HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Ottawa County health officials confirmed the COVID-19 variant, Omicron is spreading through the community, with six people diagnosed after tests last month. Few, if any, are surprised.
“We expected to detect the Omicron variant here in Ottawa County after it was discovered in the United States in early December,” said Lisa Stefanovsky, Ottawa County’s administrative health officer. “The presence of the highly contagious variant once again highlights the need for everyone to take the opportunity to be vaccinated or boosted, access testing and wear a mask whenever you are indoors in public.”
Three had been vaccinated, but did not have booster. The Omicron diagnoses were confirmed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) on Tuesday, January 3, 2022.based on tests collected between December 17 and 21.
Omicron is considered milder than Delta, but spreads more quickly than any strain so far detected. It’s emerging during one of the most-significant surges since the start of the pandemic. Health officials indicated Omicron will likely potentially dominant, variant in the County in the weeks ahead.
Tips for avoiding any form of COVID-19 remain fairly consistent:
- Get vaccinated. Get eligible kids vaccinated.
- If you’re already vaccinated, get a booster.
- Wear a mask in indoor public spaces
- Consider upgrading cloth masks to something something like an N95, KN95 or 3-ply surgical mask.
- Stay home if you’re sick.
- Use a rapid COVID-19 test immediately before gathering with others to check if you are infected and contagious.
- If your rapid test is negative, this does not mean you do not have COVID-19; it just means that the virus was not detected in the sample. Make sure to follow up with your health care provider if you are not sure, or if you have any symptoms of COVID-19. Stay home to avoid exposing others to illness.
- If you test positive on a rapid test, isolate immediately, contact a health care provider to see if further testing is recommended, and if so, do not gather with others while you wait for your test results.
- If you test positive for COVID-19, let your doctor know right away to minimize symptoms.
Ottawa County health officials offer free vaccinations and boosters at its clinic on 12251 James St. in Holland Twp., from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. every Monday, on a walk-in or appointment basis.
Details at miottawa.org/COVID19 or vaccinatewestmi.com/clinics. or email covid19@miottawa.org, or call (616) 396-5266 or visit miOttawa.org/COVID19.
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