- Written by Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Media Releases
North Georgia – Positive COVID-19 test results have increased in North Georgia. The CDC has provided Omicron variant projections, but it will be a while before we have verification of the Omicron data for this area; and, as always, other related data will follow.
Health officials urge residents to make the right choices to protect themselves and their loved ones against COVID-19 and all variants. Get vaccinated, along with a booster shot. Wear a mask in public indoor spaces and with people who don’t live with you. Get tested for COVID-19 if symptomatic and before traveling or attending a social gathering.
Dr. Zachary Taylor, Interim Director of the North Georgia Health District, said, "We've been urging everyone who is eligible to get vaccinated as soon as possible, and we need those who are ready for their booster dose of the Pfizer, Moderna or Janssen vaccine to get that dose immediately, as well. The message is more important now than ever. People who get the booster are much less likely to become seriously ill or hospitalized.”
The CDC confirms that COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.
Vaccination is still the key protection against COVID-19 and all variants of the virus. A timely booster dose maximizes protection against both infection and serious illness.
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- Written by Georgia Department of Public Health
- Category: Media Releases
NEWS RELEASEOmicron Spread and Prevention Measures for Holiday Gatherings
Atlanta – The Georgia Department of Public Health is urging Georgians to carefully follow COVID-19 prevention measures during holiday celebrations and gatherings to keep yourself and your loved ones safe.
COVID case numbers are increasing daily, and the Omicron variant is spreading faster than any previous variant.
Surveillance for COVID variants is done through genomic sequencing of PCR positive test results. In Georgia, the most recent genomic sequencing is from week ending Dec. 4, and at that time, the Delta variant was responsible for 98% of new COVID cases. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) uses genomic sequencing data to project current variant proportions and now estimates Omicron accounts for more than 73% of new COVID cases in the United States. Given the rapid transmissibility of the Omicron variant, the current proportion of Omicron in Georgia is likely similar to that of the national estimate, and presumably will account for all new COVID cases in the state in the coming weeks.
- Hits: 1716
- Written by Jennifer King, Public Information Officer
- Category: Media Releases
Please note this list of dates and times when our County Health Departments will briefly close for staff meetings. Thank you!
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- Written by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
- Category: Media Releases
For Immediate Release: Thursday, December 09, 2021
Contact: Media Relations
(404) 639-3286
The following is attributable to CDC Director, Dr. Rochelle Walensky
“Today, CDC is strengthening its booster recommendations and encouraging everyone 16 and older to receive a booster shot. Although we don’t have all the answers on the Omicron variant, initial data suggests that COVID-19 boosters help broaden and strengthen the protection against Omicron and other variants. We know that COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and I strongly encourage adolescents ages 16 and 17 to get their booster if they are at least 6 months post their initial Pfizer vaccination series.”
At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is authorized and recommended for adolescents aged 16 and 17. More information will be available on CDC’s website soon.
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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICESexternal icon
CDC works 24/7 protecting America’s health, safety and security. Whether disease start at home or abroad, are curable or preventable, chronic or acute, or from human activity or deliberate attack, CDC responds to America’s most pressing health threats. CDC is headquartered in Atlanta and has experts located throughout the United States and the world.
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