Vaccination, Testing, and Isolation are the Key to Reducing Spread

By Diane Lee, Public Information Officer, Garrett County Health Department
 
A new COVID-19 variant – Omicron – is causing a stir around the world, with the first U.S. case identified in California today. When a new variant is detected, there are more questions than answers until time passes and it can be studied to determine if it will cause worse disease than the original, or than the last variant, and if it will be more transmissible.

“Viruses mutate during the process of infecting other people,” explains Dr. Jennifer Corder Deputy Health Officer for Garrett and Allegany Counties. “When a new infection occurs, the virus multiplies in the infected person. Each time a virus multiplies, there is a risk of a new genetic mutation being produced. The more widespread and common infections are within a population, the more likely a new mutation will evolve. We are currently awaiting more details about the Omicron variant, to learn more about the consequences of these mutations.”

Mutations become a “variant of concern” if they result in an increased risk of transmission, increased virulence (or ability to cause harm), or an increased ability to evade the current vaccine formula.

“Undervaccinated populations are the perfect place for widespread COVID transmission to occur, and this situation provides an opportunity for variants to come into existence,” Dr. Corder added. People who are undervaccinated include those who have not received any vaccine, or who have not received the full series of recommended vaccinations.

Garrett County’s vaccination statistics puts the county in the undervaccinated category compared to the rest of the state. Currently 51.3% of the county’s 12+ population is fully vaccinated.

“If you have any cough or cold symptoms in Garrett County, it’s important to get tested and isolate until your results come back,” Dr. Corder said. “Assume your symptoms are from COVID-19 until proven otherwise, even if you have been vaccinated. Continued testing and isolation, combined with increasing the percentage of the population who is vaccinated, are the only way to slow down the spread and mutation of COVID-19.”

Links for vaccination clinics are available on garretthealth.org. Call the Health Department at 301-334-7697 for assistance in scheduling a vaccine or to schedule a COVID-19 test. Vaccine and testing are also available at some local pharmacies and primary care providers.

Monoclonal Antibody infusions can lessen the severity of a COVID-19 infection, but early diagnosis of COVID-19 is important because there is a limited time for its use.

Booster shoots are now recommended for all persons who are age 18 and older whose second Moderna or Pfizer vaccination was at least six months ago, and those whose J & J vaccination was at least two months ago.