Omicron confirmed in Tuscarawas County
The arrival of Omicron and the continued impact of the Delta variant highlight the importance of choosing to get vaccinated.
In the late afternoon on Dec. 14, the Tuscarawas County Health Department was notified that the first case of the Omicron COVID-19 variant had been confirmed in Tuscarawas County following genomic sequencing by the Cleveland Clinic Laboratory in Cleveland.
The Omicron case was detected in an adult Tuscarawas County resident who had recent out-of-state travel history to New York City and began experiencing symptoms on Nov. 27.
The positive case was fully vaccinated but had not yet obtained a booster. The case experienced only mild COVID-19 symptoms and has been released from the isolation/contagious period. To protect patient privacy, additional demographic details about the case will not be released. Tuscarawas County Health Department officials have already contacted the individual and conducted the appropriate case investigation and contact tracing.
“While the evidence of an Omicron case in Tuscarawas County is noteworthy, the Delta variant continues as the driving force behind the increase in COVID-19 case rates and hospitalizations in county residents,” said Katie Seward, Tuscarawas County health commissioner. “The arrival of Omicron and the continued impact of the Delta variant highlight the importance of our best prevention tool, which is choosing to get vaccinated.
"In addition to being vaccinated and getting the booster, the keys to staying safe in the face of COVID-19 remain masking, keeping our distance, hand hygiene, good ventilation and avoiding crowds. These same safety measures will also help reduce the current influx of patients experienced by local hospitals."
The Tuscarawas County Health Department will continue its COVID-19 response efforts to help reduce the spread of the virus in Tuscarawas County.
Anyone age 16 and older who has had at least six months pass since his/her second dose of Moderna or Pfizer or at least two months since his/her dose of Johnson & Johnson is eligible for a COVID-19 booster.