PRESS RELEASE: COVID-19 UPDATE

December 22, 2021

Merry Christmas!

 

Time for an update.

We are very rapidly moving into a wintertime COVID-19 surge fueled by the emergence of the Omicron variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.  Last week, the percentage of new cases in the US attributed to Omicron jumped from 12% to 73% in just a week, after being just 3% the previous week.  This is incredibly rapid growth, but fits with the pattern seen in South Africa, where this variant was first discovered.  Here in Texas, Omicron has been seen in the Houston metro area, and I am certain it is elsewhere in the state by now.  The first fatality attributed to Omicron in the country occurred in the Houston area this week.  It is too early to know for sure, but the experience with this version of COVID-19 suggests it is less likely to cause hospitalization or death than previous variants.

As of 12/22/2021, Somervell County has experienced 1547 total cases of COVID-19 since the beginning of the pandemic.  Somervell County has recorded a total of 26 deaths attributable to COVID-19 infections and our current active case report is up to 31 patients.  The case fatality rate in Somervell County is 1.68%.  Statewide case fatality is 1.67%.  The majority of deaths in Texas are above age 50.  In Texas, 117 children have died from COVID-19 infections, 14 under age 1 year old, 23 between ages 1-9, and 80 between ages 10-19.  In Somervell County, our current active case load is 29.  We have been on a gradual increase during the last 2 weeks, but not as aggressive of an increase as the state is currently experiencing.

Most of the illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths in the state and locally, are occurring in unvaccinated individuals.  Due to the increase contagiousness of the Omicron variant, more vaccinated individuals are experiencing breakthrough cases.  Data suggests that the length of time since being vaccinated is likely to increase the risk of infection.  This is the rationale for booster shot recommendations, and.  It appears that higher antibody levels are correlated strongly with less breakthrough infections.

Booster shots are widely available.  Anyone older than 16 years old is eligible for a booster shot 6 months after receiving their second shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines, or their first shot of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine.  Data is showing that changing vaccines can improve immunity, especially for patients who started out taking the J&J vaccine.  Currently there is no recommendation for booster shots under the age of 16.

The most current numbers are found at: https://dshs.texas.gov/coronavirus then click on the button that says TEXAS CASE COUNTS.  This website will be the most consistent place to get information regarding local and statewide numbers.

Hospitalizations are very slowly increasing statewide.  ICU beds continue to be filled at a higher rate than hospital beds in general.  About 1 out of every 3 COVID patients in the hospital is in a ICU bed.  Over 1,000 hospital ICU beds are currently caring for patient ill with COVID-19.

CDC recommendations for vaccinated individuals are that they should wear masks indoors.  If you are a person with significant risk factor for serious COVID-19 disease, this is still prudent advice.  However, based upon risk, it might be more important for vaccinated individuals to mask up in high-risk indoor settings, such as a poorly ventilated room, and/or a large crowd relative to room size.  Outdoors, masking is not recommended.  For unvaccinated individuals, masks are recommended in all indoor settings.

Patients continue to have a much higher risk of complications and/or death from the disease, compared to the risk of complications from the vaccines.  If you would like to get vaccinated, please start by calling your doctor’s office, or your pharmacy.  Vaccines are readily available at this time for anyone aged 5 and up.

Monoclonal antibody treatments continue to be widely available.  Data specific to the Omicron variant is not yet available, but early data suggest that the Mab treatments will continue to be helpful in decreasing hospitalization or death rates for high-risk individuals.

At Glen Rose Medical Center, there is a steady supply of monoclonal antibody infusions being administered.  If you contract COVID-19, and are interested in this treatment option, please contact your doctor’s office.  People who meet the CDC definition of high risk (65+, obese, diabetes, hypertension, etc), can use monoclonal antibody treatment for prevention of infection.  These patients need to bring proof of infection for the person that they were exposed to (with that person’s permission of course).

If you choose to not be vaccinated, and have not had the disease, avoiding crowds/social distancing, especially indoors, good hand hygiene, and masking up are the best bet to avoid getting any version of the virus causing COVID-19.

GRISD currently is off for Christmas break.  Prior to semester break starting there were a handful of cases noted.

Texas DSHS recommendations include exclusion from school or work while ill with COVID-19.  Really, this is prudent behavior for anyone with a respiratory illness.  Exclusion shall continue until the readmission criteria for the conditions are met. The readmission criteria for COVID-19 is as follows:

If symptomatic, exclude until at least 10 days have passed since symptom onset, and fever free*, and other symptoms have improved. Children who test positive for COVID-19 but do not have any symptoms must stay home until at least 10 days after the day they were tested.

*Fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever suppressing medications. Fever is a temperature of 100° Fahrenheit (37.8° Celsius) or higher.

Texas DSHS recommendations for close contacts of known COVID-19 cases are as follows:

Stay home for 14 days after your last contact with a person who has COVID-19

Watch for fever (100.4◦F), cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19

And if possible, stay away from people you live with, especially people who are at higher risk for getting very sick from COVID-19

There are alternative recommendations that might be less optimal with a more transmissible or more severe strain of COVID-19, especially during high levels of community transmission.  This could include return to school or work on day 7 or 8, if asymptomatic, and a negative PCR or NAAT test performed after post exposure day 5.

Please do not send your children to school if they are sick.  This is sound advice for many infections, not just COVID-19.

Generally, I am an optimistic person.  Good data is still hard to get.  I am optimistic that we might be getting closer to herd immunity, as the combination of vaccinated individuals, and survivors of the disease, continues to grow as a percentage of the population.  Unfortunately, only time will tell for sure.

Data continues to suggest that immunity from surviving the disease is more effective than vaccination in the short term.  Unfortunately, there is no effective way of proving how long that immunity will last.  Many patients have no detectable antibodies as soon as 4-5 months after infection.  At a year out from infection, as few as 15% of patients have detectable antibody levels.  Disease survivors can still get vaccinated, and in fact, it is recommended.  Patients who have had the disease, and subsequently get vaccinated, have the strongest immunity, according to the most current data that I have seen.

Stay safe and thank you for taking the time to read this!

Steven J Vacek, M.D.

Glen Rose HealthCare Inc.

Somervell County Local Health Authority