Public health officials are continually receiving updates for the newest COVID-19 variant, Omicron.

Greene County Public Health Director Becky Wolf shares how Omicron compares to the other largely publicized Delta variant.

“Well what we currently know is that the Omicron appears to spread more quickly than the Delta. It seems to be more contagious, easier to spread to other people, besides being more quickly. And that the fully vaccinated individuals tend to have less severe symptoms or need hospitalization.”   

Wolf says because COVID-19 is still considered to be a novel, meaning new virus, research is ongoing about it.

“What the scientists are doing is looking to see how easily the Omicron variant can spread from one person to another and what the specific degree of virulence. Virulence means, what is the capacity or the ability of that infectious virus to cause a disease, an infection, or damage the human body. And what they do is they look at how does that impact both the fully vaccinated and the unvaccinated.”       

Wolf adds, because the initial information points to those who are vaccinated against COVID-19 don’t have as severe of symptoms, she urges more people to be vaccinated. Greene County Public Health will continue to hold COVID-19 and flu vaccination clinics every Tuesday from 9am-noon and Thursday from 1-4pm at public health on the lower floor of the Greene County Medical Center. Click the link below or call them at 515-386-3228 to schedule an appointment.

Register online: https://hipaa.jotform.com/203558336058156