The delta variant of the virus that causes COVID-19 is fueling a sharp rise in cases in Snohomish County, raising concerns about the hospital system’s ability to keep pace, a virtual press conference was told Tuesday.
It is critical that eligible people who haven’t yet been vaccinated take their shot, and that everybody resume wearing masks in indoor public spaces and outdoors when encountering crowds, said Dr. Chris Spitters, Health Officer for the Snohomish Health District.
“The delta strain is a game changer in multiple ways,” Dr. Spitters said.
The new variant is proving far more infectious than previous strains. Nearly 1,700 new COVID cases were reported in the county last week, up from 1,300 the week prior. That’s pushed the case rate to more than 360 new cases per 100,000 people – with no signs of slowing.
The rising cases are placing more pressure on the health care system. As of Tuesday morning, 75 people were in area hospitals being treated for COVID. Current hospital ICU occupancy is 90%.
While available vaccines are proving less effective against the delta variant, people who are fully vaccinated are largely being spared serious COVID complications that require hospital care, the press conference was told.
Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers said choosing to be vaccinated remains the right decision.
“Not being vaccinated means that you have a higher risk of serious illness or death,” the Executive said.
More than 70% of county residents already have at least initiated vaccination. Even so, Dr. Spitters said that the only way to curb rising cases is to get more of the estimated 230,000 people eligible for vaccination to take their shot, and for everybody to be more rigorous in practicing good COVID hygiene, including maintaining social distancing and masking up.
That’s why, Dr. Spitters said, he opted last week to issue a new masking directive.
“We don’t take these decisions and actions lightly, and I know that they aren’t popular with everyone,” he said. “I recognize that some people — vaccinated or not — find it extremely frustrating to have to go back to wearing masks in public. But we have to do what is right and to protect the community at large, to protect the hospital system.”
Executive Somers told reporters he’s carefully monitoring what is happening with the COVID case rate and hospitalizations, and while he doesn’t anticipate a return to restrictions on business occupancy and other measures, that doesn’t mean those tools may not prove necessary.
“Stay tuned. Who knows? This current spike in new cases is troubling,” Executive Somers said.
Watch a video of the full briefing: https://youtu.be/kWnu_MWOx7A
On July 26, Snohomish County Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters joined seven other health officers in Washington in issuing a statement urging residents to wear a mask indoors.
In light of the rising case rates, hospitalizations and the highly transmissible delta variant, all health officers across the state are joining in to reiterate the importance of vaccination and urging masking for everyone entering a public indoor space, regardless of vaccination status.
Local health officers across Washington have issued the following statement:
The health officers representing all 35 local health jurisdictions in Washington state have joined together to pass on their best public health advice to protect you, your family, and our communities. We recommend all residents wear facial coverings when in indoor public settings where the vaccination status of those around you is unknown. This step will help reduce the risk of COVID-19 to the public, including customers and workers, help stem the increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in many parts of the state and decrease the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant.
Vaccinations are our best defense against COVID-19 and are safe, effective, and readily available for everyone age 12 and over. Please get yours immediately if you are not already vaccinated.
This statement is in alignment with the local masking directive announced on Tuesday that went into effect this morning. That directive states that everyone 5 years of age and up in Snohomish County must wear a face covering within indoor public spaces.
See the full press release for more information.
Thank you to everyone who is taking their shot! More people in Snohomish County are getting their first doses of COVID vaccine – nearly 5,600 initiated vaccination in the last week compared to a little over 3,000 a couple of weeks ago. #InItTogether
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Health care providers can now offer third doses of Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines to certain immunocompromised individuals following recommendations from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Advisory Committee on Immunizations Practices (ACIP), and Western States Scientific Safety Review Workgroup.
While authorized vaccines have proven to be more than 90% effective in protecting against most variants, emerging data suggest people with moderately to severely compromised immune systems do not always build the same level of immunity compared to people who are not immunocompromised. The third dose is not considered a booster, rather an additional dose for individuals who did not adequately develop immunities with the initial two-dose series. A full list of conditions is available on the CDC’s website.
“A third dose of Pfizer or Moderna will provide those who need it extra protection and help shield some of our most vulnerable from the highly contagious delta variant,” said Secretary of Health Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH. “Science continues to show vaccines are the best tool we have to protect our communities and slow the spread of COVID-19.”
See the full press release from the state Department of Health for more information.
 Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers and Snohomish Health District Health Officer Dr. Chris Spitters provide updates on the ongoing response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWnu_MWOx7A
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