COVID-19 highlights for the week of 11/8/21:
What’s Happening?
- Average daily new cases in the Metro have plateaued at 270 over the past week.
- Communities within our region remain in high and substantial levels of transmission as defined by the CDC (see below).
The numbers below reflect the current levels of transmission in the 9 Metro jurisdictions and the 9 jurisdictions in the HCC N-S.
| Region | Low | Moderate | Substantial | High |
| # Metro Counties | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
| # N/S Counties | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 |
From the CDC web site:
- The Pfizer EUA has been expanded, making vaccine available for those ages 5-11.
- 952,097 (46%) Metro residents have not completed their COVID-19 vaccinations. Of those, 327,855 (34%) are children under the age of 12.
- The CDC released a science brief reinforcing its recommendation for COVID-19 vaccination for all eligible individuals, including those who have been previously infected with SARS-CoV-2.
- Substantial immunologic evidence and a growing body of epidemiologic evidence indicate that vaccination after infection significantly enhances protection and further reduces risk of reinfection, which lays the foundation for CDC recommendations.
- While real-time data on the cost of all COVID-19 hospitalizations are not publicly available, various sources point to an average hospitalization cost of around $20,000. (Health System Tracker)
What Can I Expect?
- Temptation to let up on masking which, as our history with COVID has shown, could lead to increased transmission and perhaps another surge.
- Vaccines are now available for 5-11 year olds. Check with your pediatricians’ office on where to find a vaccine near you. You may also visit vaccines.gov; text your ZIP code to 438829 (GETVAX); or call 1-800-232-0233.
- A growing number of employers, governments, and private businesses are:
- requiring vaccination as a condition of employment,
- imposing financial penalties for those who remain unvaccinated, and/or
- excluding unvaccinated individuals from being able to go to restaurants, gyms, concerts, and other large gatherings. (AAMC)
What Can I Do?
- Everyone needs to continue the great work (masking, vaccinations & boosters) as we protect ourselves and those around us from COVID-19 and influenza.
- Get your booster when eligible. See CDC for “Who is Eligible for a COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Shot” dated October 22, 2021.
- Now is the time to get vaccinated to be safe for the holidays. For example, an individual initiating vaccination on November 8th would be fully protected by:
- December 13th at the earliest (two weeks after second dose) for Pfizer
- December 20th at the earliest (two weeks after second dose) for Moderna
- November 22th at the earliest (two weeks after single dose) for J&J
- See CDC’s “Safer Ways to Celebrate Holidays” on other ways to mitigate risk and stay safe.