As Covid cases continue going up, Public Health officials are providing more options for treatment and prevention.
Here’s PNC’s Khyomara Santana with the details…
The Island remains on a high-risk level, with the highest positivity rates among the working age population of 18-39 and 40-59, along with an increase in the over 75+ age group.
Dr. Ann Pubutsky, Territorial Epidemiologist for DPHSS said, ” It’s over a hundred cases a day, in terms of testing”
Dr. Robert Leon Guerrero, Interim Chief Epidemiologist at DPHSS added, “The latest variants appear to be not as devastating as the previous, especially for those that are vaccinated, those that are not vaccinated it can be devastating to them”
A Monoclonal antibody treatment center, opened earlier this week, at Paseo Stadium by Public Health.
The center provides care for patients with mild to moderate symptoms of the virus. In order to get treated, they are asking for a positive laboratory test and a referral.
Dr. Leon Guerrero said, “They had their first infusion Tuesday, they got 5 yesterday and 5 today so it’s starting to pick up. This is to help offload the hospitals”
Citizens and travelers will now have another option for proof of vaccination other than the white covid card that was previously issued.
Dr. Annette Aguon, Covid 19 Vaccine Operations Chief said, “There are some foreign countries that are not accepting the paper printout and this is a project that we actually wanted to launch since the beginning of this year and partially due to technical issues we had to delay it, so we’re happy to report out that finally we have this option of a QR code”
In order to contain the spread of the virus, Public Health officials want to remind the community that Covid is still out there, so continue to take the necessary precautions.
Dr. Annette David said, “We just have to continue doing the same things that we know work: social distancing, wearing masks in public, getting vaccinated and boosted, and if you think you have or you’ve been exposed get tested so you can diagnose it early and if you’re high risk and you’re positive get the antiviral or the monoclonal antibody”
Reporting for the Pacific News Center
I’m Khyomara Santana
