Michele Bever, South Heartland District Health Department (SHDHD) executive director, reported the virus causing COVID-19 continues to circulate at low levels in South Heartland’s four counties. According to Bever, wastewater samples from June 8 showed very low levels of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
“However, long term care staff and residents in our health district have tested positive in recent weeks and we are sad to report two additional deaths attributed to COVID-19 in the past three months, bringing our district’s COVID-19 death total to 160,” she said.
Bever said 66 percent of patients that were hospitalized in South Heartland hospitals because of COVID during the month of May were unvaccinated. “The virus is still causing severe illness in some people,” she said.
The scientific community is also learning more about the long-term effects of SARS-CoV-2 infection (long COVID). According to a news release from the National Institutes of Health last month, “Initial findings from a study of nearly 10,000 Americans, many of whom had COVID-19, have uncovered new details about long COVID, the post-infection set of conditions that can affect nearly every tissue and organ in the body.”
Bever said the COVID-19 bivalent vaccine continues to be the best protection against severe COVID-19 illness and death as well as long COVID symptoms. She encouraged residents to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations, including a bivalent vaccine. “Currently, a second bivalent vaccine dose is available for those aged 65 and older and for immunocompromised individuals,” she said.
Free COVID-19 home test kits are still available at locations across the health district. Bever encouraged residents to keep test kits on hand for ready testing in case they are exposed to someone who is ill, or when they are experiencing symptoms themselves. Locations for accessing testing or test kits are also posted on the health department website.
“With the virus continuing to circulate at low levels in our communities, people who are at higher risk for severe illness, but also those living, working and interacting with others who are more vulnerable to severe illness, should continue to take precautions against the spread of this respiratory virus,” Bever said.
Janis Johnson, a registered nurse and South Heartland’s immunization manager, emphasized that separating from others (self-isolation) continues to be appropriate for individuals who test positive for COVID-19. South Heartland maintains updated guidance for COVID-19 self-quarantine and isolation at: http://www.southheartland health.ne.gov
“Precautions for COVID-19 and other respiratory illnesses include staying home when you have symptoms, wearing a mask when you are around vulnerable individuals, frequent hand washing and staying up to date on immunizations that can protect against severe illness,” she said.
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