HILLSDALE, MI (WTVB) – The Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency said on Friday they have been notified of the first identified case of the Omicron variant in Hillsdale County. All three counties the agency serves now have confirmed cases of the Omicron variant.
Medical Director Doctor Karen Luparello said in a statement released by the agency, “It is important to know that not all COVID tests are sequenced so it is likely that there are additional cases. We encourage residents to continue using standard mitigation strategies….Vaccinations have been proven to reduce symptom severity. The FDA has approved the Moderna vaccine for use, providing residents and their physicians with two approved vaccines.”
She went on to say, “The CDC notes that emerging evidence shows that getting a COVID-19 vaccine after you recover from COVID-19 infection provides added protection to your immune system. One study showed that, for people who already had COVID-19, those who do not get vaccinated after their recovery are more than 2 times as likely to get COVID-19 again than those who get fully vaccinated after their recovery.”
Limited supplies of adult KN95 masks are available at agency offices and many local pharmacies. Children can be protected with a child’s size surgical mask covered with a multi-layered cloth mask.
The Community Health Agency continues to offer free curbside testing, in partnership with HONU, at all locations. The tests are available at the Coldwater office on Thursdays, in Hillsdale on Tuesdays, Fridays, and Saturdays and at Three Rivers on Fridays. All clinics are open from 9:00 a.m. until 3:30 p.m.. Appointments for vaccination at the Health Agency can be made at www.bhsj.org/scheduling. Local hospitals, physician offices, and pharmacies can also provide testing and vaccination.
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