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COVID-19 Update | Union County, OH | Dec. 31, 2021

By December 31, 2021 No Comments
CDC Updates Isolation & Quarantine Guidance
On Wednesday, the CDC updated isolation guidance for people with COVID-19 and quarantine guidance for people exposed to someone with COVID-19. On Thursday, the Ohio Department of Health aligned Ohio’s guidance with the newly released CDC guidance. Current guidance is as follows:
If You are Positive for COVID-19* 
  • Stay home for 5 days.
    • Regardless of whether you have symptoms or your vaccination status, stay home if you are COVID positive.
    • Try to stay away from other healthy members of your home and wear a well-fitting mask if you have to be around others in your home.
  • Still have symptoms or fever after 5 days? Continue to stay home.
    • If after 5 days you still have symptoms that aren’t getting better or have a fever, continue to stay home.
    • Stay home until your symptoms are improving, and if you have a fever, until your fever has been gone for 24 hours without the use of a fever reducer.
    • Once symptoms are improving and fever has been gone for 24 hours, you can resume normal activities while wearing a well-fitting mask over your nose and mouth. Wear a mask until 10 days have passed since your symptoms started.
  • No symptoms or symptoms better after 5 days? Wear a mask for 5 more days.
      • If after 5 days you never had symptoms or your symptoms have resolved or significantly improved, you can resume normal activities while wearing a well-fitting mask over your nose and mouth. Wear a mask until 10 days have passed since your positive test or symptoms started.
* For healthcare workers, isolation protocols may vary. Talk to your employer to determine the appropriate isolation protocol.
If You are Exposed to COVID-19
Quarantine protocols vary by vaccination status If you are exposed to someone with COVID-19.
If you:
  • Received a booster with any COVID vaccine brand, or 
  • Completed a primary Pfizer or Moderna series (typically 2 doses) within the past 6 months, or
  • Received a single J&J dose within the past 2 months 

Then you should:

  • Wear a well-fitting mask over your nose and mouth for 10 days after last exposure.
  • Watch for symptoms for 10 days after last exposure. If symptoms start, stay home and test.
  • Testing on day 5 after exposure is recommended if possible.
  • You do not have to stay home following exposure unless you have symptoms.

If you:
  • Received only a single dose of Pfizer or Moderna vaccine, or
  • More than 6 months have passed since completing a primary Pfizer or Moderna series (typically 2 doses), or
  • More than 2 months have passed since receiving a single J&J dose, or
  • Have never received a COVID-19 vaccine 

Then you should:

  • Stay home for 5 days after last exposure.
  • Testing on day 5 is recommended if possible, even if you have no symptoms.
  • If after 5 days no symptoms appear, you can resume normal activities while wearing a well-fitting mask over your nose and mouth for 5 more days.
  • Watch for symptoms for 10 days after last exposure. If symptoms start, stay home and test. 
    COVID Testing Update
    We are currently out of home test kits. We anticipate continuing to receive shipments weekly. Please go to www.unioncountycovid.org/testing for the most up-to-date information on home test kit supply. The Marysville Public Library and the Richwood Library also continue to provide curbside pick-up of home test kits but are also currently out of supply and awaiting another shipment. 
     
    We are continuing to offer drive-thru PCR testing on Mondays and Thursdays from 10am-Noon at the Union County Fairgrounds. No testing on Monday, Jan. 3. This testing is by appointment. Appointments can be booked at www.unioncountycovid.org/testing. Results take 24-48 hours. Insurance is billed for this service, but no one is turned away if they are uninsured. 
     
    COVID Vaccination Clinics
    We continue to encourage COVID booster shots for those age 18 and older as well vaccination for those not yet vaccinated. UCHD offers COVID-19 first, second and booster shots Monday thru Friday throughout January. Early evening appointments are available on Tuesdays. Appointments can be booked at www.uchdclinic.org. Clinics are open to ages 12 and older. 
     
    Pediatric COVID vaccination clinics for ages 5-11 years old are also available with early evening appointments available on Tuesdays. Appointments can be booked at www.uchdclinic.org – select “Pediatrics” from the location drop down menu. A parent or legal guardian must accompany any minor under age 18.  
     
    Data Update
    We are experiencing a very high level of COVID activity in Union County, Ohio and much of the US. As of data thru Dec. 29, 2021, Union County had 395 cases reported over the previous 7 days. The rate of new cases per 100,000 people is 670, more than six times the CDC indicator for high levels of community spread. Union County’s positivity rate from Dec. 21 thru Dec. 27 was 25%.
     
    Ohio hospitals are currently experiencing ICU admissions on par with Dec. 2020 and hospital admissions are the highest they’ve been at any point in the pandemic. The Northeast quadrant of Ohio is currently experiencing the brunt of hospital admissions associated with this current wave. Hospitals in Central Ohio are also reporting a strain on healthcare systems and are experiencing hospital admissions similar to early Dec. 2020. While Central Ohio hospital data shows patients in their 50’s, 60’s and 70’s makeup the majority of patients hospitalized for COVID, the data is also showing an increase in patients admitted in their 30’s and 40’s.  

Sources: COVID county level data pulled from the CDC data tracker. Hospital data pulled from the Ohio Hospital Association COVID dashboard. 

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