COVID-19 newsletter - February 3, 2022

  • News
  • Feb 3, 2022
COVID-19 Newsletter

Don’t let your guard down as COVID-19 cases peak

Many states in the U.S. are seeing a decline in COVID-19 cases after the latest surge of the omicron variant. Despite reaching a peak, Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS), Mayo Clinic, and Olmsted Medical Center (OMC) emphasize that the country is only halfway through the surge.

Mayo Clinic and OMC continue to operate at near capacity, putting a strain on staff and resources. Now is not the time for people to let their guard down. 

The key to bringing the pandemic to an end is getting people vaccinated – as many as possible. Everyone 5 and older should get a vaccine, and everyone 12 and older should get a booster when they become eligible. Layered approaches provide the most protection – masking, physical distancing, and COVID-19 testing can all help reduce the spread of the virus.

Visit the Mayo Clinic News Network for more on this topic.

Have you received your vaccine or booster?

The omicron variant underscores the importance of vaccination, boosters, and preventive efforts to protect against COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccines continue to be highly effective in reducing risk of severe disease, hospitalization, and death. CDC recommendations on booster doses are based on the latest data, which show that booster doses significantly increase protection from the Omicron variant, with the goal of ensuring that people have optimal protection against COVID-19 infection, severe illness, and death.

The COVID-19 vaccines and booster are safe and effective in preventing severe COVID-19 illness and related hospitalizations and death. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) strongly encourages COVID-19 vaccination for everyone five and older and boosters for everyone 12 and older. Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and reduce the impact of COVID-19 on our communities.

Pfizer boosters are available for everyone 12 and older five months after completing the primary series. Only people 18 and older may receive the Moderna (five months after vaccination series) or Johnson & Johnson (two months after vaccination) booster.


Quarantine and isolation guidance

The CDC’s recommended time for isolation for people testing positive for COVID-19 changed from 10 to five days, if asymptomatic. This is to be followed by five days of wearing a mask when around others.

The CDC and the MDH recommend the following quarantine periods for those exposed to COVID-19:

  • People not vaccinated or more than six months out from their second mRNA dose (or more than two months after the J&J vaccine) and not yet boosted: The CDC recommends quarantining for five days. They should follow up with strict mask use for an additional five days.
  • People who received their booster shot: These individuals do not need to quarantine following an exposure but should wear a mask for 10 days after the exposure when around others.
  • All who have been exposed: Anyone exposed to COVID should get tested five days after the point of exposure. If symptoms develop, get tested and quarantine immediately. 

Pandemic fatigue and strategies for stressed kids

The pandemic has posed many hardships, from the loss of loved ones, to job loss to loneliness, to parenting in the context of virtual schooling. We’ve made progress, but we still face the stresses of the pandemic.

Mayo Clinic offers some advice on helping children and teenagers on managing their stress. Here are a few signs that your children may be stressed our or could use some extra support:

  • Emotional outbursts or increased irritability: Stress leads to stronger feelings of anger and irritability. Your children may have emotional outbursts that are inconsistent with their previous behavior or the current situation.
  • Trouble sleeping: Worries and fears seem to come out at bedtime. Children who are stressed may have trouble falling or staying asleep or start having nightmares.
  • Withdrawing from others: Children who are stressed may want to spend more time alone and not interact with friends or family.
  • Struggles with school: Significant changes in your children's school performance can be a sign of stress. Stress makes it harder for children to focus during the school day or when doing homework. Additionally, trouble with friends and classmates can cause stress.
  • Frequent headaches or stomachaches: When children are stressed or anxious, their bodies release the hormone cortisol into the blood. This can trigger abdominal cramps and headaches.
  • Increased defiance: Children under stress may feel angry or overwhelmed. They are seeking ways to get out of the situation that is causing them to feel uncomfortable. This can lead to defiant and stubborn behaviors.

For advice on preventing excess stress with children, visit the Mayo Clinic News Network.


Updates from OCPHS, Mayo Clinic, and OMC

Olmsted County Public Health Services (OCPHS)
Olmsted County continues to remain in a high level of community transmission. As of February 2, 2022, the Minnesota Department of Health reports that Olmsted County has 1,988 active COVID-19 cases. We are also entering a phase of the pandemic where case data is confounded by delays due to extremely high numbers and at-home tests that are not accounted for in health system data. The health system is beginning to look more closely at hospital admissions, ICU admissions, and death. Olmsted County had two COVID-19 related deaths over the last seven days. Visit the Olmsted County COVID webpage for the latest updates.

Mayo Clinic
Patients ages five and older are eligible to be vaccinated and patients 12 and older are eligible to receive the booster five months out from their second vaccination. 

Individuals or parents and guardians can self-schedule a vaccination appointment now:

  • Use your Patient Online Services account to schedule an appointment online or through the Mayo Clinic app.
  • Call the Rochester campus Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. or weekends from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.: 507-538-4040.
  • If you don’t have a Patient online Services account, call Mayo Clinic Customer Assistance at 877-858-0398.

If you are eligible to receive a booster dose COVID-19 vaccine, check COVID-19 vaccine options by Mayo Clinic campus.

For more information on the COVID-19 vaccine and boosters, visit the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 vaccine information site.


Olmsted Medical Center (OMC)

Change in hours at OMC’s COVID-19 Testing Site at FastCare North
Beginning Monday, February 7, OMC’s COVID-19 Testing Site will be open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. The location will be closed for lunch from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m. The site will be closed Saturday and Sunday.

There are two ways to make an appointment to be tested:
1) Call the COVID triage line at 507-292-7266 during the hours of 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday. 
2) Schedule an appointment online using the patient portal, OMC MyChart. After you sign into your OMC MyChart account, select “Symptom Checker” from the Menu.

COVID-19 Vaccinations 
OMC is scheduling COVID-19 vaccination appointments for children ages 5-11. In addition, OMC is offering pediatric vaccination clinics every Saturday. To schedule an appointment, call 507-292-7300.

OMC is offering the Pfizer vaccine booster for patients 12+ who completed their primary series with Pfizer, Moderna, or Johnson & Johnson (Janssen). OMC also continues to offer appointments for first and second doses for the Pfizer vaccine. Appointments are available on Thursdays.

Employees, vendors, patients, and visitors are reminded to wear a surgical mask when in OMC buildings. If needed, patients and visitors will be provided a surgical mask to wear when going through the screening process. Patients who have their own surgical mask are invited to wear them when visiting an OMC building. 

Now available in OMC MyChart: online scheduling for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine
OMC patients are able to schedule an appointment for the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine through the patient portal, OMC MyChart. Appointments can be scheduled for a first dose, second dose, or booster. 

When you arrive at the vaccination location, you will be asked a series of questions to be sure you are eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. Please bring your vaccine card with you to the vaccination appointment. 

Need to schedule a COVID-19 booster? We invite you to visit the OMC website to see if you qualify. The U.S. Food and Drug Association (FDA) has created a chart that helps explains the qualifications for a COVID-19 booster. 

Please note: If you are sick, in isolation/quarantine, or you have had monoclonal antibody therapy in the last 90 days, you should not schedule a COVID-19 vaccine appointment at this time.