Two Years of COVID-19 in BRHD
This week marks two years since the first COVID-19 case was identified in the Blue Ridge Health District (BRHD). To commemorate, BRHD held a press conference on Wednesday featuring Dr. Denise Bonds, BRHD Health Director, and Ryan McKay, BRHD Director of Policy, Planning, and COVID-19 Operations. You can watch a recording of the press conference here. 

During the press conference, Dr. Bonds and Ryan McKay reflected on the past two years of COVID-19 response, acknowledging the community members we have lost to COVID-19, the successes and challenges in our District’s pandemic response efforts, and where we go from here.

“While COVID is on the wane right now, it is here to stay. We’re not going to overcome COVID. What we need to do now is to learn to live with it and go about our daily life in a way that is safe for all our community members,” shared Dr. Bonds.

“We will continue to see cases in the community. There will likely be additional variants and we will likely see additional outbreaks as time goes by. As part of that, we may need to re-institute mitigation measures; we may have additional boosters or different variations of the vaccines we have to give.

Some members of our community will remain at higher risk than other members of the community. We need to be kind and caring to those individuals who continue to distance, wear masks, and avoid the indoor spaces that we know are the highest risk areas. I would ask that everyone in our community continue to care for each other as they have for the past two years.”

Dr. Bonds concluded her remarks with a message of appreciation. “I would like to thank the staff of the health district who have really sacrificed over the last two years and all the members of the community who have done their utmost to keep everyone in our community safe.”
CDC Research on Effectiveness of
COVID-19 Vaccine Among 5-15 Year Olds
On March 11, CDC published research demonstrating the effectiveness of a two-dose Pfizer mRNA vaccine against the Omicron variant in children and adolescents ages 5-15 years old. The study was conducted by testing children and adolescents in various states each week for a seven month period, regardless of whether or not they had COVID-19 symptoms. Results showed that completing the two dose series of the Pfizer vaccine reduced the risk of a COVID-19 Omicron infection by 31% in younger children ages 5-11, and by 59% in adolescents ages 12-15. Approximately half of all the infections in unvaccinated children and adolescents participating in the study were asymptomatic.

Does your child still need their vaccine? BRHD continues to offer free COVID-19 vaccines throughout the District. Continue reading or visit the BRHD website for more information.
COVID-19 Vaccines Available in BRHD
Last weekend, the Blue Ridge Community Vaccination Center in Seminole Square closed. This vaccine site, run by VDH and contract company Ash-Britt IEM, was set up to serve as an additional resource in the efforts to provide the most vaccines possible and was highly successful in vaccinating thousands of community members. COVID-19 vaccines do, however, remain widely available throughout the District. 

COVID-19 vaccines are available at our local health departments every day of the business week: 
  • Mondays: 2:00-6:00pm - Greene County Health Department, 50 Stanard Street Stanardsville VA
  • Tuesdays: 2:00-6:00pm - Louisa County Health Department, 540 Industrial Drive, Louisa, VA
  • Wednesdays: 2:00-6:00pm - Fluvanna County Health Department, 132 Main St Rt. 15, Palmyra
  • Thursdays: 2:00-6:00pm - Nelson County Health Department, 4038 Thomas Nelson Highway, Arrington
  • Fridays: 2:00-6:00pm - Charlottesville/Albemarle Health Department, 1138 Rose Hill Drive, Charlottesville, Door 1

Mobi, BRHD’s Mobile Health Unit, can be found throughout the District with free COVID-19 vaccines and N95s. Every Monday, you can find Mobi on the Downtown Mall in Charlottesville, just in front of the Ting Pavillion, from 12-3pm.

In addition to BRHD’s vaccine efforts, local pharmacies and medical providers continue to administer COVID-19 vaccines. For more information on these resources or to schedule your vaccine appointment, visit the BRHD vaccine website.
COVID-19 Isolation and Quarantine Guidelines
While COVID-19 case rates are lower than we have seen in the last few months, people are still testing positive and being exposed to the virus everyday. To help keep our rates as low as possible, it is important to know what to do if you test positive or are exposed to someone who has COVID-19.

According to the CDC, if exposed to a positive COVID-19 case:
  • Fully vaccinated and boosted individuals should commit to a 10-day period of strict mask usage around others. 
  • Unvaccinated and un-boosted individuals should quarantine for 5 days, followed by another 5 days of strict mask usage.
  • All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, are recommended to get tested 5 days after the initial exposure. If at any point the individual starts experiencing symptoms, they should seek testing and return home immediately until a negative test confirms symptoms are not COVID-19 related.
 
The CDC has also provided isolation guidelines for anyone who tests positive for COVID-19, regardless of vaccination status. If tested positive: 
  • All individuals, regardless of vaccination status, should isolate for 5 days.
  • Asymptomatic individuals or those individuals with mild symptoms that resolve within 5 days may end isolation on day 5, followed by another 5-day period of strict mask usage.
  • Symptomatic individuals, including those with fever or any other symptoms that have not resolved by day 5, should remain in isolation until symptoms have improved and/or the fever breaks without the help of fever-reducing medication.
 
Read more about quarantine and isolation guidelines on the CDC's website.
Free N95s Available
Masks and respirators are effective at reducing transmission of SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, when worn consistently and correctly. While all masks and respirators provide some level of protection, properly fitting respirators provide the highest level of protection. Wearing a highly protective mask or respirator may be most important for certain higher risk situations, or by some people at increased risk for severe disease.

This week, the CDC launched a new resource to help you find free N95s. To find free N95’s near you, visit the online search tool or call 1-800-232-0233 (TTY 1-888-720-7489). You can also visit the CDC website to learn how to use an N95 properly. BRHD will continue to provide free N95’s at all of our Mobi sites, as well.
Meet the BRHD Team!
Each week, we introduce you to one of our Health District Heroes so you can get to know the people working to keep you safe and healthy every day. This week, meet Ali Gower, Public Health Nurse in Albemarle, Charlottesville, and Fluvanna.
 
How long have you been at BRHD?
Since October 2020
 
What is your job?
As a public health nurse, I help out with our wide variety of clinics (family planning, sexual health, immunizations, refugees, tuberculosis, etc.) in and around the District.
 
Who are you outside of BRHD?
I love spending time outside with my husband and our two dogs, Trigger and Chase. I also enjoy live music, going to wineries/breweries, and eating at all of the fabulous restaurants around Charlottesville. If it's a football weekend, you can find me cheering for the Virginia Tech Hokies or the Baltimore Ravens!
Vaccination is only one tool to end the pandemic. We need to use them all in order to return to normal day-to-day activities:
Wear face masks, maintain physical distance, wash hands frequently and properly, and limit indoor social gatherings.