COVID-19 cases are not just on the rise nationally, but locally as well. Early findings are indicating the omicron variant is highly transmissible and appears to be re-infecting individuals who had an earlier variant and also evading those fully vaccinated. While everyone is still at risk of contracting the virus and the omicron variant is more contagious, the symptoms seem to be milder, however, a rise of cases in children is being seen, informs OSF HealthCare Holy Family Occupational Health Physician Dr. Robert Ayers:
“It used to be that they thought that the people who had been sick with the UK variant weren’t getting as sick with the delta variant, interestingly, but they are getting sick with the omicron at the same rate as if they have never been sick at all. Those previous infections aren’t helping us very much. The adult hospitalization rate has gone down, so there are less people hospitalized during omicron than there was with delta, which is good news, but the children rate has gone up. They are seeing a respiratory and diarrhea as the reason why children with COVID are being admitted, especially the under 5-year-old crowd. Most of the children, the average illness is three days: sore throat, runny nose, headache, and a fever. Most everyone is doing okay. The omicron is milder, but it is much more contagious than delta.”
As of today, Dr. Ayers reported 223 are currently hospitalized within OSF HealthCare and 31 are on ventilators.
**Written by WMOI/WRAM Director of Communications Kelsey Crain and Contributing to the Story Colleen Reynolds, OSF HealthCare Media Relations Coordinator**
