By Amir Mohammad
Public Health
Dr. Amir Mohammad
The summer this year has been really hot. Despite experiencing a surge of COVID-19 cases in our community, high levels of immunity and the availability of effective COVID-19 prevention and managements tools have reduced the risk for significant illness and death.
The omicron variant of the virus is less virulent but more contagious. Although the symptoms are milder, it is important that every person understand their individual risk and take appropriate steps to protect themselves and others with vaccines, therapeutics, timely testing and by wearing masks if exposed. You should continue to isolate for at least five days if infected.
The Connecticut Department of Public Health published revised guidelines to assist in local school decision-making based on a town’s rate of infection while focusing on maximizing in-person learning.
School districts, child care programs, and youth camps are still required to report COVID-19 cases using systems put in place by DPH and the Office of Early Childhood. DPH encourages continued sharing of general information about COVID-19 cases in school systems with families.
I have advised our school superintendents and principals to continue to follow COVID-19 mitigation strategies to prevent surges or outbreaks in our school settings. Although contact tracing at schools is not required, the health department will continue to monitor the number of outbreaks and provide guidance on preventive measures to maximize in-person participation opportunities for children.
For example, “test-mask-go” is a strategy that allows children to continue with in-person learning while reducing the risk of spread of respiratory infectious diseases like COVID-19. According to this strategy, any child or staff member with mild respiratory symptoms like infrequent cough, congestion, runny nose or sore throat has the option to continue participating in-person provided: they are fever-free and feel well enough to participate; they do not live with anyone who has had COVID-19 in the past two weeks; they can wear a mask consistently and correctly (if facility operators require them to do so); and they test negative for COVID-19 prior to reporting in-person on every day they have symptoms, as well as one final test on the morning their symptoms have completely resolved.
On the other hand, individuals who have any respiratory disease symptoms should not go in person if they have a fever or feel feverish, or they live with a person who has tested positive for COVID-19 in the last two weeks. They should not report in person until their fever has resolved for at least 24 hours without the use of medication.
Test-mask-go is designed to assist with the management of ill children and staff in order to have them continue with in-person learning to the extent possible.
I have further advised our school systems to continue close communication with the health department and follow the community level of infection by reviewing the COVID-19 County Check database that is updated weekly. As of this writing, the New Haven County’s community level is medium.
We also received a recent update that the US Food and Drug Administration advised manufacturers seeking to update their COVID-19 vaccines to add an omicron BA.4/5 spike protein component to the current vaccine composition to create a new bivalent booster vaccine.
The bivalent COVID-19 vaccine will be administered as a single booster dose to those who previously completed a primary series of COVID-19 vaccine. It is anticipated that bivalent booster doses may initially be authorized for people ages 12 and older (Pfizer-BioNTech) and for people ages 18 years and older (Moderna), followed by younger age groups. It is also anticipated that the bivalent COVID-19 vaccines will only be authorized as a single dose in people who have completed a primary vaccination series. Submissions for new emergency use authorizations are expected from Pifzer-BioNTech and Moderna in early September, potentially by Labor Day.
While we are gearing up to resume our vaccination campaign for both influenza and COVID-19 in the fall season, I encourage you all to remain proactive and follow the medical guidance from your primary care providers. We have updated our webpage and are uploading all relevant information. You can also submit your comments, questions or concerns to the Health Department.
Dr. Amir Mohammad is the director of public health for the town of Orange.