Joint Information Center
Friday, August 12, 2022
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As of 8 a.m. on Friday, August 12, 2022, Calhoun County has a cumulative total of 32,234 confirmed cases of COVID-19 reported to Calhoun County Public Health Department (CCPHD), with a total of 565 deaths attributed to the virus. Within the last 24 hours, 20 new confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported, and there are twelve people in Calhoun County hospitals for COVID-19. Calhoun County currently remains at a medium community transmission level. To learn more about transmission levels please visit the Calhoun County COVID-19 Data Dashboard.
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Variants
Omicron subvariants BA.4 and BA.5 are currently the dominant strains of new COVID-19 cases in the United States. The CDC has also designated BA.4 and BA.5 as variants of concern. The BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants are spiking globally because they can spread faster than other circulating variants. Those subvariants have caused more upper respiratory, cold, and flu-like symptoms – coughs, runny nose, congestion and fatigue.
How well do vaccines work against the variants?
Lab studies consistently suggest that antibodies triggered by vaccination are less effective at blocking BA.4 and BA.5 than they are at blocking earlier Omicron strains, including BA.1 and BA.2. Natural immunity from other variants, including previous omicron subvariants, is diminishing more quickly as the COVID-19 virus continues to mutate, and vaccine immunity is still preferred. Increased infection rates may be due to less universal masking and more gatherings throughout the summer. Residents of Calhoun County are advised to get booster doses to help protect against these new emerging variants. Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.
Vaccine Options
COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at protecting people—especially those who are boosted— from getting seriously ill, being hospitalized, and even dying. As with other diseases, you are protected best from COVID-19 by staying up to date with the recommended vaccines. Vaccines are widely available. To learn more about your options, visit the CDC website.
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Back to School Q&A
Children return to school this month. Parents and caregivers may have a lot of questions about what precautions they should take for their children. Do kids need to wear masks again? How often should they test their kids? What happens if kids contract COVID-19 — how long should they stay out of school? And should families get their children vaccinated if they haven't already?
Q: Under what conditions should kids wear masks in school? Do you mask your kids?
A: This all depends on our current community transmission level. The CDC has guidelines and recommendations on masks depending on how high the level of transmission is in Calhoun County.
Cases are still being reported daily and the county is currently at a high transmission level. This is based on a combination of three metrics — new COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days, the percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients, and total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past seven days. It is important to remember that many cases are not reported to the state as home COVID-19 tests are typically not reported and thus not counted in our daily case rate. To learn more about transmission levels please visit the Calhoun County COVID-19 Data Dashboard.
It is important to take precautions entering the school year to best prevent outbreaks in school that may result in kids missing multiple days in the classroom. With the potential of new COVID-19 variants that spread more rapidly than previous variants, regular school-based testing has been found to be a safe, effective way to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and help keep schools open for in-person learning.
Q: Where can I find affordable COVID-19 at-home test kits?
Q: Who is eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters?
A: COVID-19 vaccines are available for children ages 6 months and older. The Public Health Department offers vaccines at our Battle Creek and Albion Health Department locations to help protect children against COVID-19. Getting children vaccinated can help keep them from getting really sick if they get COVID-19. Vaccinating children can also help relieve the strain on families by providing greater confidence in children participating in childcare, school, and other activities. Find a COVID-19 vaccine near you.
Q: What are the current COVID-19 quarantine and isolation guidelines for kids?
A: If you have tested positive for COVID-19 regardless of vaccination status, the guidance is to stay home for 5 days and isolate from others in your home. The date of your exposure is considered day 0. Day 1 is the first full day after your last contact with a person who has had COVID-19. End isolation after 5 full days if you are fever-free for 24 hours (without the use of fever-reducing medication) and your symptoms are improving. Wear a well-fitting mask for 10 full days any time you are around others inside your home or in public.
Isolation and quarantine are two reliable ways to prevent the spread of a contagious disease, like COVID-19. Isolation and quarantine help keep people who are sick or have been exposed separate from people who have not been exposed. The CDC has a quarantine and isolation calculator tool to help determine how long you need to isolate, quarantine, or take other steps to prevent spreading COVID-19.
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Flu shots
It’s best to be vaccinated before the flu begins spreading. September and October are generally good times to be vaccinated against the flu. Ideally, everyone should be vaccinated by the end of October. However, even if you are not able to get vaccinated until November or later, vaccination is still recommended because flu most commonly peaks in February and significant activity can continue into May. Find a flu vaccine near you.
Monkeypox (MPV)
As the community enjoys a summer of festivals, beaches, concerts and fun during this “post surge” phase of the COVID pandemic, a new concern—Monkeypox--has emerged. Important to note is that Monkeypox is different than the COVID-19 pandemic. Monkeypox is not “novel” or new; it has established testing, transmission data, vaccinations and treatment.
Last week the Biden-Harris Administration declared the ongoing spread of Monkeypox virus in the United States a Public Health Emergency. Click here to read more.
As monkeypox evolves, information may change. Stay informed, stay calm and continue to enjoy the last days of summer safely. More resources are available at CDC.gov/Monkeypox and Michigan.gov/monkeypox.
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For updates from Calhoun County, about County operations and COVID-19 in Calhoun County, visit the County website, calhouncountymi.gov.
The State’s COVID-19 Hotline is available for anyone who has questions or concerns related to the virus. The hotline is open seven days a week from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call 1-888-535-6136. For state COVID-19 information, visit michigan.gov/coronavirus.
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For information, contact
Lucy Blair, Calhoun County Communications Director
Victor Jovanovich, Public Health Department Communications Specialist
Jessica Vanderkolk, City of Battle Creek Communications Manager
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