COVID-19 metrics continue to slightly increase, according to county officials.
“Our society and the media is moving away from this virus as if it’s gone, it’s not actually gone,” County Executive Marc Elrich said during his weekly media briefing Tuesday.
The county is still at low community level transmission.
“We’re hoping that this is more of a wavelet than a significant wave as we’ve had prior summers,” Public Health Emergency Preparedness Manager Sean O’Donnell said.
Hospitalizations have increased a bit as the EG.5 variant circulates, and the variant is causing more transmissions but not significantly more serious illness, O’Donnell said. The number of people hospitalized with a COVID-19 diagnosis is more than double compared to a few weeks ago, but still much lower compared to other waves, he said.
Elrich said it will be a challenge to refocus efforts to get people re-boosted as an updated COVID-19 booster is expected this fall. He encouraged residents to get both their flu shot and booster.
County Health Officer Dr. Kisha Davis guides residents to do their due diligence and be vigilant.
“If you have the sniffles, you should take a COVID test and respond accordingly,” she said. She said officials want to make sure residents get the new booster once it is available in September or October.
She added that Paxlovid is still an effective treatment.
Elrich also said it is important parents make sure their kids have the required immunizations before going back to school.
On Thursday, the School Health Services Immunization Center, located at 4910 Macon Road in Rockville, is open for back-to-school immunizations by appointment from 8:30 a.m. – noon. The county offers free back-to-school vaccine clinics during the month of August.
