What does the future of COVID look like in Columbus? Here’s what local doctors say.
Concern about another surge of COVID-19 in Muscogee County is low, but officials urge high-risk individuals to continue taking precautions.
Georgia is in a better place regarding the pandemic than it has been in a long time, said Dr. Harry J. Heiman, a clinical professor at Georgia State University’s School of Public Health. The focus of the health care industry is on preventing infections, hospitalization and deaths using the tools available, he said.
People should be comfortable returning to normal activities, said Dr. Chris Edwards, chief medical officer at Piedmont Columbus Regional. However, those who are at risk for severe complications from COVID-19 or other respiratory diseases should continue to wear a mask in large gatherings regardless of the prevalence of the virus, he said.
As with lulls before previous COVID surges, Heiman said, it’s important to be mindful of concerning trends. The omicron subvariant, BA.2, has been responsible for increased cases in Europe, parts of Asia and the northeastern United States, he said, and there’s no reason to believe it won’t spread to Georgia.
As of April 20, 56% of Georgians are fully vaccinated, and 43% of Muscogee County residents have been fully vaccinated, according to the Georgia Department of Public Health. Georgia’s vaccination and booster rates are among the lowest in the country, Heiman said, and despite the natural immunity that many people acquired in previous surges, the region remains at a greater risk for future surges.
Despite his own optimism, the experience of enduring the pandemic for the past two years means there will always be a concern in the health care industry about future surges, Edwards said.
“Although I cannot speak for all health care providers,” Edwards said, “my current level of concern for a surge in the short term is the lowest since the start of the pandemic.”
Are the omicron subvariants a threat?
The omicron subvariant, BA.2, continues to account for about 75% of COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The subvariant has been responsible for a slight uptick in numbers in a few areas of the country, Edwards said.
“I am not aware of an increase in severe COVID causing hospitalization,” he said. “Therefore, I believe the level of concern should not be high at this point.”
People should continue to watch the local numbers, Edwards said, especially the number of hospitalizations. The level of concern about a surge should be tied to hospitalizations, Edwards said.
“Although the omicron surge we saw at the beginning of the year seemed to cause less severe illness than the previous delta surge, it still caused a large number of hospitalizations and deaths,” he said.
The CDC changed the framework for determining its COVID community levels in March by calculating the number of hospital beds being used, hospital admissions and the total number of new COVID-19 cases in the area
As of April 21, Muscogee County’s community level is low, according to the CDC’s county check.
Ultimately, vaccination remains the safest and easiest way to reduce the risk of serious illness, Heiman said. The CDC encourages residents who live in a low community level area to stay up to date on their COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters. Residents may now get a second booster if they are eligible at the Columbus Health Department.
Everyone should continue doing basic infection prevention practices, such as hand hygiene, Edwards said, because infections of all types will always circulate.
“My advice would be that if you are in good health, resume your normal activities,” he said. “Gather with your friends and family and travel if that is what you would like to do.”
This story was originally published April 22, 2022 at 6:50 AM.
