No omicron variant in Cumberland, health officials want residents to prepare for holidays

Ariana-Jasmine Castrellon, The Fayetteville Observer
·3 min read

Although the omicron variant hasn’t yet been identified in Cumberland County or North Carolina, health officials want residents to take precautions when traveling for the holidays.

“(The) omicron (variant) is another mutation of the COVID-19 disease, similar to the delta variant and others that have come before it,” said Jennifer Green, director of the Cumberland County Health Department. “According to the World Health Organization, the omicron variant has some concerning mutations, and they are still monitoring the effectiveness of the (COVID-19) vaccine against this new variant.”

Health officials are anticipating a spike in COVID-19 cases following the new year.

The omicron variant hasn’t yet been identified in Cumberland County or North Carolina, Green said.

“The weekly North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services respiratory disease surveillance report indicates that the delta variant is the most commonly circulating variant in North Carolina,” Green said. “We anticipate that the omicron (variant) will be identified in North Carolina.”

Samuel Fleishman, chief medical officer for Cape Fear Valley Health, said he anticipates a spike in COVID-19 cases after the holiday season.

In January 2021, Cape Fear Medical Center reached a high of nearly 135 COVID-19 cases, including nearly 80 COVID-19 related deaths, he said.

There are currently 19 COVID-19 patients at Cape Fear Medical Center, six of whom are in the ICU, Fleishman said.

The best way to combat the omicron variant is to get vaccinated, he said.

Nearly 60% of Cumberland County residents are vaccinated against COVID-19, according to the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services.

Nearly 300 children ages 5 to 11 have received the COVID-19 vaccine administered by Cape Fear Valley Health, Fleishmann said.

As a way to combat COVID-19 during the holiday season, Green said residents should wear a mask in alignment with Cumberland County's mask order, practice good hand hygiene, stay 6 feet apart, avoid crowded spaces and get vaccinated.

In addition, residents age 18 and older who are fully vaccinated should receive their booster shots as they become eligible, she said. For the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 booster shots, the CDC recommends waiting at least six months after the last dose, and for the Johnson & Johnson’ COVID-19 booster, the CDC recommends waiting at least two months after the initial shot.

Green said Cumberland County residents should practice COVID-19 safety protocols when traveling during the holidays.

“For those that are unvaccinated, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services and the CDC recommend getting tested one to three days before travel and three to five days after returning from travel. Those that are unvaccinated should stay home and self-quarantine for a full seven days after travel, even if you test negative at three to five days,” Green said.

She said residents are encouraged to use the free at-home test kits available at the Health Department before and after traveling.

For information on where to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, visit www.cumberlandcountync.gov.

Health and education writer Ariana-Jasmine Castrellon can be reached at acastrellon@gannett.com or 910-486-3561.

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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Cumberland County health officials preparing for COVID omicron variant