Wheezing, sneezing, watery eyes, congestion, headaches: all symptoms of the spring pollen and allergens permeating the air these days — or are they?

Newtown Health District Director Donna Culbert has been seeing a number of residents in town testing positive for COVID-19 who initially thought they were just experiencing spring allergy symptoms. She is advising anyone feeling any crossover symptoms that could be either allergies or the novel coronavirus to consult their health care provider.

“I can’t tell people to get a COVID test whenever they are experiencing symptoms that could be allergies, but it is my position to reinforce the importance of testing in concert with a person’s health care provider,” Culbert told The Newtown Bee, April 6. “COVID testing helps you make an informed decision.

“Don’t forget, you could have some other type of virus that you could be spreading to others in your household or workplace,” Culbert added.

And it is not like COVID diagnoses have gone away as allergens have ramped up in recent days.

As of May 6, Newtown has tallied 2,079 positive COVID cases — up 21 from the same time last week. Virus-related deaths remain at 67.

Fortunately, a number of those infected with COVID-19 that Culbert or a member of her staff have talked to seem generally to be exhibiting a lower impact of symptoms than this time last year, although there are still occasional cases that will put an affected person in the hospital.

As of May 5, the total of COVID-19 cases reported among Connecticut residents was 341,571, including 313,137 laboratory-confirmed and 28,434 probable cases. At that time, 333 patients were hospitalized with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19, and the state had lost 8,124 residents to the virus.

On the prevention end of things, the Newtown Health District is planning its last first-dose vaccine clinic this Saturday, May 8, from 9 am to 3 pm, at the Newtown Community Center, 8 Simpson Street, at Fairfield Hills. Anyone 18 years and up is welcome to make an appointment for the first of two Moderna vaccines.

People can schedule their appointments at newtown-ct.gov/newtown-health-district/news/covid-19-vaccination-update — select the “schedule here” link, then click on the May 8 date and the scheduler pops up, Culbert said.

If you provide an e-mail or cell phone number then confirmation will be sent. Any questions, call 203-270-4291 or e-mail health.district@newtown-ct.gov.

Pfizer For Youth

Those who do get their first jab this Saturday can plan for their second shot at a clinic scheduled for June 5, Culbert said. Second-dose clinics for those with their first shot on board are also set for May 12, 19, and 26, corresponding to the timing of when local participants received their first shot.

In addition, Newtown’s traveling nurse, Joan Santucci, is coordinating vaccine appointments in the homes of those who are physically unable to come to a walk-in clinic — although Culbert is gently reminding anyone who can comfortably be driven to the community center that her volunteers are happy to administer either vaccination while the recipient remains in a vehicle.

At the same time, Culbert is patiently waiting — along with tens of thousands of colleagues across the state and nation — for the pending news that the Pfizer vaccine will become available for 12- to 15-year-olds. On May 5, Canadian health officials approved Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for people as young as 12.

The US Food and Drug Administration is also expected to authorize Pfizer’s vaccine for young people by next week, setting up shots for many before the beginning of the next school year. The announcement comes barely a month after the company found that its shot, which is already authorized for those age 16 and older, also provided protection for the younger group.

Pfizer in late March released preliminary results from a vaccine study of 2,260 US volunteers ages 12 to 15 showing there were no cases of COVID-19 among fully vaccinated adolescents compared with 18 among those given placebo shots.

Culbert said in anticipation of US clearance for the Pfizer vaccine for youth, she has been in contact with the New Milford Health District regarding coordinating any distribution plans for 12- to 15-year-olds, “when that time comes.”

“After health officials, parents can rest assured they will be the first to know as soon as we begin making solid plans for vaccines to that younger population,” Culbert said. She said vaccine clinics will likely be held at one or more school facilities, and she expects that the Community Health Clinics (CHC) facility at the Danbury Fair Mall will also be participating.

“At least, I’m expecting parents to have a few options to get their 12- to 15-year-olds vaccinated,” she said.

Connecticut Is Tops

With 3,192,560 total vaccine doses already distributed as of May 3, Connecticut became the first state in the nation to fully vaccinate more than 50% of all adults over the age of 18. Approximately 69% of all adults in the state have received at least one dose.

All Connecticut residents over the age of 16 are currently eligible to receive the vaccines. To locate a vaccination clinic, visit ct.gov/covidvaccine.

On April 30, Governor Ned Lamont signed an executive order related to the declarations of public health and civil preparedness emergencies that he enacted in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Executive Order No. 11F enacts the following provisions:

Remote driver credential transactions: Extends authority for the Department of Motor Vehicles to issue duplicate driver’s licenses and identification credentials remotely.

Outdoor service of alcohol: Permits service of alcohol outdoors without requiring that drinks be served with food.

On the global stage, US Senator Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) on May 5 lauded the Biden administration’s announcement of support for waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines at the World Trade Organization.

“We are watching the return of American moral leadership,” said Murphy. “President Biden’s decision is gutsy and lifesaving, and as an early supporter of waiving intellectual property protections for COVID-19 vaccines, I’m thrilled the US is taking this step. COVID-19 is a global health crisis that knows no borders, and one that will only be solved when we work together to get as many people, domestically and internationally, vaccinated as soon as possible.”

Last month, Murphy sent a letter urging the Biden administration to support a temporary patent waiver for COVID-19 vaccines that would allow countries to manufacture treatments locally, expediting the global vaccination effort and saving countless lives. Murphy also sent letters to Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson requesting information on their plans to expand access to COVID-19 vaccines and vaccine manufacturing capacity across the globe.

Associate Editor John Voket can be reached at john@thebee.com.