protect people against them.”

Current variants under investigation:

• “The United Kingdom (U.K.) identified a variant called B.1.1.7…in the fall of 2020. This variant spreads more easily and quickly than other variants. In January 2021, experts in the U.K. reported that this variant may be associated with an increased risk of death compared to other variant viruses, but more studies are needed to confirm this finding…This variant was first detected in the U.S. in December 2020.

• In South Africa, another variant called B.1.351…was originally detected in early October 2020.  Cases caused by this variant have been reported in the U.S. at the end of January 2021.
• In Brazil, a variant called P.1 emerged that was first identified in travelers from Brazil…This variant was first detected in the U.S. at the end of January 2021.

These variants seem to spread more easily and quickly than other variants, which may lead to more cases of COVID-19. An increase in the number of cases will put more strain on healthcare resources, lead to more hospitalizations and potentially lead to more deaths. So far, studies suggest that antibodies generated through vaccination with currently authorized vaccines recognize these variants. This is being closely investigated and more studies are underway.”

For the latest information on the different variants, visit this CDC webpage.  

Keep wearing your masks.

While scientists work to discover more about the variants, it’s our job to keep wearing our masks, social distancing and washing our hands often. And we strongly encourage you to get the COVID-19 vaccine once it’s available to you.

A Message From Dr. Chester Ho, Chief Medical Officer

People watching the COVID-19 data are seeing the numbers of cases and deaths drop, which is encouraging – but it also might make it harder for some people to see why we’re then continuing to ask everyone to still wear tight-fitting masks (and even double-masking for more protection especially if you’re high risk). This is because COVID-19 is still very dangerous and there are some new variants emerging, discussed above, that are still being investigated but seem to be more contagious and potentially more harmful.

As we head into nicer weather, we want numbers to continue to stay down as vaccine rates go up. But if this all coincides in the next few months with more contagious and deadly strains, we might see a scary reversal, so we’re asking all of you, all of us, to continue with what works – effective masking, social distancing, washing hands, doing things outdoors and reducing risk, especially indoors and anytime you’re around people, including friends and relatives who don’t regularly live in your home. We’re all in this together, and the encouraging news is that numbers are trending down right now. Stay safe and well!

A final word about vaccines.

As we’ve mentioned in past emails, we hope everyone will commit to slowing the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated when you’re able. We want to remind you that the vaccines are both safe and effective, and that – despite false rumors – they do not use the live coronavirus and they cannot give you COVID-19. Doctors and scientists are hopeful that if enough people get vaccinated, the spread of both the original virus strain and the variants will begin to drop significantly in communities throughout the country and world.

Virtual visits are simple, secure and easy to use. Try them out.

You’ve probably heard a lot about virtual visits during the pandemic. These appointments – which take place virtually over your computer, phone or tablet – save trips to the doctor’s office and are appropriate for many medical checkups. Most of our plans cover virtual visits through our Hally® mobile app. Here’s the most important information:

• Your Hally app connects you directly to board certified physicians, using the nationally renowned telehealth services of MDLIVE®.
• Doctors are available around the clock, so you can schedule appointments to fit your busy schedule.
• Virtual visits aren’t for every medical situation, but they’re great for diagnosing and treating more than 80 of the most common conditions, including the flu, sinusitis, bronchitis and strep throat.
• Virtual visits are usually less costly than going to urgent care or the emergency department. However, always visit the emergency department for all serious conditions and call 911 for all emergencies.
• To start using virtual visits, register your free account on the Hally app (under Get Care) at com/care or by calling us at (888) 912-0904.* Once you’ve registered and are ready to schedule your first virtual appointment, simply open up the app, select Get Care from the bottom menu, click on Book a Virtual Visit and follow the directions.

Finally, we encourage you to visit our webpage to find answers to your questions about COVID-19. During the pandemic and beyond, we’re here for you, your employees and their family. If your employees have any questions, they can contact us anytime at the number on the back of their health plan ID Card.

If you have any questions, you can contact us directly at ClientSupport@healthalliance.org or by calling (217) 902-8151. We’re committed to keeping you and your employees healthy and informed.

*You’ll need to have an online member account (for our health plan) before you’re able to sign up for virtual visits. If you haven’t already created an account, visit hally.com/login.