Belmont County Health Department Director of Nursing Gabby Timko said a potential reason for the summer surge is the lack of vaccines and boosters people are receiving. Timko said it is hard for people to get boosters right now because the health department is not receiving a good supply. Some pharmacies are providing them, but she said she doesn’t know of any other source for the public.
Timko noted it is not as common for medical clinics and doctor’s offices to have them now, whereas flu shots are almost always readily available.
“Our immunities are coming down because we’re not getting those boosters,” she said.
Timko also said COVID could be spreading faster than other illnesses due to the genetic makeup of the virus, and people don’t have as much immunity to it as other illnesses, such as the flu which has been around longer.
According to the Forbes July 2024 Epidemiology Report, there have been a total of 361 COVID diagnoses from January to July, with 129 of those in May, June, and July.
Timko emphasized that residents should stay away from anyone who has COVID symptoms or even flu-like symptoms, which are similar. She also said to make sure to wear a mask if you are around someone who is sick and to get tested if these symptoms occur.
“It reduces the amount of the particles that are going into the air because it’s spread respiratory-wise. So, you know, people are coughing, sneezing, and that mask is shielding that a little bit.”
Timko also reminded residents to wash hands and clean and disinfect surfaces frequently to avoid getting the virus.
The health department does not do COVID-19 testing, but it provides take-home tests that are readily available to pick up from the office.
Even if someone tests positive with an at-home test, they should be sure to go to the doctor’s office to get tested and confirmed, she said.
Doctor’s offices and urgent care centers are places that provide COVID testing, as well as the drive-through testing site at WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital.
If someone has tested positive for COVID-19 and is experiencing symptoms, a prescription medication called Paxlovid is available to treat the virus.
Timko remembers her time working at Wheeling Hospital on the cardiovascular step-down unit and COVID unit, with the effects of the virus being severe.
She said the impact of the virus is not as bad now as in 2020 because the symptoms have changed, with more resemblance to those of the flu. She added that vaccines have also helped create herd immunity.
“Enough people have gotten the vaccines that when you are exposed to it, your body is fighting it off so it’s not as strong in your body and wearing you down as much and making you sicker,” she said.
In a news release on Aug. 11, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention “streamlined its COVID-19 guidance to help people better understand their risk, how to protect themselves and others, what actions to take if exposed to COVID-19 and what actions to take if they are sick or test positive for the virus.”
The CDC recommendations include wearing a high-quality mask for 10 days and getting tested on day five if exposed to the virus and, regardless of vaccination status, people should isolate themselves from others when diagnosed with the virus. This isolation includes five days indoors and away from others, ending once the person tests negative.
“We’re in a stronger place today as a nation, with more tools — like vaccination, boosters, and treatments — to protect ourselves, and our communities, from severe illness from COVID-19,” said Greta Masetti, PhD, MPH, MMWR author said in the release. “We also have a better understanding of how to protect people from being exposed to the virus, like wearing high-quality masks, testing, and improved ventilation. This guidance acknowledges that the pandemic is not over, but also helps us move to a point where COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts our daily lives.”
