Reported by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball on November 29th:
As the weather cools and more of us are gathering indoors, we encourage residents to remain cautious and take preventative measures to mitigate COVID-19. As of 9:00 a.m. today, our 7-day average positivity rate is 2.76% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is 8.95. There are currently 3 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units.
The CDC reported that on November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new variant of COVID-19 and has named it Omicron. Concerns about this virus include whether it is associated with higher transmission and how well vaccines protect against infection. No cases of this variant have been identified in the U.S. to date. CDC is working with other U.S. and global public health and industry partners to understand more about this variant and its impact.
As winter approaches, it’s vital to have a highly vaccinated community. Fully vaccinated adults are now eligible for booster shots. If you are not yet vaccinated, please roll up your sleeve and get your shot. According to the Maryland Department of Health, Howard County continues to be a leader in the state with our COVID-19 vaccination rates – with 96.8% of residents 12 and older receiving at least one dose of a vaccine.
To find a COVID-19 vaccine clinic near you, including those offering booster and children’s shots, visit https://vaccine.howardcountymd.gov, call 410-313-6284, or contact your medical provider.
According to the CDC, Howard County currently has substantial transmission of the virus and they recommend that everyone 2 years of age or older who is not fully vaccinated should wear a mask in indoor public places. In general, you do not need to wear a mask in outdoor settings. People who have a condition or are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected even if they are fully vaccinated. The CDC recommends that they should continue to take all precautions recommended for the unvaccinated, including wearing a mask. If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta and other variants and prevent possibly spreading it to others, the CDC suggests that you wear a mask indoors in public.
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Looking at the data reported last week (on November 22nd):
“…our 7-day average positivity rate is 3.19% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is 12.9. There are currently 3 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units.”
Looking at the data reported two weeks ago (on November 15th):
“…our 7-day average positivity rate is 2.63% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is 8.9. There are currently 13 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units.”
Looking at the data reported three weeks ago (on November 8th):
“…our 7-day average positivity rate is 1.80% and our 7-day average case rate per 100,000 of our population is 7.3. There are currently 4 COVID-19 patients in both ICU and Acute Care units.”
After back to back increased reported numbers it is nice to see the numbers fall off a bit over this past week. Watching what happens with the numbers post Thanksgiving will be important and something I will be watching.
Scott E
I want to know the breakdown of the 3, that is how many in the ER and how many of those 3 are vaccinated?