North Olympic Peninsula well being officers are urging residents to put on masks whereas indoors this vacation weekend as COVID-19 remains to be on the market.
“We’re nonetheless seeing a ton of transmission in our neighborhood and we’ve not actually seen our numbers drop considerably,” Dr. Allison Berry, well being officer for Clallam and Jefferson counties, stated Friday.
Whereas most Fourth of July weekend festivities will happen open air, it is indoor areas or areas the place many individuals are gathered the place individuals ought to take into account carrying masks, Berry stated.
“Within the overwhelming majority of out of doors areas, you’re most unlikely to get COVID-19,” he stated.
“I’d say if you are going to be actually crowded someplace, like watching a parade and standing in a single place for an extended time frame, shoulder to shoulder with different individuals, that is a time while you would possibly take into account carrying a masks. Berry added.
Berry and different well being officers have frequently beneficial that folks purchase and put on high-quality masks throughout the pandemic, however have extra lately famous that present variants of COVID-19 are circulating proper now, BA. four and BA.5 are notably contagious and may get via even surgical masks.
“Whereas a surgical masks is best than nothing in these areas, it is essential to put on an excellent high quality masks while you’re indoors with lots of people,” Berry stated.
Infections with the newer variants have been seen even in those that are vaccinated in opposition to Covid.
“We have seen a whole lot of superior infections in people who find themselves absolutely vaccinated, even in people who find themselves boosted, and so they can nonetheless get COVID-19, particularly in the event that they’re in shut proximity to different individuals indoors,” Berry stated.
“However we nonetheless see that vaccines do an important job of stopping severe illness.”
Most of those that don’t contract COVID-19 right now are those that proceed to put on masks indoors and people who have had a earlier an infection however have additionally been vaccinated and boosted.
“That is the crew that does not get contaminated. It is the individuals who received all three doses of the vaccine after which sadly had superior an infection, and we’re not seeing re-infection of that group,” Berry stated.
There was some query as as to whether one other spherical of photographs/boosters shall be wanted for adults and kids who’ve already been vaccinated and boosted.
Berry stated work is underway to discover a possible vaccine for the autumn that may additionally cowl annual flu photographs, nevertheless it’s not a positive factor at this level.
“A fall vaccine that may cowl a broad spectrum of viruses, together with COVID-19, is certainly being thought of, nevertheless it’s nonetheless in very early phases,” Berry stated.
Clallam and Jefferson County lately transitioned to a weekly COVID-19 reporting system, which is up to date each Monday at midday.
Clallam County on Monday reported a complete of 13,764 circumstances because the pandemic started, with a case charge of 707 per 100,000.
Jefferson County has reported a complete of four,657 circumstances because the pandemic started, with a case charge of 979 per 100,000.
Case charges are a mirrored image of circumstances reported throughout a two-week interval. They’re calculated utilizing a formulation primarily based on a inhabitants of 100,000, even for counties that do not need 100,000 individuals residing in them.
Because the 4th of July happens on a Monday this yr, subsequent week’s COVID-19 numbers shall be up to date on Tuesday.
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Reporter Ken Park could be reached at [email protected].
