COVID rising, vaccination rate lags

COVID-19 infection rates are rising in White County, and as the virus appears to be making another surge, less than a third of residents are fully vaccinated.

The seven-day moving average of confirmed COVID-19 cases was at 8.4 per day as of an Aug. 2 report by the Georgia Department of Public Health. The sharp increase since the average was 0.4 on July 14 follows a weeks-long lull in new cases during the spring and early summer.

There were 89 total confirmed cases in July, according to the DPH, with 82 of those reported after July 14. The July total is a stark difference from 16 reported in June, 30 in May, 46 in April and 52 in March when infections began to dwindle.

DPH lists 3,117 total confirmed cases during the pandemic and 73 local deaths attributed to COVID-19 as of the Aug. 2 report.

The number of county residents getting vaccinated has also slowed during this time. A total of 8,888 people, about 30% of the population, are considered fully vaccinated as of an Aug. 3 DPH report. The statewide rate is at 40%.

White County’s rate is 98th among Georgia’s 159 counties, and it is 10th among the 13 counties comprising the area health district. Forsyth County led the district with a fully vaccinated rate of 47.6% and Banks County was the lowest at 23.4%.

State health officials have continued to urge residents to get vaccinated, especially as COVID-19 cases rise and the Delta variant of the virus spreads.

On Aug. 2, DPH stated Georgia’s COVID-19 case rate had risen 204% over the prior 14 days, with the previous day’s 4,612 new cases marking the most in a day since mid-February. Meanwhile, the department said statewide vaccinations had “stalled” as COVID-related hospitalizations and deaths were also up over the past two weeks.

The DPH pointed to data from The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showing that the Delta variant has accounted for 78% of new COVID cases in the state. Health experts say the variant is more contagious than earlier strains.

DPH said the variant’s spread and its most severe health impacts are occurring in areas with low vaccination rates. It reiterated that the vaccines are the best defense against severe illness or death and that the vaccine is safe and effective.

“Unfortunately, we can expect COVID numbers to keep growing. People who are unvaccinated or skip their second dose of vaccine are targets for infection,” said state Public Health Commissioner Dr. Kathleen E. Toomey. “Getting vaccinated is the best way to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and the Delta variant. High vaccination coverage will reduce spread of the virus in your community and elsewhere - and help prevent new variants from emerging.”

Officials with the North Georgia Health System held a press conference Monday urging vaccinations and reporting most COVID-19 patients were not vaccinated.

During a recent panel discussion, Dr. Michelle Nichols, associate dean of family medicine at Morehouse, warned that low vaccination rates could allow other variants to spring up.

Nichols said a key factor in why so many Georgians are reluctant to get vaccinated is the amount of misinformation being spread about the shots. She said COVID-19 vaccinations will not affect a woman’s fertility, will not alter a person’s DNA and will not cause a person to contract the virus.

Toomey, who also participated in the panel, said another argument against getting the shot is that it won’t protect the recipient from contracting the virus.

“You can still acquire an infection,” she said. “But you’re less likely to become seriously ill or die. … Nothing is more dangerous than a serious case of COVID.”

Georgians age 12 and older and eligible to receive the COVID-19 vaccine for free by contacting county health departments, physician’s offices or pharmacies approved for distribution. (You may also visit dph.georgia.gov/covid-vaccine.)

In areas with substantial and high transmission, the CDC recommends that everyone, including fully vaccinated individuals, wear a mask in public indoor settings to help prevent spread of Delta and protect others.

Dave Williams of Capitol Beat contributed to this report.