February 7, 2022 — The omicron surge seems to have peaked, though the variant can be hard on children. And more than 200 staff and inmates at the jail have been infected. None have died or been hospitalized, according to Public Health Officer Dr. Andy Coren.

At Friday’s briefing, Coren reported that while hospitalizations have plateaued, there was one newborn infant from Mendocino County being treated at UCSF. He presented some numbers of the pandemic’s overall effect on children.

While reported case numbers are falling, county hospitals were near capacity last week, a metric that public health is relying on more heavily than numbers in assessing the pandemic. WIth a seven-day lag, Coren expects numbers to fall another 30% this week.

Mendocino County’s vaccination numbers are slightly behind those of the state, while the country as a whole lags behind other wealthy nations.

Therapeutics are beginning to be available in the county, though they are still scarce. Coren said some are suitable for treating children.

Coren ended by urging people again to vaccinate children, wear medical-grade masks, enjoy being outdoors, and prepare for the next surge.