(KNSI) – Cases of COVID-19 fueled by the omicron variant have peaked in the St. Cloud area, according to local medical experts, but they warn we’re not out of the woods. CentraCare COVID-19 Incident Commander Dr. George Morris explained what the peak means.
“We’re leveling off, but it’s still at a very high rate. The good news is, it’s not climbing at that rate that it was the first two weeks of January. We saw this coming. We knew early January would hit everybody hard and fast. Estimates were anywhere from two to six weeks, and we’re about halfway through that.”
He says St. Cloud Hospital is still filled with 20% of the more than 370 patients testing positive for COVID. CentraCare’s laboratory reports a test positivity rate of 30% compared to 33% a week ago.
“We’re not seeing cases climb any higher, and I don’t predict that it’s going to get any higher as far as the numbers of people that we’re going to see on a day-by-day basis. We still know that for the next two to three weeks, we are looking for everybody to do their individual part. ”
He says that includes intense mask-wearing when you’re out in public and all indoor spaces. Dr. Morris also asks everyone eligible and can get a vaccine to prevent severe illness.
(KNSI) – Cases of COVID-19 fueled by the omicron variant have peaked in the St. Cloud area, according to local medical experts, but they warn we’re not out of the woods. CentraCare COVID-19 Incident Commander Dr. George Morris explained what the peak means.
“We’re leveling off, but it’s still at a very high rate. The good news is, it’s not climbing at that rate that it was the first two weeks of January. We saw this coming. We knew early January would hit everybody hard and fast. Estimates were anywhere from two to six weeks, and we’re about halfway through that.”
He says St. Cloud Hospital is still filled with 20% of the more than 370 patients testing positive for COVID. CentraCare’s laboratory reports a test positivity rate of 30% compared to 33% a week ago.
“We’re not seeing cases climb any higher, and I don’t predict that it’s going to get any higher as far as the numbers of people that we’re going to see on a day-by-day basis. We still know that for the next two to three weeks, we are looking for everybody to do their individual part. ”
He says that includes intense mask-wearing when you’re out in public and all indoor spaces. Dr. Morris also asks everyone eligible and can get a vaccine to prevent severe illness.
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