George Schmitt speaks with Milford Mayor Sean Strub and Infectious Disease Specialist Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse talks about record breaking case counts across the country. He goes into a more in-depth analysis of studies on Omicron Variant. He also reviews new CDC guidance on isolation of those infected with Covid being shortened to five days. Omicron is definitely affecting people with prior Covid infection as well as vaccinated but not boosted individuals. If you’ve not gotten your booster you really need it.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse discusses very high and still increasing numbers here. He addresses some peoples concern that the numbers are being inflated. He reviews the data on all positive test done to the community health centers and they account for around half of all numbers reported in Wayne in Pike county. Their numbers do not include numbers from testing done through the ER or hospitalized patients or done by providers that are not part of the community health centers or done outside of the Wayne Memorial system. Therefore the states numbers are very consistent with what they’re seeing in their office numbers. He reports that 36% of their cases are currently in the under 18 year old category. He also discusses monoclonal antibody treatment, indications, risks and benefit. They are now doing that through the outpatient clinics. He also reminds us of Omicron spread and concern for holiday gatherings. Stay safe.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion and Milford Mayor Sean Strub about COVID updates in Milford

This week Dr. Cruse talks about continued high numbers here and strain on our healthcare system. He discusses numbers in the schools and particular that Delaware Valley school district had to close one day last week due to cases in bus drivers. Delaware Valley, which has a looser masking policy has a higher rate of Covid cases among students and staff than the districts with stricter policies. He believes that we should continue with masking in schools in January, with a tiered approach to loosening mask requirements. He also discusses more data on Omicron spread, increased contagiousness and vaccine resistance. He recommends boosters and all adults six months after their second dose.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion and Milford Mayor Sean Strub about COVID updates in Milford

Dr. Cruse informs us that this past week was the second highest case count here of the entire pandemic. Based on last year’s pattern he expects things will get worse from here. The rate of cases and deaths are very high. The hospital is still overwhelmed and is running short on some Covid treatments. He also discusses the Omicron variant. It is in the US and is in Pennsylvania, but not in our area yet that we know of. Preliminary data shows that it is much more contagious, but less deadly than the Delta variant. Still he discusses that high transmissibility even with lower virulence (deadliness) can lead to higher deaths overall. Get your vaccine, wear your mask, and avoid large holiday gatherings.

George Schmitt speaks with Dr. Doug Manion and Milford Mayor Sean Strub about COVID updates in Milford

this week Dr. Cruse talked about how numbers are still very high here. They are lower than the week before but he feels that is due to less testing and delay on data collection over the Thanksgiving holiday. He feels the number will be very high next week. He discusses studies on transmissibility versus vaccine resistance and that transmissibility has a much larger impact on the pandemic than vaccine resistant does, and the combination of both can be catastrophic. The omicron variant recently discovered in South Africa is extremely concerning because it has both characteristics and particularly may be five times more transmissible than delta. However vaccines do still work and masks definitively work. So get your vaccine and wear your mask, this may be a long ride.