With the omicron variant of COVID-19 driving a surge in infections in South Louisiana, members of the local media have been looking for expert advice to help explain it to viewers.
They’ve been finding it at St. Tammany Health System.
STHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Patrick Torcson recently appeared on WGNO-Ch. 26 and WDSU-Ch. 6 to help break it all down during the week after Christmas. Then, on Tuesday (Jan. 4), STHS infectious disease expert Dr. Mike Hill spoke to reporters from WVUE-Ch. 8 and WDSU-Ch. 6 on the topic.
Among other things, Drs. Hill and Torcson noted that while omicron is indeed proving to be more contagious than previous variants – which is why COVID-related hospitalizations are on the rise – patients are, on the whole, not as sick as they were during surges driven by delta and other COVID strains.
"We have 36 patients hospitalized currently," Dr. Hill told WDSU. "It's been doubling almost weekly."
But, he added: “Out of the 36 patients, we have six in the ICU but only one patient on a ventilator. The majority of patients are going home, and as you can tell by the numbers, the majority of the patients are not in the ICU or on ventilators right now. So that’s a good thing, and the hospital stay is shorter.”
That being said, people shouldn’t let down their guard when it comes to protecting themselves against omicron. Among the prevention strategies Dr. Hill recommends are:
- Get vaccinated – The CDC recommends everyone 5 years or older protect themselves by getting fully vaccinated. Everyone 18 years or older should also get a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose when eligible.
- Wear a mask – Everyone 2 years or older should wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission.
- Keep your distance – Stay at least six feet from people outside your home and those within your home who are sick.
- Increase ventilation – Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated spaces. Use the CDC’s interactive ventilation tool to learn how to reduce virus particles in your home.
- Test to prevent spread – Consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.
- Wash your hands often – Wash hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
See Dr. Hill’s full Tuesday appearance at at WDSU.com.
You can also watch a segment Dr. Torcson did on Dec. 29 at WGNO.com.