Health Officials Provide Update on New COVID-19 Surge

MUSKINGUM COUNTY, Ohio- A new COVID surge is approaching and health officials are urging residents in the county to get the available COVID vaccines. 

53 percent of the community is vaccinated, according to Doctor Jack Butterfield, the Medical Director for the Muskingum County Health Department. He said the community should be in the 80 percent range, which can make the likelihood of encountering the virus less likely.

“Everyone who is eligible for the vaccine can do themselves a good favor by getting the vaccine,” Doctor Butterfield stated. “I did show today the numbers that show that overwhelmingly, you’re more likely to be hospitalized and die with COVID-19 if you’re unvaccinated than vaccinated. Like, 94 percent of the people in that situation are unvaccinated.”

Doctor Butterfield said the new surge is most likely coming back due to the cold weather, holiday events and families coming together.

According to Matt Perry, President and CEO of Genesis Healthcare System, there are currently 35 COVID positive patients in the hospital with 10 patients in the ICU, who are on ventilators and unvaccinated. 

“We’ve had our worst month for deaths from COVID-19 in October at 39 and we’re at 23 deaths so far in November.” Perry said. “So we’re offering a booster vaccine clinic at the mall on December 6th and 7th. All you have to do is go to the Genesis website at the very top with the red banner there you can just click on that and reserve yourself a space. We have plenty of room.” 

Perry added that residents who had either the Moderna or Pfizer vaccine greater than six months ago are eligible to get their booster and two months for the J&J vaccine.

For the newly discovered COVID variant, Omicron, Doctor Butterfield stated that there isn’t much information due to the variant being found about 3 weeks ago, but does mention that it is safe for the community to take both COVID and flu shots.