- Written by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Category: Media Releases
TOP 5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT COVID-19 AND DELTA VARIANT
- Getting vaccinated prevents severe illness, hospitalization, and death; it also helps reduce the spread of the virus in communities.
- Unvaccinated individuals should get vaccinated and continue masking until they are fully vaccinated.
- With the Delta variant, this is more urgent than ever. The highest spread of cases and severe outcomes is happening in places with low vaccination rates.
- Data show Delta is different than past versions of the virus: it is much more contagious.
- Some vaccinated people can get Delta in a breakthrough infection and may be contagious.
- Even so, vaccinated individuals represent a very small amount of transmission occurring around the country.
- Virtually all hospitalizations and deaths continue to be among the unvaccinated.
- In areas with substantial and high transmission, CDC recommends that everyone (including fully vaccinated individuals) wear a mask in public indoor settings to help prevent spread of Delta and protect others.
- CDC recommends that community leaders encourage vaccination and masking to prevent further outbreaks in areas of substantial and high transmission.
- CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to K-12 schools, regardless of vaccination status. Children should return to full-time in-person learning in the fall with layered prevention strategies in place.
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- Written by CDC
- Category: Media Releases
Click to link to guidelines
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has released Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021. This document provides current evidence-based diagnostic, management, and treatment recommendations, and serves as a source of clinical guidance for managing sexually transmitted infections (STIs).
The new guidelines include notable updates from the previous 2015 guidance, including:
- Updated treatment recommendations for chlamydia, trichomoniasis, and pelvic inflammatory disease.
- Updated treatment recommendations for uncomplicated gonorrhea in neonates, children, and other specific clinical situations (e.g., proctitis, epididymitis, sexual assault), which builds on broader treatment changes published in Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report late last year.
- Information on FDA-cleared diagnostic tests for Mycoplasma genitalium and rectal and pharyngeal chlamydia and gonorrhea.
- Expanded risk factors for syphilis testing among pregnant patients.
- Recommended two-step serologic testing for diagnosing genital herpes simplex virus.
- Harmonized recommendations for human papillomavirus vaccination with the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.
- Recommended universal hepatitis C testing in alignment with CDC’s 2020 hepatitis C testing recommendations.
STIs are common and costly to the nation’s health and economy. With 26 million new STIs occurring each year, totaling nearly $16 billion in medical costs, evidence-based prevention, diagnostic, and treatment recommendations are critical to halting continued increases.
The new recommendations come at a pivotal moment in our field’s history. As many of you know all too well, the COVID-19 pandemic caused decreased clinic capacity, as well as drug and diagnostic test kit shortages. Along the way, CDC provided guidance for the disruption of STD clinical services, focusing on syndromic management and STI screening approaches to maximize the number of people with STIs identified and treated, while prioritizing those most likely to experience complications. However, most drug and testing kit shortages have since resolved and many health care providers are returning to normal clinical practices, which includes conducting STI evaluation and management in accordance with CDC Sexually Transmitted Infections Treatment Guidelines, 2021.
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- Written by Jennifer King, District Public Information Officer
- Category: Media Releases
WIC Services Will Continue. All Services Resume Thursday.
Cherokee
County Health Department’s Canton Health Center on Univeter Road will CLOSE at 1 PM on Wednesday, July 21st for building maintenance. WIC services will NOT be affected by this closing and will continue to operate at the facility all day. Public health services at the Canton location will resume as normal on Thursday, July 22nd from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM. To learn about all public health services provided in Cherokee County, go here on the North Georgia Health District website at https://nghd.org/nghd-locations-listing/category/cherokee.
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- Written by Jennifer King, District Public Information Officer
- Category: Media Releases
We are seeking employees to join our dedicated teams across North Georgia Health District 1-2, which is comprised of six counties, including Cherokee, Fannin, Gilmer, Murray, Pickens and Whitfield!
Have you ever considered a career in Public Health?
Want to make a difference in your community?
Did you know that our mission is to promote and protect the health of the people in the North Georgia Health District, wherever they live, work and play, through population-based preventive programs?
Administrative, Child Health, Dental, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental, Infectious Disease, WIC Nutritional Services and Nurse Positions may be available in your area!
Click here to our Career Center to apply for open positions today!
Benefits offered to employees include:
- Health, Dental, Vision Insurance
- State retirement plans
- 12 Paid Holidays
- Vacation & Sick Leave
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