The Lorain County Community Protection Team is on point reminding people to remain cautious since the region is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases.
As a new variant of the omicron makes its way around the area, local community leaders, however, believe there is no need for alarm, yet.
Members of the Lorain County Community Protection Team met virtually May 17 to discuss the details of the latest wave of the coronavirus pandemic.
Lorain County Public Health Commissioner Mark Adams told those gathered that the latest wave now is in its fourth week.
However, Adams updated the county May 20, that COVID-19 cases are continuing to climb even with activities with family and traveling.
Lorain County went from green alert to red/orange alert, which is a high risk of spread.
And this portion of Northeast Ohio is dealing with the fourth and fifth variant of the omicron.
Adams noted there are signs of a rapid spread of the illness, which is mimicking a cold or allergies.
The current count of reported COVID-19 cases as of May 17 was 131 people per 100,000 people.
So far, another good sign is that officials are not seeing an increase in hospitalizations.
Unfortunately, with the new variants, it appears that COVID-19 tests are proving ineffective.
The tests are showing negative results on people who have the illness until their symptoms worsen.
It’s a little troubling that some people have reported taking up to four tests before a positive reading occurs.
Testing, however, is necessary in preventing the spread.
Adams believes there are a lot of people out there who don’t know they have contracted the virus.
So, that means the public has to be more vigilant and careful in their daily activities.
But as the public continues to fight the virus in its various forms, Adams said he is seeing an increase in requests for first-time COVID-19 vaccines.
Adams has noticed that people who’ve had the virus, some maybe more than once, and don’t want to get it again, are showing up at Lorain County Public Health and other sites getting the vaccination.
Lorain County Public Health, Ohio Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still recommend getting the vaccination because they boost immune systems to fight the virus if someone is exposed.
For some, it might not hurt to return to some of the safety protocols.
Vaccination combined with ongoing prevention efforts including wearing face masks that cover the mouth and nose, frequent hand-washing and staying at least six feet away from others offer the best protection against COVID-19.
Actually, Adams said the local clinics are busy with people getting the shots, whether it’s Pfizer, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson.
He’s still asking people to get fully vaccinated.
For fighting the virus, we see this as a good sign because getting vaccinated has proven to be effective.
People are helping themselves health wise when they are vaccinated.
But health experts also are trying to dispel the myths about the vaccination, including it will cause infertility; that natural immunity is better than vaccine immunity; that we are close to herd immunity and the vaccine is not needed; that vaccines can shed or leak outside of the body; that many people have died from the vaccine, therefore, it’s not worth the risk; that you can’t donate blood; that vaccines can cause COVID-19 variants; vaccines affect menstrual cycles; and the vaccines contain metals and microchips that cause you to be magnetic.
Medical experts have debunked those myths.
Health officials also feel confident that people are not getting infected in the workplace, but when they travel to other areas.
However, Adams warns that if a person feels symptomatic, they should not go to work, especially in office settings or where employees work in close proximity to others.
We also have to acknowledge that more than a million people in the United States have died from the virus, and some of us know someone who died from COVID-19.
On May 12, President Joe Biden ordered federal flags, including at the White House, to be flown at half staff to remember those who died from the virus.
Biden also urged the nation to remain vigilant as the virus rages on.
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine followed suit the same day and issued an order for all U.S. and Ohio flags in the state lowered to half-staff to remember the Americans who died from COVID-19.
Both orders remained until sunset May 16.
A million lives lost is too many to this awful virus.
We don’t want to see another million lost.
