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Tag: COVID19

Loudoun Co. health director offers COVID-19 holiday safety tips

With numerous men and women planning to rejoice Xmas with prolonged spouse and children for the very first time in two several years, Loudoun County wellness director Dr. David Goodfriend stated there are numerous things you should do to reduce COVID-19 from signing up for in.

With several individuals planning to celebrate Xmas with extended household for the first time in two several years, Loudoun County wellbeing director Dr. David Goodfriend stated there are various items you ought to do to avert COVID-19 from becoming a member of the festivities.

Irrespective of whether you system to get domestically or journey out of the place for a vacation, Goodfriend advisable a layered strategy together with vaccinations, screening, wearing masks and social distancing when indoors.

“This is the best time to get your booster so that you will be thoroughly protected by Xmas,” Goodfriend claimed. “If you’ve not been vaccinated at all, you will not get total protection by getting vaccinated now, but it may possibly give you some.”

So significantly, the omicron variant of COVID-19 has appeared moderate, but reportedly spreads additional quickly than delta, like to vaccinated persons. Goodfriend’s fears have been surrounded all those with delicate infections that could unfold to other, extra susceptible individuals.

“Mild issues in youthful people may perhaps not be mild in our seniors,” Goodfriend explained. “What we’re acquiring is that notably with omicron … with no that booster shot, the efficiency of the vaccine does drop down substantially.”

Goodfriend also explained testing will be significant to combatting the virus this getaway time.

“If you feel you may have come in make contact with with COVID or have any signs and symptoms at all, get analyzed ahead of you go,” the doctor explained. “If you’re touring, you are likely to be in a close place with other folks, and even if they are vaccinated, that might be enough to make them ill.”

They also pointed out that individuals can be stunned by their check effects.

“Each week with our testing in the county, we uncover people who take a look at positive who did not feel they experienced any high hazard, did not have any symptoms, but just wished to get tested to be guaranteed,” Goodfriend said. “So there are easily a lot of individuals all over the region now who have no reason to consider that they would be contaminated. They’ve been thoroughly vaccinated, and they really don’t have any indicators but could be carrying the virus and passing it on to other folks.”

Goodfriend stated it is continue to vital to don masks and retain a protected length from other people today you do not stay with when you are indoors, even if you are street-tripping and need to have to end for a fill-up at a fuel station.

If you’re hosting a collecting and some company haven’t gotten vaccinated, you may perhaps think about inquiring attendees to get tested just before they come.

“It truly is an individual case by circumstance problem of who’s staying invited, (and) what the threat variables are of individuals individuals currently being invited. If you’re inviting your 92-12 months-outdated grandparents, it’s extremely various than just acquiring 20-12 months-olds alongside one another,” Goodfriend said.

Goodfriend warned that the coronavirus is spreading in the D.C. spot.

“We’re seeing a very immediate increase in cases in Loudoun County and as a result of our area,” Goodfriend mentioned. So far, the county has not witnessed a substantial rise in hospitalizations or fatalities, but traditionally there is a lag time concerning a spike in cases and improves in folks heading to the clinic and even dying.

He’s concerned about what the commence of the new yr will carry.

“Every yr in our region, we come across that as folks come back again from Christmas holiday vacation, that is usually when the flu and other respiratory sicknesses pick up,” Goodfriend reported. “We do have prevalent influenza now in our region, which we did not have final year, and on top rated of that, we have higher transmission of COVID. So extremely likely, the selection of individuals who are sick, whether or not from flu, from COVID, or from other respiratory infections that are likely to be handed in the winter season, is likely to go up drastically in January.”

December 17, 2021
New Mexico health leaders update COVID-19 trends, omicron variant

NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – Immediately after monitoring down the very first confirmed scenario of the omicron COVID-19 variant in New Mexico, condition wellbeing leaders say its also early to inform what the variant’s emergence signifies for the state’s circumstance charges or any transform in the severity of the illness. The update arrived Wednesday all through a digital news meeting, two times just after announcing the discovery of omicron in New Mexico.

So significantly, the first and only acknowledged circumstance was determined Sunday, December 12 with a female grownup in Bernalillo County. As of Wednesday, New Mexico was amid 33 state who’ve identified the variant in new COVID situations. Omicron has been labeled a variant of problem by the Facilities for Disorder Control thanks to many mutations in the virus’ spike protein.

“This variant probable does distribute extra quickly than the first SARS-COVI-2 virus, but it’s not very crystal clear as in comparison to Delta, does it unfold far more easily?” mentioned Dr. Christine Ross, NMDOH’s Condition Epidemiologist. “It definitely does look to have a development edge.”

On Wednesday, New Mexico reported 1,357 new COVID-19 cases, though 613 persons had been hospitalized with the virus. Though Wednesday marks a person of the decrease whole figures of virus-relevant hospitalizations above the final numerous weeks, New Mexico has confronted a continued substantial-stage of new COVID-19 situations, stressing the state’s healthcare facility techniques.

“We had been hoping that we were being viewing a deceleration in the expansion in new instances, but that does not look to be the situation,” Dr. Ross claimed. “We certainly worry about our higher scenario charges, especially as we head into the holiday getaway period.”

Albuquerque Hospitals Acquiring New Support

As a result of traveling nurse systems, the point out is giving much more support to many Albuquerque-area hospitals, together with three of Lovelace’s hospitals and Presbyterian Clinic. In complete, at least 364 state-hired nurses are doing work in point out up from just about 200 very last week. Just about a third of that support is now in Albuquerque.

“You can see the more substantial hospitals are also inquiring for aid,” mentioned Acting NMDOH Secretary Dr. David Scrase. “We’re executing the ideal we can, we do get FEMA reimbursement for this, there is some fairly considerable paperwork to get this reimbursement.”

The point out suggests UNMH is also asking for help for staffing guidance. 1 of two Albuquerque healthcare facility techniques under “crisis specifications of care,” UNMH declared at a news meeting in early December the process would reassign some surgeons, anesthesiologists, citizens, and property officers to assistance present care in other regions of the medical center. Though outpatient care stays unaffected, UNMH is however not accepting most requests for transfers into its facility and only accomplishing surgery on people that is essential inside of two weeks.

Children Vaccinations, Adult Boosters Up

Condition officers launched knowledge Wednesday demonstrating vaccination premiums continue to monitor on concentrate on with state aspirations amid the 5 to 11 and 12 to 15 calendar year old age teams. Deputy Secretary for NMDOH, Dr. Laura Parajón claims the 5 to 11 year old age group is having vaccinated at a more quickly price than the 12 to 15 year group.

“22.4{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of New Mexicans 5 to 11 decades outdated have had at least just one dose,” Dr. Parajón claimed. “What the vaccines are truly seriously excellent at performing, and go on to do is to prevent hospitalization, dying and receiving actually unwell from COVID.”

On the booster dose front, New Mexico saw yet another 10{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} boost in the range of people today acquiring booster doses this week. New Mexico ranks tenth out of the fifty states for per cent of persons fully vaccine, older than 18 with a booster dose.

FEMA’s cell vaccination buses will be arriving in New Mexico in five times, on December 20. The state is predicted to obtaining 4 buses, just one for each individual area of the point out.

“It seems like a vaccine tour bus,” Dr. Parajón said. “We’ll be in a position to commence executing vaccine clinics all all over the condition of New Mexico.

The point out is also hunting for church buildings, community groups or other teams to arrange mobile vaccination clinic requests. Those buses can be requested by way of a condition web page, getvaxnm.com. The state states it will also assistance with promotional assistance for people vaccination clinics are bettertogethernm.com.

The Albuquerque metro location, the state proceeds to give a everyday vaccination for young ones and an adult booster shot fall-in clinic from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. That clinic is open day by day and appointments can be seen on the state’s on the web vaccine calendar.

By way of October, New Mexico extra among 4,700 and 6,600 new COVID scenarios every single week. In November, instances ongoing climbing amongst 8,200 and practically 9,900 new COVID instances each individual 7 days. In accordance to the state’s hottest weekly report, New Mexico extra 7,953 new scenarios concerning December 7 and December 13, 2021.

December 16, 2021
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROVIDES COVID-19 DATA UPDATE FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2021

ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROVIDES COVID-19 DATA UPDATE FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 11, 2021

ERIE COUNTY, NY – The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is providing an update on COVID-19 data. For the week ending December 11, 2021, ECDOH received reports for 4,345 new COVID-19 cases among Erie County residents, a 22{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} decrease from the previous week. This weekly case count is very similar to pre-Thanksgiving holiday levels. Erie County’s COVID-19 case rate of 455 cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days for the week ending December 11 is a decrease from the previous week’s case rate of 580. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set a case rate threshold of 100 or more cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days for a community to be considered to have “high transmission.”

31{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of new COVID-19 cases last week were among city of Buffalo residents. For reference, city of Buffalo residents make up 29{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of all Erie County residents. This past week the ZIP codes with the highest seven-day case rates per 100,000 persons were: 14202 (Buffalo, 29 cases), 14034 (Collins, 19 cases), 14218 (Buffalo, 131 cases), 14032 (Clarence Center, 53 cases) and 14212 (Buffalo, 70 cases). The small population of some of these ZIP codes can be impacted by a relatively small number of new COVID-19 cases. Eight ZIP codes have 7-day case rates of more than 600 new cases per 100,000 residents.

Contact tracing case investigations continue to note family and household clusters of COVID-19 cases. With the holiday season approaching, ECDOH encourages people who plan to gather with friends and family to stay home and away from others if ill. Also, COVID-19 testing is a tool to make sure you know your COVID-19 status before small gatherings, especially if other guests are elderly, have chronic medical or immunocompromising conditions, are pregnant, or unvaccinated.

About 48,000 COVID-19 test reports were received last week, an increase from the previous week’s total. Weekly test reports have remained stable over the past four weeks. ECDOH and health care providers within Erie County still have substantial diagnostic testing capacity. People who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should strongly consider a diagnostic COVID-19 test. The New York State Department of Health maintains a list of testing locations. ECDOH created a list of community COVID-19 testing resources for parents and caregivers. Free COVID-19 tests are available through ECDOH by calling 716-858-2929 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are required for COVID-19 testing through ECDOH. Wait times for ECDOH appointment telephone line are longest in the morning. Callers may choose to call after 10 a.m. if they want to avoid a wait.

The weekly positivity rate was 9.0{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, down from 10.8{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for the week ending December 4. Positivity rates declined in all age groups, though children under age 18 years continue to have the highest positivity rates. For all cases under age 18, the positivity percentage was 10{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}; for all case ages 18 years and older, the positivity percentage was 8.7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}. These higher positivity rates for children may reflect lower relative numbers of tests in these age groups, and a higher likelihood that symptomatic children and adolescents will seek a COVID-19 test for return to school purposes. The 30-39-year-old age group had the highest number of COVID-19 cases last week; this age group also had the highest 7-day case rate per 100,000 persons, at 738.

For children under age 18 years, case totals decreased from the previous week by about 23{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, to 1,345 cases, in line with the 22{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} decrease in countywide cases.

The school team in the ECDOH Office of Epidemiology is managing a large volume of cases among k-12 students and school staff. Data for the week ending December 4 are incomplete* because official test reports are pending. The Thanksgiving holiday may have contributed to a lower number of tests and positive test results for the week ending November 27.

With 374 COVID-19 hospitalizations reported in Erie County hospitals on December 12, 2021, the number of patients admitted to Erie County hospitals with COVID-19 has remained stable over the past two weeks. [See chart at end of release]. 258 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (69{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) were not fully vaccinated. Among those patients, 59 (77{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) of 77 patients admitted to the ICU were not fully vaccinated; and, 42 (79{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) of 53 patients with an airway assist were not fully vaccinated. Vaccines work to reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalization. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) publishes statewide data for COVID-19 cases over time by vaccination status, and daily hospital admissions over time by vaccination status.

ECDOH is reporting COVID-19 mortality data. ECDOH received reports of 52 COVID-19 associated deaths in the past seven days; these reports were from November and December. Total COVID-19-related deaths from March 2020 to December 9, 2021 now stand at 2,255, with 979 reported in 2021. CDC publishes national rates of COVID-19 related cases, hospitalizations and deaths by vaccination status at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#rates-by-vaccine-status.

Through December 13, 26.1{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of 5-11-year-olds in Erie County have at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. All adult age groups have at least 70{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of those populations with at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Additional data, including vaccination estimates by ZIP code, are posted to the ECDOH web site. NYSDOH also updates vaccination data by demographics, by county and by ZIP code.

ECDOH has an active schedule of COVID-19 vaccine clinics, listed at www.erie.gov/vax. Additional clinics have been added throughout the county through December 30. Clinics for 5-11-year-olds are listed at www.erie.gov/vax. ECDOH will also vaccinate any eligible Erie County resident at their home. Call (716) 858-2929 for the “Vax Visit” program.

ECDOH encourages Erie County residents who are not fully vaccinated to begin their COVID-19 vaccine series. COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for youth and families attending school or child care.

Following recent FDA authorization for COVID-19 vaccine booster doses for 16- and 17-year-olds, ECDOH vaccine clinics will provide a COVID-19 booster dose to anyone age 16 years and older as long as enough time has elapsed from their initial series completion (6 months for Pfizer and Moderna; 2 months for J&J). ECDOH encourages people to review the recommended booster eligibility criteria, evaluate their risk factors and talk to their own physician with questions. NYSDOH has further information about booster doses.

Finally, CDC and NYSDOH have begun to report influenza data for the 2021-2022 flu season. Influenza activity remains low nationally but continues to increase. There are early signs that flu vaccination uptake is down this season compared to last. ECDOH reminds all residents that there is still time to get a flu vaccine; flu vaccine is recommended for everyone ages 6 months and older. Flu can have serious complications for older adults, individuals with immunocompromising medical conditions, pregnant women and infants.

Chart: Erie County Hospitalization Data, last two weeks (November 29- December 12, 2021).
Data Sources: New York State Department of Health and Erie County hospitals

#

ECDOH, COVID-19 vaccine info & clinic schedule: http://www.erie.gov/vax

ECDOH, COVID-19 Information Line: (716) 858-2929 – foreign language interpretation available

ECDOH, COVID-19 Weekly Data Updates: https://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=covid-19-media-data

New York State Department of Health, COVID-19 Boosters: http://ny.gov/boosters

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December 15, 2021
December 12 update from Health Department on COVID-19 cases

The Tompkins County Overall health Department says there have now been 8,814 whole positive conditions in Tompkins County, 344 a lot more than on Saturday, with a whole of 1,664,240 checks done. They also say 8,001 sufferers are outlined as released from isolation right after having analyzed beneficial, 38 new recoveries, leaving 772 active cases. It is the optimum solitary-day situation depend of the pandemic.

Similar: Cornell returns its COVID-19 warn stage to Yellow

“What we’re observing domestically is component of the larger sized craze throughout the condition and state,” suggests Tompkins County health-related director Dr. William Klepack. “While this is an improve in situations, the defense supplied by all of our vaccines is exceptional and vaccinated folks are really guarded against symptomatic ailment and hospitalization, which include from variants.”

Similar: Initial two conditions of Omicron variant verified in Tompkins County, suggests Well being Division

As of Sunday at 10:30am, the Overall health Department suggests 947 assessments had been performed due to the fact the last update. The Tompkins County Wellbeing Department publishes NYS vaccine tracking data, showing 81,025 Tompkins County residents have a initially dose and 74,939 have concluded vaccination (which could be one or two doses, dependent on vaccine).

Connected: Significant transmission charge for Tompkins, suggests Overall health Section

The Health and fitness Division states nine folks are now hospitalized for COVID-19, a single less than in Saturday’s update. As of a change in data final winter season, “TCHD is reporting only lively instances who are hospitalized,” alternatively than which include sufferers recovered from COVID who stay hospitalized for other good reasons.

Associated: Booster doses out there for all those 18 and up, suggests Wellbeing Department

Samantha Hillson from the Wellness Division tells us “released from isolation” usually means the patient has been unveiled immediately after the “mandatory ten-day period,” but can be extended if individuals nonetheless have signs or other problems. Individuals do not automatically test detrimental, as “people can exam favourable for up to 90 days.”

Relevant: Booster vaccines being available every Wednesday at Reach

There have been 41 deaths from COVID-19 recorded amid Tompkins County people, which include the loss of life of two area inhabitants reported last week. (Two fatalities recorded in Tompkins County very last spring ended up of non-citizens, and the Health Department is providing different data.)

Related: County experiences demise of vaccinated 93-calendar year-aged COVID client

Tompkins County General public Wellbeing Director Frank Kruppa claims, “of the latest uptick in hospitalizations, a wide the vast majority have been of unvaccinated people today. Of the several vaccinated individuals who have been hospitalized, the craze retains that they have been admitted for a non-COVID relevant challenge and examined optimistic upon admittance.”

On December 10, Cornell College documented 62 new positive conditions for December 9, 105 active college student instances, with a 1.00{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} positivity amount. Cornell only updates its dashboard on weekdays, and the timing of their updates does not make it possible for a direct comparison to the county’s studies.

As of December 11, Ithaca School reviews 42 active student scenarios, 32 amongst people, with 99 recovered, and four active worker conditions and 31 recovered staff.

Relevant: Cornell returns its COVID-19 alert degree to Environmentally friendly

“All positive circumstances are distinctive individuals,” the Health and fitness Office suggests. Some of the damaging check results are individuals necessary to be analyzed multiple times, and so this depend is very likely to mirror the similar human being many occasions in many scenarios.

The Overall health Department claims its data include things like tests that Cornell College commenced conducting very last summer season on July 16. Cornell launched its own COVID-19 details dashboard previous summer on August 25.

Linked: New Cornell COVID-19 dashboard displays take a look at success and inform degree

The Wellbeing Office suggests the general public wants to prevent the spread of COVID-19 not just to safeguard them selves, but others in our neighborhood who are most susceptible to obtaining really ill – more mature grownups, those who are immune-compromised, and all those with fundamental serious health and fitness circumstances. Anyone can get these techniques to halt the distribute of COVID-19 and “flatten the curve” in our community.

TCHD’s Frank Kruppa claims, “There is a really higher vaccination fee for our local community, primarily with the successes that have been noted by our community faculties. In addition to the arrival and surveillance screening, lots of of our new circumstances are arising from sustained close get hold of with a good unique, which means additional than 10 minutes within 6 ft of a optimistic circumstance. These close contacts are taking place additional usually in substantial indoor gatherings that combine diverse teams of folks.”

“Tompkins County is now in the ‘High’ transmission charge as described by the CDC,” the Overall health Office states. “High transmission rate happens when there are about 100 favourable cases for each 100,000 inhabitants about a 7-day time period. The advisory for County inhabitants to wear a mask indoors when about other folks proceeds to be in area.”

For extra, observe 14850.com on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter or subscribe to the 14850 Journal Each day e-newsletter.

Relevant: Coronavirus coverage in 14850 Today

December 13, 2021
COVID-19 in Michigan is ‘critical right now,’ health officials say

(WXYZ) — The Point out of Michigan supplied an update on COVID-19 Friday early morning, amid increasing hospitalizations and the 1st confirmed case of the omicron variant detected Thursday.

Michigan Department of Health and fitness and Human Solutions Director Elizabeth Hertel, MDHHS Main Health-related Govt Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, and two medical doctors from other Michigan hospitals spoke at the update.

They in depth a dire circumstance in Michigan that will come with underneath-common vaccination rates, superior hospitalization prices and superior circumstance fees.

In accordance to Bagdasarian, conditions are at an all-time substantial, and the condition is looking at the maximum weekly reported situations because the start of the pandemic. There have been 569.2 weekly instances for every 100,000 men and women, and situations are better than this time very last year, and envisioned to increase.

When it will come to hospitalizations, the point out said inpatient beds with COVID-19 individuals are at an all-time high with 21.5{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of beds, and those people have been increasing for 20 weeks.

Similar: Michigan requesting more ventilators from feds as COVID-19 hospitalizations soar
On top of that, fatalities are growing. In accordance to Bagdasarian, 87 persons died just about every day on regular from COVID-19 in the previous week.

“The condition in our state is essential suitable now. Circumstances are surging, hospitals are whole and we have a new variant,” Bagdasarian stated.

She said that men and women need to have to get vaccinated, get boosted, wear a nicely-fitting mask in indoor community configurations and get examined.

As of Wednesday, the point out has 1,368,541 situations of COVID-19 complete and averaged approximately 7,700 instances for each day more than a two-working day time period.

Michigan also has 4,630 individuals in the healthcare facility with verified or suspected instances of COVID-19 and 59 young children in the healthcare facility with the virus. There are 996 sufferers in the ICU and 601 patients on ventilators.

The state is in the midst f its fourth surge and has been averaging thousands of situations for every day. The history variety of circumstances was established in November 2020 with practically 9,800 for each working day.

On Dec. 3, the condition established a file for the range of lively scenarios of COVID-19 with far more than 221,000.

Supplemental Coronavirus information and facts and assets:

Look at a global coronavirus tracker with details from Johns Hopkins College.

See finish protection on our Coronavirus Continuing Coverage page.

Stop by our The Rebound Detroit, a spot exactly where we are working to assistance folks impacted monetarily from the coronavirus. We have all the facts on every little thing accessible to enable you as a result of this crisis and how to access it.

December 12, 2021
ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROVIDES COVID-19 DATA UPDATE FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 4, 2021

ERIE COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH PROVIDES COVID-19 DATA UPDATE FOR WEEK ENDING DECEMBER 4, 2021

ERIE COUNTY, NY – The Erie County Department of Health (ECDOH) is providing an update on COVID-19 data. For the week ending December 4, 2021, ECDOH received reports for 5,537 new COVID-19 cases among Erie County residents, a 30{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} increase from the previous week and represents an all-time weekly high total of cases. Erie County’s COVID-19 case rate of 580 cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days for the week ending December 4 is an increase from the previous week’s case rate of 448. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) set a case rate threshold of 100 or more cases per 100,000 residents in the past seven days for a community to be considered to have “high transmission.”

29{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of new COVID-19 cases last week were among city of Buffalo residents. For reference, city of Buffalo residents make up 29{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of all Erie County residents. This past week the ZIP codes with the highest seven-day case rates per 100,000 persons were: 14203 (Buffalo, 20 cases), 14055 (East Concord, 15 cases), 14057 (Eden, 75 cases), 14218 (Lackawanna, 173 cases) and 14086 (Lancaster, 278 cases). Five ZIP codes had a case rate of more than 800 new cases per 100,000 residents over seven days. Of note: 14203 and 14055 ZIP codes have smaller populations, and their case rate can be impacted significantly by case totals. Twenty-five ZIP codes have 7-day case rates of more than 600 new cases per 100,000 residents.

Contact tracing case investigations continue to note family and household clusters of COVID-19 cases. With the holiday season approaching, ECDOH encourages people who plan to gather with friends and family to stay home and away from others if ill. Also, COVID-19 testing is a tool to make sure you know your COVID-19 status before small gatherings, especially if other guests are elderly, have chronic medical or immunocompromising conditions, are pregnant, or unvaccinated.

About 51,000 COVID-19 test reports were received last week, an increase from the previous week’s total, and the most tests reported in one week since April 2021. Weekly test reports have remained stable over the past four weeks. ECDOH and health care providers within Erie County still have substantial diagnostic testing capacity. People who are experiencing COVID-19 symptoms, regardless of vaccination status, should strongly consider a diagnostic COVID-19 test. The New York State Department of Health maintains a list of testing locations. ECDOH created a list of community COVID-19 testing resources for parents and caregivers. Free COVID-19 NAAT tests are available through ECDOH by calling 716-858-2929 to schedule an appointment. Appointments are required for COVID-19 testing through ECDOH. Wait times for ECDOH appointment telephone line are longest in the morning. Callers may choose to call after 10 a.m. if they want to avoid a wait.

The weekly positivity rate was 10.8{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, up from 9.9{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for the week ending November 27. This is the highest weekly positivity percentage since the earliest stages of the pandemic in May 2020, when testing capacity was low. The 30-39-year-old age group had the highest number of COVID-19 cases last week; this age group also had the highest 7-day case rate per 100,000 persons, at 899. The age groups with the highest positivity rates children under 14 years old: 12{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for 0-4-year-olds; 13.2{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for 5-10-year-olds; 16.4{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for 11-13-year-olds; and, 13.7{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} for 14-17-year-olds. These higher positivity rates may reflect lower relative numbers of tests in these age groups, and a higher likelihood that symptomatic children and adolescents will seek a COVID-19 test for return to school purposes.

For children under age 18 years, case totals increased from the previous week by about 25{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}, to 1,345 cases.

Cases among children under 18 years comprised 25{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of all cases reported for last week.

The school team in the ECDOH Office of Epidemiology is managing a large volume of cases among k-12 students and school staff. Data for the week ending November 27 are incomplete* because official test reports are pending. The Thanksgiving holiday may have contributed to a lower number of tests and positive test results for the week ending November 27. These weekly totals remain higher than at any other point in this academic year or the previous academic year.

With 376 COVID-19 hospitalizations reported in Erie County hospitals on December 5, 2021, the number of patients admitted to Erie County hospitals with COVID-19 has ranged from a low of 284 hospitalizations to a high of 376 hospitalizations over the past two weeks [See chart at end of release]. 257 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 (68{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) were not fully vaccinated. Among those patients, 51 (74{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) of 69 patients admitted to the ICU were not fully vaccinated; and, 36 (72{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c}) of 50 patients with an airway assist were not fully vaccinated. Vaccines work to reduce the risk of serious illness and hospitalization. The New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) publishes statewide data for COVID-19 cases over time by vaccination status, and daily hospital admissions over time by vaccination status.

ECDOH is reporting COVID-19 mortality data. ECDOH received reports of 52 COVID-19 associated deaths in the past seven days; these reports were from October, November and December. Total COVID-19-related deaths from March 2020 to December 2, 2021 now stand at 2,203, with 927 reported in 2021. CDC publishes national rates of COVID-19 related cases, hospitalizations and deaths by vaccination status at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#rates-by-vaccine-status.

With data compiled by the ECDOH epidemiology office through December 6, 2021, 23.9{fe463f59fb70c5c01486843be1d66c13e664ed3ae921464fa884afebcc0ffe6c} of 5-11-year-olds in Erie County have at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine. Additional data, including vaccination estimates by ZIP code, are posted to the ECDOH web site. NYSDOH also updates vaccination data by demographics, by county and by ZIP code.

ECDOH has an active schedule of COVID-19 vaccine clinics, listed at www.erie.gov/vax. Additional clinics have been added throughout the county through December 30. Clinics for 5-11-year-olds are listed at www.erie.gov/vax. ECDOH will also vaccinate any eligible Erie County resident at their home. Call (716) 858-2929 for the “Vax Visit” program.

ECDOH encourages Erie County residents who are not fully vaccinated to begin their COVID-19 vaccine series. COVID-19 vaccination is especially important for youth and families attending school or child care.

ECDOH vaccine clinics will provide a COVID-19 booster dose to anyone age 18 and older as long as enough time has elapsed from their initial series completion (6 months for Pfizer and Moderna; 2 months for J&J). ECDOH encourages people to review the recommended booster eligibility criteria, evaluate their risk factors and talk to their own physician with questions. NYSDOH has further information about booster doses.

Chart: Erie County Hospitalization Data, last two weeks (November 22, 2021-December 5, 2021); data for Nov. 25, 2021 not available due to Thanksgiving holiday.

Data Sources: New York State Department of Health and Erie County hospitals

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ECDOH, COVID-19 vaccine info & clinic schedule: http://www.erie.gov/vax

ECDOH, COVID-19 Information Line: (716) 858-2929 – foreign language interpretation available

ECDOH, COVID-19 Weekly Data Updates: https://www2.erie.gov/health/index.php?q=covid-19-media-data

New York State Department of Health, COVID-19 Boosters: http://ny.gov/boosters

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December 10, 2021