Omicron rising COVID update December 20 Covid-19 numbers continue to rise across the country and the world with the Omicron variant heightening concerns as holiday gatherings are set to begin this week. The latest information from the Otsego County Health Department shows:…
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Governor issues statewide indoor mask mandate beginning Monday, December 13 Governor Kathy Hochul this morning announced masks will be required to be worn in all public places throughout the whole of New York State beginning Monday, December 13 and effective through January 15, 2022. Businesses or venues that implement the mask requirement must ensure all patrons two years and older wear a mask at all times while indoors. Those businesses and venues that implement a vaccine requirement for patrons and…
Hope for the best, prepare for the worst In 24 months, we have learned many things about responding to a pandemic of a dangerous disease. Don’t ignore it. Take reasonable precautions to prevent the spread. 1918 is still relevant. Work on treatments and immunizations and use them when available. And more: Lessen our travel. Wear a mask if it’s transmitted by air. Avoid any behavior that promotes spread. Work hard to do all the above. Don’t panic. That won’t help.…
Editorial: Omicron, is it? It sounds a lot like something out of Hollywood — one of those action/sci-fi movies that demand we suspend our disbelief more than usual and go along for the ride in a world where it can’t happen here. The problem, of course, is that it can. And it is. We had barely dried the Thanksgiving dinner dishes when word came out of the World Health Organization that it was meeting in emergency session over a newly…
COVID update December 1, 2021 COVID cases are steadily increasing in Otsego County with 77 new cases reported today, 8 hospitalizations, and 2 new deaths, according to the Otsego County Department of Health. There are 267 active cases in the county currently. Otsego County is considered an area of high community transmission. The CDC and DOH recommend wearing masks while indoors, regardless of vaccination status. Update: According to an Otsego County DOH press release, 22 of the 77 new cases…
Bassett offering vaccine clinic in Cooperstown on Saturday, December 4 Bassett Healthcare is offering a vaccine clinic to the community, including children ages 5 to 17, on Saturday, December 4 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Bassett Medical Center’s outpatient clinic in Cooperstown. The clinic will offer boosters for the Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, and Pfizer as well as first and second Pfizer doses for children and flu shots. Those receiving vaccines need to be established patients of Bassett…
COVID update November 29, 2021 COVID numbers for Otsego County on Monday spiked with three deaths, six hospitalizations, and 31 new cases, according to the Otsego County Department of Health. There is cause for concern with the Omicron variant causing New York Governor Kathy Hochul to declare a state of emergency on November 26, the day after Thanksgiving. Oneonta Mayor Gary Herzig said he has not discussed a mask mandate with the Common Council at this time. “We’re all waiting…
COVID and kids Disparate strategies point to need for vaccine By Richard Sternberg M.D. The amount of information regarding COVID in children and the risks and benefits of vaccination is overwhelming and as reported even varies from country to country. There is no clear-cut consensus on anything in the younger age groups other than that the risk of developing a case requiring treatment, hospitalization, or leading to death is lower if the patient is younger. Still, the risks of vaccine…
Opinion by Richard Sternberg: Hey Aaron Rodgers, Man Up! Last week a friend told me a story that should have surprised me, but unfortunately I was inured to. In fact, you could say I had been immunized to the situation. Her friend who she had worked with frequently over the past few months, came up to her smiling and announced that he had finally “bit the bullet” and had gotten vaccinated against COVID. He had refused up to that point…
Opinion by Richard Sternberg COVID: Good News/Bad News Six weeks ago, I wrote about a new drug called malnupiravir from Merck that was a game changer in the treatment of COVID-19. When taken in the first few days of infection it was 50% effective in the prevention of hospitalization and death. While not as good as monoclonal antibodies this was considered an amazing result and the study was terminated early in order to immediately ask for emergency approval. It was…