Covid Care Update- 12-20-2021

December 20, 2021

Covid Care Update

Dear Cooper County Community,

We encourage all citizens to be safe and use caution/consideration in their activities related to the prevention of Covid disease spread. Please be vigilant and protective of family, friends, neighbors, and yourself.

Current positive covid cases are increasing. Omicron strain is projected to cause a rapid rise in positive cases on top of the current Delta strain that is circulating.

Please remember that healthcare and testing resources are strained and limited already. During case investigations after Thanksgiving, we learned that many covid positive individuals knowingly attended Thanksgiving gatherings while they should have been home on quarantine.

If citizens continue to engage in this type of behavior, we can expect a full crisis of care for everyone.

Here is a friendly reminder for actions that you can do to promote health and decrease the spread of disease.
1. If you feel ill or experiencing respiratory problems seek covid testing or an exam by a physician or nurse practitioner. Use frequent handwashing.
2. Wear a mask and decline invitations for public gatherings. Keep your distance from immediate family members and co-workers.
3. All individuals need to be masking even if you have had covid previously or have been vaccinated. As the virus mutates you may still be susceptible to the disease and can spread it among friends and family members.
4. Dining out or shared family meals can place individuals as risk for exposure and spread of disease. Please limit your gatherings and request friends and family to not attend if they are having signs and symptoms of any type of illness or if they have not completed their quarantine yet.
5. Christmas gatherings should be postposed if family members are ill. It is better to have a delayed holiday celebration rather than hospitalize and or cause the death of a family member or friend.
6. Distance and air flow at gatherings can also reduce your risk of inadvertent spread of respiratory droplets. This includes influenza and covid.

The Cooper County Public Health Center provides covid testing by appointment only. Covid vaccinations are provided every Thursday 9am-12 and 1-5pm. No appointment is necessary for the Thursday Clinics.

Routine Childhood immunization are by appointment only.

Your health center is currently experiencing a shortage of staff. Please be prepared that we may not be able to meet all the requests for services as we manage our way through another wave of Covid in this pandemic.

We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy holiday season.

Sincerely,

Melanie Hutton RN, MSN
Administrator