VALLEY CITY, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Due to an increase of active COVID-19 cases across North Dakota and the threat of the Delta variant, City-County Health District, Valley City, is providing an overview and recommendations to prevent the spread of this disease in Barnes County.
As of Aug. 12, North Dakota had 927 active cases of COVID-19, with a low of 118 in July 2021 and a high of 10,411 in November 2020.
Currently, Barnes County has eight active cases, a number expected to go up as state numbers increase.
The Delta variant is estimated to account for 90 percent of active cases in the Upper Midwest. Delta spreads more than twice as easily from one person to another compared with earlier strains. Vaccination is critical for preventing infection, serious illness, and death associated with COVID-19 infection (including the Delta variant).
The following recommendations are being made to help prevent further spreading of the COVID virus:
Get vaccinated and encourage friends, family and staff to do so also. Most vaccinated people are protected from the virus, however, breakthrough cases occur in only a small proportion of vaccinated people and the vast majority are avoiding serious illness, hospitalization, or death. City County Health District Administrator Theresa Will said the best prevention is to get a COVID-19 vaccination.
Keep informed about the COVID numbers for the state and county and watch for changes in health recommendations. You can monitor COVID numbers at health.nd.gov and at citycountyhealth.org.
She said some people who have received a COVID-19 vaccine have contracted the variant but their symptoms are minimal compared to those who are not vaccinated.
“Everyone can help contain the spread of the COVID virus,” said Theresa Will, CCHD administrator. The following measures will help:
Get your vaccine as soon as possible and encourage staff and friends to visit with their primary care provider or CCHD staff.
Call CCHD (701-845-8518) to schedule a vaccination clinic at your business or schedule staff education. “With community support we can save lives, keep everyone healthy, and keep businesses open,” said Will.
The full interview with Theresa Will is available below.