Dr. Rutul Dalal
A UPMC infectious disease expert offered an update to the state of things in Lycoming County, and reminded residents of how to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 during the holidays.
Dr. Rutul Dalal, an infectious disease expert at UPMC Williamsport, updated the community on the state of COVID.
COVID cases are currently at 70% of what they were last year, Dalal said, and around 85% of current cases are unvaccinated individuals.
Most of those people fall in the 30-50 age range, because that is where vaccine reluctancy is focused, Dalal said, and he said cases are not as severe among vaccinated individuals.
The 15% of COVID-19 cases that are in vaccinated individuals occur with the elderly, or individuals with major comorbidities, hypertension, diabetes and obesity, and when they do get COVID-19, the infection is less severe, more short lived and the patient does not need intensive care.
To Dalal’s knowledge, the omicron variant of COVID-19 has not yet been detected in Lycoming County. He said that scientists will look for more cases in younger people who have received the vaccine and booster shot who have no comorbidities before they begin conducting gene sequencing and testing.
“What we have heard from our counterparts in South Africa and African countries is that [omicron] is not very severe, but things can change if it penetrates into our older communities,” Dalal said. “For now, it does not appear to be as severe as delta, but it definitely is more easily transmissible compared to delta.”
Dalal anticipates a surge in the community, especially due to low vaccine penetration into the community. He also said COVID fatigue has residents’ guard down, and that the omicron variant could easily take advantage of that opportunity to spread.
Dalal also said the flu is rearing its head this year whereas it did not last year because of shutdowns and heightened awareness of public health.
However, one of the bigger factors is that non-COVID-related emergencies are beginning to rear their heads as well, Dalal said. According to him, residents have delayed coming to the hospital for fear of catching the coronavirus.
“People have not been taking care of their health for the last 22 months, and now they’re coming in because they are scared, and things are worsening,” Dalal said.
“People have more serious health conditions now, and they are coming in more urgently. If that continues to happen, we won’t be able to provide good care for people who really need it,” Dalal said.
Additionally, non-urgent procedures are being postponed to cope with nursing shortages and capacity issues, Dalal said.
“These things can be prevented by getting the shot, watching what you eat and doing due diligence care with your primary care doctor,” Dalal said. “We can free up those beds for those who urgently need them.”
The current amount of Pennsylvanians who are fully vaccinated is around 63%, according to the CDC. Dalal explained that rate of increase has tapered off because those who wanted to get the vaccine have already done so.
Dalal explained through several misconceptions about the COVID-19 vaccines, which he said are mRNA vaccines. According to Dalal, mRNA vaccines are not new and are among the safest vaccines in existence.
“The technology is not new — that’s why after the first 11 months, the first vaccine could be out there,” Dalal said in response to concerns of the vaccine having been made “too quickly.”
Once injected, the vaccine gives instructions to human immune cells to fight COVID-19 and its variants, Dalal said, before quickly being destroyed. After around two weeks, none of it is left.
“It trains your immune cells to fight the infection when it comes knocking on your door,” Dalal said.
Additionally, the mRNA vaccine does not get incorporated into DNA, and does not affect fertility, Dalal said. Finally, Dalal called a conspiracy theory that the vaccine was created using aborted fetal cells a myth.
“The only way to stop this virus once and for all is through vaccines,” Dalal said.
“Be selfless,” Dalal said. “Thinking about your family and community members will go a long way during this holiday season.”
Dalal encouraged those who cannot receive the vaccine to have virtual holiday gatherings. Additionally, he said everyone should keep distance with those who are not immediate family, and to be cautious about spreading COVID-19 to the immunocompromised — even if vaccinated.
He also advised residents to raise their masks when in doubt of a situation, and pull it down to eat and drink before bringing it back up.
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