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The last week saw a steep climb in COVID cases, likely due to multiple factors. Omicron now represents the vast majority of cases in the region. There is waning immunity for those who were vaccinated but have not gotten a booster dose. Cold weather pushes gatherings indoors.
This is the time to book an appointment to get vaccinated or get your COVID booster if you haven’t yet. Get a flu shot, too. Avoid crowds. Wear masks over the nose and mouth consistently in shared spaces. Stay home if you have symptoms or are a close contact of someone with COVID.
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Due to inclement weather, Snohomish Health District drive-thru testing and vaccination will be closed through the rest of the week. Ash Way’s next operational day will be testing on January 2nd and Longfellow’s next operational day will be testing on January 3rd.
If you have a scheduled appointment, please watch for the cancelation notification for more information. If you have any symptoms of COVID-19, or have had an exposure, please continue to stay home until testing is available.
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The latest information from the Washington Department of Health (DOH) showed that omicron was making up over 50% of COVID infections as of Dec. 16. With a doubling of omicron cases every few days, omicron now represents the vast majority of positives in the Puget Sound region and statewide. DOH reported a record number of coronavirus infections on Christmas Eve, with 6,235 confirmed new cases on that date alone. This surpasses the state’s previous record number of cases reported in a single day.
Snohomish County confirmed a new record 2,719 cases last week, a 129% surge over the prior week.
While the severity of omicron remains to be determined, the concern of public health officials is overwhelming the health care system. This is not only about individual health, but the integrity of the healthcare system that provides care for all conditions.
Getting vaccinated/boosted is the number one thing people can do to mitigate immune escape and risk of severe disease, along with continuing masking (but at a higher level of quality) and avoiding crowds.
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The Washington State Department of Health (DOH) has announced updates to state isolation and quarantine guidance, in alignment with the newly released recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Monday, the CDC announced the following shift in isolation and quarantine recommendations for the general public:
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Shorten the recommended time for isolation from 10 days for people with COVID-19 to five days, if they are asymptomatic on day five, followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others. If symptoms occur, individuals should immediately quarantine until a next test confirms symptoms are not related to COVID-19.
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Recommended quarantine period for those exposed to COVID-19
- For unvaccinated individuals or those that are more than six months from their original mRNA dose or more than two months after the J&J vaccine and not yet boosted, CDC is recommending quarantine for five days followed by strict mask use for another five days.
- Vaccinated individuals who have received their booster do not need to quarantine but should wear a mask for 10 days after exposure.
- If symptoms do occur after exposure, individuals should immediately quarantine until a negative test confirms symptoms are not related to COVID-19.
- When in doubt, get tested on day five and as always, wear a mask when in public spaces after isolation or quarantine are completed. Also be mindful of activities, especially indoors and in crowded settings.
In addition to the changes announced Monday, due to concerns about increased transmissibility of the COVID-19 Omicron variant, the CDC recently updated their work restriction recommendations for healthcare personnel (HCP). DOH is also updating the guidelines for Washington to align with CDC recommendations.
“It remains important for community members to know about changes to this guidance,” said Umair A. Shah, MD, MPH, Secretary of Health. “The key remains recognizing we all have to work together to protect ourselves and those around us.”
Vaccination is still the best way to protect yourself and others from COVID-19. Everyone over the age of 16 is eligible for a booster dose and should get one as soon as possible. Children over the age of five should start their two-shot series immediately. To find vaccine locations near you visit Vaccine Locator, Vaccines.gov, or call the state’s COVID-19 hotline at 833-VAX-HELP. Language assistance is available.
DOH continues to recommend limited travel and exposure to large crowds. People should get tested if they are experiencing symptoms of COVID-19. Additionally, in the state of Washington, masking is required for all individuals when indoors in accordance with the Secretary of Health’s face covering order.
Changes to state recommendations go into effect immediately. Updates to the DOH website and other guidance documents will be completed soon.
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In response to recent sports-related outbreaks, DOH has updated the testing requirements for high-risk sporting activities to require screening testing of all athletes, coaches, trainers and supporting personnel, regardless of vaccination status. Further, the testing frequency has increased to 3 times weekly. Among those screening tests, at least one must occur no sooner than the day before the competition; ideally and whenever possible, the day of the event. High-risk sporting activities include basketball, wrestling, water polo, and indoor cheer.
Read all the information here.
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Now, you can request a verification code for an at-home positive test to send an anonymous exposure notification to other users. WA Notify is located in Settings and Exposure Notifications on iPhones and can be downloaded from the Google Play store on Android.
Users should then contact the DOH COVID-19 hotline at 1-800-525-0127, then press #, to report the positive result from an over-the-counter test. Go to WANotify.org to learn more.
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Cumulative from Jan. 2020 to present
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ESSENTIAL LINKS AND PHONE NUMBERS FOR UP-TO-DATE INFORMATION
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