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COVID-19 Update
Rabun County’s level of COVID-19 community transmission is still classified as high, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data tracker Tuesday.
Towns, Habersham, Stephens and White counties also have classifications of high, based on the data.
“The district is again seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases, the hospitals are filling up, and it is necessary to remind residents that vaccination is important for the health of the community,” Natasha Young, public information officer for District 2 Public Health, said in a statement.
“The Delta variant is a highly contagious COVID-19 infection. It’s different from past versions of the virus and can cause breakthrough infections in vaccinated persons. The evidence and data show that vaccines are safe and effective and will provide protection against variants within the United States,” Young said.
In Rabun County as of Tuesday, there were 1,685 confirmed COVID cases, 255 antigen positive cases, 44 confirmed deaths and 166 hospitalizations, according to data from the Georgia Department of Public Health (DPH) website.
Rabun County’s population is around 16,986.
Overall in Georgia as of 2:50 p.m. Tuesday, since the pandemic began in March 2020, there were 1,000,872 confirmed COVID cases, 19,044 confirmed deaths, 69,367 hospitalizations, 11,683 ICU admissions, and 278,781 antigen positive cases, according to the Georgia DPH website.
Cases over the last two weeks were 58,297.
Reported for Tuesday alone in Georgia overall, there were 4,257 confirmed cases, 3,569 antigen positive cases, 24 deaths and 220 hospitalizations, according to data from the Georgia DPH.
Cases among vaccinated and unvaccinated
“No matter your vaccination status, wear a mask if indoors and social distance,” Young said in a statement. “Vaccination is the key to getting out of this pandemic.Vaccination lessens your risk of infection from the virus by three-and-a-half-times, your risk from getting ill from COVID-19 is eight times lower and the risk of hospitalization or death is 25 times lower.”
Young said that District 2 is in a “low vaccination coverage area” making it more susceptible to rapidly increasing cases.
According to data from the Georgia DPH, 4,311,249 Georgians are fully vaccinated. Georgia’s population is 10,833,472.
Out of those fully vaccinated people, 18,697 tested positive and 134 died due to COVID-19.
Positive cases among fully vaccinated people are 18,697, as opposed to 566,697 positive cases among unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people, according to the Georgia DPH.
Death among vaccinated people is reported as 134 people, as opposed to 6,532 deaths among unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people, according to the data.
Vaccination status and third dose
“COVID-19 cases will continue to increase if vaccination rates do not increase. It’s more urgent than ever to become fully vaccinated,” according to Young in a statement.
“Regardless of vaccination status, it is important we continue a layered approach to prevention. It’s important to wear a mask when you are in a public enclosed setting and maintain social distance to prevent transmission of the virus. Vaccination is the best protection”
Young advised that anyone 12 years old and over should get vaccinated.
Although the Georgia DPH is currently not offering a third dose, the CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) is now recommending that certain patients with weakened immune systems receive an additional dose of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna vaccine. The recommendation does not include J&J recipients at this time.
This is according to a statement by the Georgia DPH.
“The GDPH is awaiting guidance from the CDC that clearly defines what conditions make an individual eligible for an additional dose of vaccine,” according to the statement. “Once those conditions are known, DPH will establish statewide protocols for health departments administering additional doses of COVID vaccine. Until then, DPH will hold off on administering third doses.”
For more information about COVID vaccines or to schedule a vaccination appointment, visit dph.ga.gov/covid-vaccine.