It has been nearly five years since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and although the number of infected people and hospitalizations is not as high as it was a few years ago, the virus is still spreading in Summit County.
As of Aug. 10, more than 300 cases had been reported in the county this month, said Summit County Health Officer Donna Skoda. The 242 cases confirmed in June rose to 778 cases in July.
It’s hard to say whether those numbers accurately reflect the number of cases in Summit County, Skoda said.
“It’s difficult to get accurate numbers on how many people actually have COVID because labs are no longer reporting numbers and people are doing tests at home and not reporting their results,” Skoda said. “Overall, our risk level is still pretty low, even though we’ve seen a slight increase in cases over the past few months.”
Although COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency, its impact is still being felt and will likely continue to be for years to come. Here’s the latest information we have on the virus, including differences in prevention, current hospital policies and what to do if you get it.
What’s new on COVID-19 vaccines?
Booster shots like those from Moderna and Pfizer are currently being phased out to make way for a new vaccine that should be available sometime next month, Skoda said.
“All the old vaccines we’ve given in the past, where we’ve given two or three doses – they all relate to old strains of COVID that were circulating,” Skoda said. “We’re now treating COVID like flu, and there will be an annual vaccine that is no longer considered a booster.”
The new vaccine will provide users with immunity and protection against the latest COVID strain in circulation, which is currently the next version of the Omicron variant, Skoda noted.
“We currently only have a booster shot from Pfizer for someone who wants the last booster and hasn’t had it yet, but we are no longer giving any of the previous vaccines because it’s not really worth it. They are not effective against the strains of COVID that are currently circulating,” she said.
Are there any COVID-19 policies in hospitals?
Akron Children’s Hospital, Summa Health and Cleveland Clinic Akron General do not currently have COVID-19 policies in place.
“We have seen an increasing number of COVID cases over the past month and are closely monitoring the situation to see if this leads to increased admissions,” said Dr. Evelyn S. Pangonis, medical director of infectious diseases at Akron Children’s.
Although there are currently no COVID-19 restrictions, nurses at Akron General are still advised to wear face coverings when interacting with patients, said Dr. Donald Dumford, an infectious disease specialist at the hospital.
“We have gone from requiring everyone to wear masks and social distancing to strongly recommending that our caregivers wear masks. At this time, I don’t see any changes to that policy,” Dumford said.
However, if flu cases increase again later this year, hospitals in the region may resume certain seasonal precautions.
Such precautions include requiring masks during patient contact in certain hospital departments, said Holly Pupino, senior corporate communications specialist at Akron Children’s.
What should I do if I am exposed to COVID-19?
The Centers for Disease Control and Protection urges anyone who has been exposed to COVID-19 to wear a mask, and if symptoms occur, those exposed should self-quarantine.
Anyone can get sick from COVID-19 up to 10 days after exposure, so wearing masks in private homes and indoor public spaces is recommended to protect others during those 10 days.
The CDC recommends that people get tested if they have symptoms similar to COVID, and at that point they should also quarantine. If the test is positive, the person should stay home and isolate from others for at least five days or until symptoms resolve.
If symptoms persist after five days, isolation can be ended if the person has been fever-free for 24 hours and has not taken any fever-reducing medication.
People who have symptoms and are experiencing shortness of breath or difficulty breathing should isolate themselves for 10 days. People who are hospitalized or have a weakened immune system should remain in quarantine for at least 10 days and consult a doctor before ending isolation.
What are COVID-19 symptoms?
According to the CDC, symptoms include:
- Fever or chills
- Cough
- Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
- Sore throat
- Stuffy or runny nose
- New loss of taste or smell
- fatigue
- Muscle or limb pain
- Headache
- Nausea or vomiting
- Diarrhea
Are there still free COVID-19 tests?
Yes, the Summit County Health Department has free testing kits for public use at its offices at 1867 W. Market St. in Akron.
“During our hours of operation, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., you can simply walk into Building A and get the vaccination,” Skoda said. “We strongly recommend that you get tested before visiting a congregate living facility, nursing home, group home or any other situation where people live together.”
Reporter Bryce Buyaki contributed to this story. Anthony Thompson can be reached at [email protected] or on Twitter at @athompsonABJ.
