(TENNESSEE) According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), COVID 19 cases and hospitalizations are continuing to decline across the United States. As of February 2, 2022, cases are down 53.1% from their peak on January 15. However, community transmission is still high nationwide. According to CDC’s Nowcast projections for the week ending January 29, 2022, the proportion of the Omicron variant circulating in the United States is predicted to be greater than 99%.
A study by Johns Hopkins University shows that COVID vaccinations in the United States are 63.9 per cent of the population, with 41.8 per cent having received boosters.
The study is broken down into counties, and thankfully Rutherford County did not make the 50 worst in the Volunteer State. However, two of the four counties that touch Rutherford did make the list. #50 was Coffee County and Bedford County ranked #39.
The top five Tennessee counties were: 1. VanBuren, 2. Houston, 3. Clay, 4. Fentress and 5. Pickett.
The CDC warns that the Omicron variant is extremely contagious, and that the COVID-19 vaccines available in the United States are effective at protecting people from getting seriously ill, getting hospitalized, and even dying.
Everyone in the United States ages 5 years and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
Everyone ages 12 years and older is eligible to receive a COVID-19 booster dose if enough time has passed since completion of their primary series.
The Tennessee Health Department shows that one-month into the New Year has brought a decrease in hospitalization of COVID patients.
February 1, 2022 showed 101 pediatric positive cases in Tennessee with 17 in ICU’s and 10 on ventilators.
When you compare that with the five-day earlier peak across the state when there were 122 positive pediatric cases, with 15 in the ICU, and 6 of the children on ventilators.
To find a vaccine provider near you, visit vaccines.gov. or contact the Rutherford County Health Department at 615-898-7880. They are located at 100 W. Burton Street in Murfreesboro.
