COVID-19 numbers are trending downward in Orange County, but with the colder months approaching, local health experts say it’s important to stay vigilant with coronavirus prevention measures.
While case counts and vaccination percentages are moving in the right direction, Orange County Health Director Quintana Stewart said the region still has a long way to go.
“In dealing with staffing and other things that folks need to use our hospital for, they’re still stretched pretty thin over there,” Stewart said. “But our number of COVID cases coming into the hospital are trending downward.”
Hospitals around the country are experiencing staffing shortages, minimal open beds and are forced to prioritize certain types of care.
Stewart said Orange County has not been exempt from those issues. She said this could be especially troubling because coronavirus cases will likely increase in the coming months.
“I think in reality, we are braced to see an increase in cases,” Stewart said. “I am hopeful that folks are really starting to really take hold to the vaccine. Those that are eligible go and get those boosters. I just hope that folks will continue to mask and do all that we can with our individual behaviors to slow the spread.”
Stewart said fall and winter usually see an increase in respiratory viruses of all kinds, which is why it is especially important to follow known preventive practices like masking, vaccination and social distancing. While Orange County’s indoor mask mandate went back into effect in August, she said she believes it should stay in place a little while longer.
“I don’t know that we want to lift that mask mandate,” Stewart said. “Thinking about our hospital partners we want to do everything we can to keep their numbers down. We don’t want them to catch a big surge of maybe flu cases. We want to do all we can to keep those numbers down and not overwhelm our healthcare system.”
Another way to protect yourself and others is to get the booster shots for the COVID-19 vaccines. Those who received the Pfizer vaccine at least six months ago and are in a high-risk category are eligible to receive their boosters. That category includes people 65 and older, adults who are immunocompromised or people living/working in high-risk settings such as residence halls.
“It takes an already excellent vaccine and just makes it even stronger for those who are immunocompromised,” Stewart said.
Booster shots are available at public health clinics throughout the county.
Stewart said Orange County has also made progress in preparing to vaccinate 5 to 11-year-olds, which are expected to gain FDA approval in October. She said the approval of the vaccine for children would make in-person learning at local schools safer.
“We are all anxiously awaiting,” Stewart said. “Here in Orange County, we have already started to work with several community partners including both school districts to plan how we can get those vaccines out as soon as they’re approved.”
Stewart said the county has been proactive in its communications with K-12 schools so that they will be ready to distribute vaccines as soon as they get the green light. If approved in the coming weeks, the vaccine could protect children from any winter surges of COVID-19.
Featured photo via Robert Willett/The News & Observer via AP
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