COVID19 Vaccination & Testing Information
COVID-19 and Mental Health
Maintaining one’s mental health is an essential part of achieving overall well-being. The link below provides resources that will be helpful in connecting individuals with people who can benefit from talking about how they are feeling. There is also information about the virtual support groups and hotlines that are available through various organizations. https://www.nj211.org/covid-19-and-mental-health
COVID-19 Activity
New COVID Cases are Rising Sharply Primarily Because of the Increased Transmissibility of Omicron BA.2.
The rate of transmission in NJ has increased to 1.26. Any transmission rate above 1.00 is concerning and indicates that each infected person is passing the virus to at least one other person. The higher the number, the greater the risk of viral spread throughout the community. As of May 17, 2022, five of the six regions of the State, including our Northwest Region are in the High (Orange) COVID Activity Classification. The Southeast Region remains in the Moderate (Yellow) COVID Activity Classification.
For the latest Statewide and Regional COVID Activity Report that specifies the Risk Levels by Region (usually updated by the State each Thursday), please click the following link: https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/covid/
The rate of new COVID infections in all of the municipalities within the Pequannock Health Department’s jurisdiction are sharply rising at this time.
The spread of COVID is largely driven by a combination of the following factors:
- Many within the population who remain unvaccinated or without booster shots
- COVID outbreaks involving the highly contagious Omicron BA.1 variant or the BA.2 subvariant. Omicron BA.1 is well over twice as contagious than the Delta variant, and now accounts for roughly 20% of all sequenced COVID infections in the United States. Omicron BA.2 subvariant is approximately 1.5 times more contagious than BA.1and accounts for roughly 80% of all sequenced COVID infections in the United States. It is expected that BA.2 will continue to be the dominant strain in the coming weeks. The new XE variant which is a variation of Omicron, is currently being monitored. It is important to note that Omicron BA.1 and especially BA.2, cause a more mild form of COVID-19. Most within the population have some meaningful level of immunity from either past infection or vaccination, which is contributes to the more mild nature of the Omicron variant.
- Breakthrough infections among the vaccinated. The vaccines are only marginally effective against symptomatic and asymptomatic infection because of waning immunity or from the variant having some degree of immune escape, but they remain highly effective in protecting against severe illness, hospitalization, and death.
- Lifted or relaxed restrictions and drastically diminished practice of protective precautions
Please click the links below for more information on COVID19 vaccines and updates from the Department of Health:
NJDOH Guidelines for Quarantine Periods
3rd Dose Flyer for Immunocompromised
https://www.nj.gov/health/cd/statistics/covid/index.shtml
