Anonymous
Source: Santa Barbara County Public Health Department
Santa Barbara County Public Health Department has received confirmation of the first four cases of COVID-19 related to the Omicron variant (B.1.1.529).
All four cases were under 30 years of age. Three of the four cases were in South County, one received two doses of Pfizer, and the other three do not have vaccine records in CAIR, the state immunization database.
Additional contact investigation and contact tracing efforts are underway to gather information, and following standard procedures, close contacts have been asked to quarantine.
“The detection of these four Omicron cases validates our sense of urgency about vaccination and boosters in our local community. Vaccination and boosters for every eligible community member continues to be the number one tool we have to stop the spread of this virus and prevent serious illness in those who do get COVID-19,” shared Van Do-Reynoso, County Public Health Director.
“Given the prevalence of Omicron cases throughout the nation and California, we can expect that the variant is circulating in Santa Barbara County. However, these four cases are the first confirmed from sampling.”
COVID-19 vaccines have been effective against earlier variants of the virus and appear to be effective against this new variant as well, especially against serious illness and death. Find a COVID-19 vaccination site today by visiting https://publichealthsbc.org/vaccine/.
Testing continues to be an important element in early detection of infection. Community members are encouraged to get tested if they traveled to U.S. locations with high transmission rates or if they’ve traveled internationally. Additionally, testing is recommended for persons who have attended crowded gatherings with unvaccinated people. If you test positive, be sure to isolate and remind your close contacts with symptoms to isolate regardless of vaccination status.
If you are unable to book an immediate appointment for COVID-19 testing, consider an at-home testing option. These at-home tests are the next best option, especially if you experience symptoms. Due to increased demand for at-home antigen tests, supply may be limited at local pharmacies, grocery stores, and other locations.
Stay Connected:
County Public Health: www.PublicHealthSBC.org, Twitter and Facebook
County of Santa Barbara: www.CountyofSB.org, Twitter, Facebook
2-1-1 Call Center: Dial 211 if calling from within the county; or call (800) 400-1572 if calling from outside the area.
One bumped molecule, a new variant forms and teenagers to age 30 become the new receptor for illness and death. Pediatric cases are on the rise with omicron. We’re all in this together, and as long as the pandemic creates new variants we are ALL at risk.
Wow, what a bunch of panic. You all sound like crazy chickens freaking out. Take a deep breath.
Yeah, it’s only a deadly pandemic, after all.
You might make a case based on limited data that omicron is less deadly, but to state that it is not deadly is a lie.
Panic never helps any situation, especially critical ones.
And in critical cases, complacency is idiotic.
It’s morphing into the common cold. Get a grip already.
If you’re obese and unvaccinated, be afraid. Be very afraid.
Party on.
No reason to panic unless you have a “Nervous Nelly” type personality and simply can’t help it. Those of us who remain calm are the ones who are able to think and reason clearly. One bit of advice, and that is to take care of yourself and loved ones first, and do not worry about the “other guy”. At this point, the other guy is doing what they are gonna do…deal with it.
its only comforting to know that that age group continues to act like selfish entitled brats. As long as they havent changed its comforting to plan for it.
You can panic if you are not vaxxed. My brother in law works at a funeral home. They are very busy, and all but one COVID deaths in the last few months are not vaxxed.