New variant could boost COVID numbers this winter

The Washtenaw County Health Department records new COVID-19 case numbers each day. GRAPHIC BY LAURA CHODOROFF

Washtenaw County Health Department urges multiple precautions

By Willow Symonds
Staff Writer

New variant

A new Omicron sublineage called XBB.1.5 may be the most contagious strain of COVID-19 yet, according to CNN Health. Luckily, it’s less deadly compared to many other variants.

While the Washtenaw County Health Department isn’t responsible for monitoring specific variants, they continue collecting and analyzing COVID-19 case data through lab tests. Health department staff members publicize the information, along with providing safety methods for people to follow.

“There’s lots of nuance in safety precautions,” said Susan Ringler-Cerniglia, the communications and health promotion administrator. “People argue about who is or isn’t following science, but nothing’s 100% effective. Masks greatly reduce numbers, but it’s not more important than staying away from others or washing your hands.”

During the now almost-three-year-old COVID-19 pandemic, public health departments became the authority on guiding their communities. Ringler-Cerniglia recommends taking multiple precautions instead of relying on a single safety method. Each step adds a layer of protection, such as keeping air filtration inside public places while ensuring everyone is vaccinated.

“Vaccination wears off over time,” said Ringer-Cerniglia. Though medical or religious reasons may prevent some people from getting vaccinated, anyone who can should do so and also get their booster shots, she advised. This creates herd immunity, lowering case numbers.

As disease strains mutate, scientists update vaccines, creating “boosters.” The newest COVID booster (also known as a bivalent) came out mid-2022. Someone who got a booster shot late 2021 may now be eligible for another one. While vaccines were designed to resist the Omicron strain of COVID even more strongly than before, they still protect against all variants, such as XBB.1.5.

Infection rates

Infection numbers increase when many people stay inside together, which is common this time of year in Michigan, with holiday gatherings and cold weather. This time last year, Omicron was new and surged COVID-19 case numbers worldwide. In Washtenaw County, new cases peaked at 6,254 during the week of Jan 8, 2022.

This year, the super spreader may be XBB.1.5, but simple precautions can reduce the amount of infection. “You really don’t want to go to the ER just to find out if you have COVID or the flu,” said Ringler-Cernilgia. “Get home tested, then recover there. Reserve that [hospital] capacity.”

The State of Michigan tracks and reports on hospital capacity. As of Jan 6, 2023, 74% of hospital beds in Washtenaw, Monroe and Wayne counties were occupied.

“Broadly, globally, we still are in a pandemic, because we have a new virus causing more deaths,” Ringer-Cerniglia said. Although our situation has greatly improved since early 2020, COVID-19 spreads “even though people don’t think about it much anymore. As a culture, we’re pretty bad at staying home when sick.”

Ann Arbor Public Schools mandated masks for two weeks as classes resumed this month, due to students returning home from travel.

Ringer-Cerniglia doubts most places will start mandating masks again “unless emergencies start happening,” like hospitals overflowing or death tolls skyrocketing. However, she still highly recommends wearing masks when showing symptoms, even if the sickness might not be COVID-19.

In the words of Ringer-Cerniglia, “do anything you can to keep safe.”

At WCC

Current guidance: If you have COVID-19, stay at home for at least five days so you won’t be infectious. This is true no matter your vaccination status. If you become exposed to COVID-19, wear a high-quality mask on campus for ten days and get tested on Day five. Wash your hands with soap and water, and cover your mouth with a tissue when sneezing.