December 23, 2021 – Local officials at Cook County Public Health are preparing for an increase in COVID-19 cases in the coming weeks driven by the Omicron variant. Health officials ask community members to celebrate the holidays safely this year with the goal of lessening the impact of the ongoing pandemic.

Based on laboratory data from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), we know that the Omicron variant is now the most commonly spreading COVID-19 variant across both the state and the country. There has not been a confirmed case of Omicron reported in Cook County. This variant is more contagious than all previous strains of COVID-19 and because of reporting delays, by the time we get our first reported case of Omicron it will have already spread rapidly throughout the community. The quick rise of the Omicron variant underscores the importance of everyone taking steps to slow the spread, so we don’t overwhelm our already stressed health care system.

We have the tools we need to limit the impact of the Omicron variant on our community in the coming weeks. Consider these tools as layers of protection—the more we layer, the better protected we are as individuals and as a community. These behaviors will protect ourselves, our families, our friends, and our neighbors:

• Get vaccinated and boosted if you are eligible. All Minnesotans age 5 and up can be vaccinated. All Minnesotans 16 and older should get a booster when they are due (six months after receiving Pfizer and Moderna, or two months after receiving Johnson & Johnson). While we will likely see more cases in vaccinated individuals with the Omicron variant, vaccines continue to be the best way to protect yourself and your loved ones from experiencing severe disease, hospitalization, or death due to COVID-19. Boosters add significantly to that protection.
• Get tested and stay home if you are sick. Even if you only feel a little bit sick, it’s important to stay home and get a COVID-19 test. COVID-19 can feel mild, so it’s important not to ignore your symptoms. Even someone who is mildly ill or not showing symptoms can spread COVID-19 to others, who may experience more severe illness due to the virus. Common early symptoms of COVID-19 include sore throat, headache, cough, runny nose/nasal congestion, and fatigue. When you stay home from work, school, or gatherings with other people while contagious for any illness, you are making a positive difference in our community! Consider using an over-the-counter rapid COVID-19 test immediately before, then again 5 to 7 days after a gathering as an added layer of limiting the spread of COVID-19. These kits are available for purchase online, as well as at through registration North Shore Health.
• Stay safe. Wear a well-fitting, high quality mask while traveling and in indoor public settings like a church or grocery store. Wash your hands and do your best to avoid crowded indoor spaces for 5 to 7 days before getting together with family and friends — especially high-risk loved ones and children under age 5 who can’t be vaccinated. Know the vaccination status of those with whom you are gathering to make sure everyone can choose safety precautions that fit with their level of individual risk tolerance while together. Consider outdoor gatherings as a safer alternative and be especially mindful of keeping your group size small.

Visit cookcountycovid19.org for the latest information on COVID-19 in Cook County including information on local testing options, vaccine registration, as well as to find links to information on COVID-19 from CDC and MDH. Please note that we continue to work to improve access to both over the counter antigen tests as well as timely vaccination opportunities in our community.

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Contact:

Grace Grinager, Cook County Public Health Supervisor, 218-387-3620, [email protected]