Polk County Seeing Higher Number In Positive COVID-19 Cases: Report

POLK COUNTY, FL — The omicron variant of the coronavirus may be making its presence known in Polk County as COVID-19 cases have shot up 32 percent, WFLA reported.

According to the Florida Department of Health, 495 COVID-19 cases were added to the Dec. 8-Dec. 16 report showing the rapid increase.

Dr. Pamela Acosta-Torres, spokesperson for the Polk County Department of Health told the TV station the increase they are seeing in the county is causing a level of concern, and they are recommending residents to become alert. She also suggested to start taking precautions again such as wearing a mask inside public spaces.

The omicron variant has overtaken the delta coronavirus variant, including in Florida, and is now dominant in the United States, accounting for 95 percent of new cases in the Southeast, federal health officials estimate.

Lakeland Regional Health Dr. Daniel Haight told the outlet doctors know omicron is in the Tampa Bay area. "We know it's contagious and we know that we have a lag in the surveillance that it does take to get those reports back, so we assume that it is," Haight said.

What To Know About The Omicron Variant, According To Johns Hopkins

• South African public health officials realized that one of the tests they were using to identify COVID-19 cases could be used as a surrogate for identifying people infected with omicron on Nov. 25
• "That then indicated that there was a large surge of COVID-19 cases being driven by omicron in South Africa," Virologist Andrew Pekosz said. "That was the final piece of the puzzle that allowed the South African public health officials to make the announcement that there’s a variant of concern circulating. Of course, that got the attention of everyone in the world who started to monitor for it."
• There is some preliminary evidence suggesting the omicron variant is more infectious than the delta variant, according to Dr. Robert Bollinger, Raj and Kamla Gupta Professor of Infectious Diseases .“But there is no evidence so far that the standard prevention strategies, including vaccination, masking, distancing, ventilation and hand-washing are not effective in reducing the risk of infection or transmission.”

What About Vaccines and Boosters?

• Bollinger said his expectations that being fully vaccinated, including boosters, will still provide a reduced risk of hospitalization and death. In the coming months, if they realize the vaccinations are not strong enough for the omicron variant, they will adjust vaccines.
• The COVD-19 tests have been able to detect the omicron variant, Bollinger said.
• Dr. Stuart Ray, vice chair of medicine for data integrity and analytics, suggests that people continue to manage risk, by wearing a high-quality mask, or respirators. "Getting vaccinated and getting a COVID-19 booster, hand-washing and avoiding large indoor gatherings, especially with unmasked people, are other ways to mitigate the risk of infection.

If you have been exposed to any of the COVID-19 variants or believe you may have it, visit here to find a local testing clinic.

Patch Related Story:

• COVID-19 Booster Shots: Where To Find Them In Polk County
• 1st Case Of Omicron Variant Confirmed In Tampa