COVID-19 Omicron Variant Sends Positive Cases Numbers Soaring, Influenza A Also Spreading

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By Lori Moots-Clair, KCHD Administrator

Friday, January 21, 2022 – Omicron has invaded Knox County while Influenza A is spreading. The Knox County Health Department HIGHLY RECOMMENDS Knox County residents cease all unnecessary gathering, utilize online shopping and bill paying if possible, hand wash and sanitize frequently, mask when in public places, maintain greater than the six foot distance recommended by CDC from others when in public places, and test to weed out symptoms.

As of Friday, there were 109 KNOWN active cases, 20 added Friday (11 un-vaccinated, seven un-boosted and two boosted).

We have four hospitalized patients not on ventilators at this time.

The Omicron variant of Covid-19 is spread by droplet infection within the six foot social distancing recommendations. In severely symptomatic individuals, those singing, talking loudly, etc., the six-foot distance may not be as effective. The virus is spreading less often by contact with surfaces.

People with Covid-19 may spread the disease two-days prior to symptoms and up to ten days after symptoms.

People exposed to Covid-19 may become symptomatic at anytime 1-14 days after contact with the virus (average is four to seven days).

Three Influenza A cases reported, two under age 18 years, one older than 18 years.

Influenza is spread up to six feet by droplet infection from coughs, sneezing and talking (less often by contaminated surface contact).

Persons with Influenza may spread disease from one day prior to symptoms to up to seven days after (average person is five days). Individuals exposed to Influenza will become sick within one to four days (average person takes two days to develop symptoms).

Mitigation for Covid-19 works for Influenza.

The Knox County Health Department does not have the capability to test for Influenza, but will continue to test for Covid-19 next week Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:00 a.m. Those who wish to test can call for an appointment until testing supplies have been exhausted.

We continue to recommend individuals utilize home testing, seek provider or express clinic services and only seek Hospital services for emergencies.

All our providers are at full capacity both in primary and acute care at this time.

The best known method to prevent severe disease, hospitalization and death from Covid-19 remains vaccination. If you are not symptomatic and have not had contact with a known positive in 14 days, you can call to be vaccinated through our office with either Pfizer or Moderna.

Please do your part to slow the spread Knox County to help make room for the other things that require provider and hospital attention. If you know you are sick with Covid, please stay home for the full five days and, if possible, longer (particularly if you work with or socialize with high risk individuals).

For those that have sent us pictures of positive cases in public places or those that we have encountered in public places, we have no authority to make you do the right thing. We are counting on you to be good stewards for the community by doing the selfless thing, the safe thing, by not visiting establishments and public places if you know you are positive, have been exposed, feel sick or have recently felt sick.

It’s not our approval or applause you need to seek. We ask you all to think about the risks you could be taking with people who have no idea what they are encountering, or how they will react to it.

Whatever the risk, small or large, please do not assume the virus you carry will not greatly and negatively affect your high risk family, friends and neighbors.

Go do the right thing Knox County! We are all in this together!

Thursday, January 20, 2022 – The Knox County Health Department will continue to offer Covid-19 vaccine based on recipient request. We will stock Pfizer for 12 and up, Moderna and are awaiting Pfizer age 5-11 vaccine arrival.

Individuals SHOULD NOT be symptomatic. And SHOULD NOT be in a two week period of close contact to a known positive Covid-19 patient.

Those previously vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer (12 and up) or Moderna are eligible for a booster if it has been at least five months. Those who are organ transplant, cancer treatment patients or diagnosed by a physician as immune-compromised can have a third dose after 28 days. We require an order for this dose, and a booster again in five months.

Please call the office if you are interested at (660)397-3396.

For those whom our hours do not line up with, Kirksville Pharmacies (Hyvee, Walgreens, etc.) continue to offer vaccine outside the Monday- Friday 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. schedule.