Numbers rising in Sullivan

By LIAM MAYO
Posted 1/5/22

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Within recent weeks, the number of people within Sullivan County infected with COVID-19 has reached an all-time high.

The number of active cases in Sullivan County …

This item is available in full to subscribers.

Please log in to continue

Log in

Numbers rising in Sullivan

Posted

SULLIVAN COUNTY, NY — Within recent weeks, the number of people within Sullivan County infected with COVID-19 has reached an all-time high.

The number of active cases in Sullivan County nearly doubled in the last week of 2021, according to the county’s COVID-19 dashboard, going from 652 cases on Monday, December 27 to 1,738 cases on Monday, January 3. The number of Sullivan County residents in quarantine underwent a similar growth, going from 1,399 on Monday, December 27 to 2,838 on Monday, January 3.

Pre-December peaks for both figures had occurred toward the start of the pandemic, with 516 active case on April 16, 2020, and 1,227 in quarantine on May 1, 2020.

The CDC’s COVID data tracker estimates that 88.4 percent of cases in the New York region during the week ending Saturday, December 25 were caused by the omicron variant; while firm data lags slightly behind, 16.3 percent of cases for the week ending Saturday, December 11 are recorded by the tracker as being caused by the omicron variant.

Data from New York City’s COVID variant tracker indicates that 69 percent of cases observed for the week ending Saturday, December 18 were of the omicron variant, a sharp rise from weeks previous.

Early data suggests that the omicron variant leads to a less severe infection than earlier variants, according to the CDC. That prediction aligns with data from Sullivan County; while active cases have far surpassed their earlier peaks, hospitalizations have not risen nearly as quickly. 22 hospitalizations were recorded on Monday, January 3, compared to a peak of 28 on April 24, 2020.

And while the omicron variant may lead to less severe outcomes medically, the rise in the absolute number of cases still strains health care services. According to Sullivan County Public Health Director Nancy McGraw, the state’s contract tracing system is just one of those systems overwhelmed by the latest wave, leading to longer periods of time before those exposed to COVID-19 are notified.

“We ask everyone to use patience and educate yourself about staying safe and well.” said McGraw in a December 30 press release.

COVID-19, pandemic, omicron variant, hospitalizations, surge

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here