How to keep Omicron from ruining Christmas. Tri-Cities health officials weigh in
The Benton-Franklin Health District is urging residents to make smart choices as the COVID-19 Omicron variant starts to spread in the Tri-Cities.
The health district offered an update Friday morning on cases of the variant in the Tri-Cities, following the announcement that four people in Benton and Franklin counties have tested positive for the variant the first week of December.
Two of the cases are considered breakthrough infections of people who had been vaccinated, but neither patient had received their COVID booster. The other two are not believed to have been vaccinated.
“It was inevitable that Omicron would be present in Benton and Franklin counties. It was never a question of if, but when,” Dr. Amy Person said. “It is concerning moving into the holidays when there will be likely many gatherings of friends and family.”
Dr. Person said that while the variant reaching the Tri-Cities was inevitable, what’s not guaranteed is a new surge in cases, deaths or school closures.
She said every person has a part to play in reducing risk and keeping that from happening.
“We all have the choices we can make to reduce the risk of transmitting the spread of those droplets of COVID-19,” she said Friday.
4 local Omicron cases
The update follows a Thursday night announcement that four cases were detected in the area, just days after the announcement of the first U.S. cases of the variant.
The patients in the four cases in Benton and Franklin counties were tested between December 4-8. Sequencing to determine whether a case is a variant can take 7 to 10 days after testing, according to the health district.
Three of the cases were in Benton County from two people in their 40s and a resident in their 80s.
The fourth case is a Franklin County resident in their 40s.
“There may understandably be concern about the presence of this new variant, particularly as there is still a lot that is not known about its transmissibility, severity and effectiveness of vaccines (against the variant).” Dr. Person said.
She said that it is imperative that community members practice recommended safety measures such as wearing a well-fitted mask, practicing social distance getting vaccinated if possible.
Dr. Person also stressed the importance of getting a vaccine booster for those who already are vaccinated. She also reiterated the importance of good hand hygiene and staying home when sick.
She said data shows that vaccination and receiving a booster is still the most effective way of reducing transmission and severity of the virus for not only Omicron, but also the Delta variant which remains the dominant strain in the area.
“Of the four cases, two of them had been vaccinated, although neither had received their booster yet,” Dr. Person said. “The other two did not have any vaccine information available, so the presumption is they had not been (vaccinated).”
Dr. Person said that the travel history of the patients is still being investigated, but they are not likely related to a series of outbreaks at wrestling tournaments across the state.
Tournament Outbreak
As the state struggles with cases of the Omicron variant, officials have identified a series of events that led to an outbreak. State officials said that wrestling tournaments held on Dec. 4 in Sumner, Puyallup, Yelm and Lacey led to an outbreak of an estimated 200 cases, with at least three cases of the Omicron variant detected.
On Friday, the Washington Department of Health updated its health and safety requirements for high contact indoor sports in response to the outbreak.
The DOH will now require testing of all athletes, coaches, trainers and support personnel, regardless of vaccination status. Additionally testing frequency will be increased to three times per week, with a test required either the day of the event or within one day of it.
The DOH also recommends spectators at all indoor events wear masks and practice social distancing from other families and households when possible.
The DOH is urging residents to get vaccinated or boosted, wear well-fitting masks and maintain social distancing.
This story was originally published December 17, 2021 at 11:40 AM.
