COVID transmission “explodes” in Washtenaw County, powered by omicron

By Stone Andrews On Dec 30, 2021

WASHTENAW COUNTY, MI – For two days, Washtenaw County has reported more than 600 new confirmed COVID-19 cases in its daily count, says an increase fueled by the transmission of the Omicron variant over the holidays.

The 24-hour case list – 641 cases – announced on Wednesday, December 29, was the highest ever, “by far,” the county’s health ministry said on Twitter that the nationwide daily cases on the same day were also unprecedented Reached level.

“We believe most of what is happening right now is omicron,” said Susan Ringler-Cerniglia, spokeswoman for the Washtenaw County’s Department of Health, referring to disease surveillance efforts at all levels of government. And the case numbers are certainly outnumbered as they don’t include home tests that many use to detect the virus, she said.

Michigan’s most populous counties – including Washtenaw – saw the largest increase in cases in the week of December 23-29, MLive reported. These spikes coincided with a national spike in virus detection that peaked in the week after Christmas.

Washtenaw County observed seven COVID-related deaths in the 24-hour period reported December 30, with the data current at 10 a.m., according to the Department of Health’s COVID dashboard.

Data from the Washtenaw County Health Department shows positive COVID-19 test results per day, hitting record highs towards the end of 2021.Washtenaw County Health Department

Washtenaw County’s Health Department recommendation # 1 continues to be vaccinated and given a booster dose if applicable.

They also urge residents to “stratify” coronavirus prevention strategies. According to Ringler-Cerniglia, this includes wearing a well-fitting mask in all interior spaces, ideally one with several layers or one on top of the other.

Should residents stay home on New Year’s Eve or watch Michigan football’s Orange Bowl game against Georgia alone?

Given the way the virus is spreading, health officials are advising that gatherings be kept small or postponed altogether.

Even with every possible precaution – vaccination and booster, previous rapid test, wearing masks, and social distancing – people can be contagious two days before they feel sick or test positive, it said.

The spokeswoman said she understood the importance of social gatherings but cautioned people who are known to have been exposed to COVID or are more susceptible to the virus.

Local hospital admissions for COVID-19 remained high during the holidays, Ringler-Cerniglia said, and those numbers in reported cases tend to lag behind the increases seen this week.

While many of the newly reported cases represent less severe breakthrough cases in vaccinated residents or illnesses in unvaccinated individuals who do not require advanced medical treatment, nationwide trends still clearly show that people who have not received the vaccine are significantly more likely to end up. in the hospital, she added.

The vaccinations and booster doses are available after an appointment in the current vaccine clinic of the district in Ypsilanti website of the department.

The county is currently unable to offer free rapid tests that were sometimes in short supply in pharmacies over the holidays, Ringler-Cerniglia said, but officials are working to provide better access to the kits that can help residents Making better decisions jeopardize yourself and others.

The spokeswoman also said she expected the federal government to release more information about the Biden government’s pledge to distribute half a billion rapid tests to Americans free of charge.

Meanwhile, Washtenaw County’s COVID transmission remains “high” for months.

“With the transmission exploding, there is just more exposure and more testing and a lot more going on,” said Ringler-Cerniglia.