Haywood County Medical Director Urges Community Vigilance as COVID Cases Rise
Haywood County, NC (WLOS) — COVID cases are on the rise in Haywood County, and the medical director is urging the community to be vigilant.
Dr. Mark Jaben said that while the numbers are nowhere near where they were at the peak of the pandemic, they are still concerning. He said that the county has seen a 20% increase in cases in the past two weeks.
Jaben attributed the increase in cases to a number of factors, including the spread of the BA.5 subvariant of omicron, which is more transmissible than previous variants. He also said that people are becoming less vigilant about masking and social distancing.
"We're seeing a little bit of a relaxation of those measures," Jaben said. "People are getting together more, and they're not wearing masks as much."
Jaben is urging the community to continue to take steps to protect themselves from COVID-19, including getting vaccinated and boosted, wearing a mask in public, and social distancing. He said that it is especially important for people who are vulnerable to the virus, such as the elderly and those with underlying health conditions, to take precautions.
"We're not out of the woods yet," Jaben said. "We need to continue to be vigilant and take steps to protect ourselves."
In addition to the increase in cases, Haywood County has also seen a slight increase in hospitalizations. However, Jaben said that the number of people who are seriously ill with COVID-19 is still low.
"We're not seeing a many individuals who are becoming truly ill," Jaben said.
"But we do need to be careful."
Jaben said that he expects COVID cases to continue to rise in the coming weeks, but he is hopeful that the county will be able to avoid a major surge. He said that the key is for people to continue to take precautions and get vaccinated and boosted.
"We can get through this," Jaben said. "But we need to work together."
Here are some additional tips from the Haywood County Health Department for staying safe from COVID-19:
Get vaccinated and boosted.
Wear a mask in public indoor settings.
Social distance when possible.
Clean up frequently with cleanser and water.
Keep away from close contact with individuals who are wiped out.
Stay home if you are sick.
If you have symptoms of COVID-19, get tested right away. You can get tested at a variety of locations, including your doctor's office, a local health department, or a pharmacy.
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