Avoid emergency rooms! As the Omicron variant spreads and COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations increase, Virginia public health officials and hospital leaders are urging individuals with asymptomatic or mild coronavirus cases, or other non-serious illnesses, to avoid unnecessary trips to already burdened hospital emergency departments, and to get vaccinated if they have not already done so.

Hospitals across Virginia have recently experienced an influx of patients seeking emergency department care for asymptomatic or relatively mild COVID-19 infections, as well as cases of the flu or other seasonal illness. In many cases, a hospital emergency department is not the appropriate venue for patients with mild to moderate COVID-19 symptoms to seek medical care. Most individuals who contract COVID-19 do not need to visit the hospital’s emergency department and can effectively recover from their illness at home, or by seeking primary care treatment and/or speaking with their primary care provider

People with severe COVID-19 symptoms such as significant difficulty breathing, intense chest pain, severe weakness, or an elevated temperature that persists for days unabated are among those who should consider seeking emergency medical care for their condition. Individuals should not visit the emergency department if the symptoms of their illness are mild to moderate – including a cough, sore throat, runny nose, or body aches – or simply for the purpose of having a COVID-19 test administered and should instead consult an outpatient primary care provider.

Armchair Epidemiologist

A person who, despite lack of education, experience, and expertise in the field, makes decisions (often inaccurate) about whether to apply good public health measures in disease prevention.

How COVID-savvy are you? Test your knowledge about COVID-19 by taking this quiz provided by Johns Hopkins Medicine: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/test-your-knowledge-covid-19

The answer to the Just For Fun Question in Dec. 20, 2021 WP Perspectives is that the "corona" in the name coronavirus means Crown. Spike proteins on these viruses’ outer coating give them the appearance of a crown or halo. Congrats to Kathryn Whitley who answered correctly!

Epidemiology is the science at center of public health.

The new guidance from the CDC which reduces the amount of time for isolation of positive cases and quarantine for exposures can be confusing. Here is a chart for quick reference.
This link from the CDC may also be helpful: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s1227-isolation-quarantine-guidance.html

49.1  &  20.2
49.6  &  19.1
59.1  &  19
41.3  &  17.2

^{cumulative total as of 01/02/22}  

Meet our CHWs

Lashara Wade

As a Community Health Worker (CHW) in Franklin County, Lashara Wade is stationed at Lake Christian Ministries. Here, she talks to the clientele about the importance of the COVID-19 vaccines and helps people register for appointments that are convenient for them. She is one of three Franklin County-based CHWs.

A lifelong resident of Franklin County, Lashara attended nursing school at Roanoke Memorial School of Nursing, a background which, no doubt, has prepared her for the work of linking people in need of medical services to providers, scheduling vaccination appointments, and speaking with authority on the need for vaccination.

When she is not at work, Lashara enjoys spending time with her family, caring for her dogs, being a part time caregiver, and being  with her two sons, Darius and Devin.

Lashara works through the United Way of the Roanoke Valley in her duties as a Community Health Worker. She can be reached: lashara@uwrv.org