3/4/2022 Ocean City Today

MARCH 4, 2022

PAGE 35

Ocean City Today

Zero AGH covid patients as restrictions ease By Mallory Panuska Staff Writer (March 4, 2022) With new guidance from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention that ease masking restrictions, and zero covid patients at Atlantic General Hospital, it seems life is slowly inching back toward normal on the pandemic front. Heather Snyder, the infection prevention manager at Atlantic General Hospital, said in an email this week that the CDC’s new guidelines take into consideration hospital burden and community spread.

“In this latest rendition of masking recommendations, the CDC encouraged the general public to remain aware of their local COVID risk level and act accordingly,” she explained. “These efforts are aimed at ensuring that hospitals in heavily burdened areas don’t become more so.” In Maryland, Gov. Larry Hogan announced this week that covid hospitalizations had dropped below 400 and the number of virus ICU patients had dropped below 70. Locally, Snyder said no patients were getting treated for covid at Atlantic General as of Wednesday. Overall in Worcester County, the

CROSSWORD

transmission rate is moderate, according to the CDC, and health officials are using the newest CDC guidance associated with that to take an individualized approach to the guidelines. “This change is an important step forward as we work to normalize processes and practices to manage COVID in our daily lives,” Snyder said. “For many, this loosening of previous mandates will provide an opportunity to unmask. For others, masking may remain a personal preference they uphold.” She added that while mask mandates are easing up in most places, including inside school buildings and on school buses, the guidelines have not changed at healthcare facilities. An omicron subvariant, also known as stealth omicron or BA.2, is still on the radar of health officials as well, but more so internationally than nationally. “Although present in the United States, it currently accounts for a small portion of overall dwindling COVID cases,” Snyder said. “BA.2 is believed to remain 30 percent more transmissible than its parent Omicron strain.” New symptoms associated with the incoming variant include dizziness and fatigue, and Snyder advised anyone who believes they are experiencing the symptoms to speak with their healthcare provider. Weekly vaccine numbers, testing info, and more: • As of Thursday, Maryland providers administered more than 11.38 million covid-19 vaccines for a total of 95 percent of residents 18 and older with at least one dose. The percentage of residents 5 and older with at least one dose was 90.4 percent.

• As of Wednesday, 73.9 percent of the county’s population had received at least one covid vaccine and 67.41 percent were fully vaccinated for a total 13,818 vaccines. • Atlantic General staff members administered nine shots since last week. • Atlantic General Hospital hosts vaccine clinics from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Monday through Friday at its pharmacy in the main lobby of the hospital. All three types of vaccines are offered. • The Worcester County Health Department holds vaccine clinics weekly. For more information, visit worcesterhealth.org/protect-menu/1726-worcester-county-md-coronavirus-covid-19 information-2020 • The Biden administration has made covid tests available to every registered household address in America. Interested individuals can claim their test by logging on to covidtests.gov. Weekly covid numbers: • As of Thursday, Worcester County’s covid-19 positivity rate was 4.05 percent with a total of 8,596 cases reported since March 2020. • The state’s positivity rate was 1.9 percent Thursday with 1 million confirmed covid cases since the start of the pandemic. • Atlantic General Hospital reported zero covid in-patients this week. • As of Thursday, Ocean Pines and Berlin have reported a total of 3,347 cases and Ocean City has had 1,843. • Worcester County has reported 153 covid deaths since March 2020. Info from Gov. Larry Hogan; the Maryland Department of Health; Atlantic General; Worcester County Health Department; and the CDC.

CALENDAR Continued from Page 34 Branch, 307 N. Washington St., 10:30 a.m. Stories, songs and rhymes. For ages 2-5 years. www.worcesterlibrary.org, 410-632-2600

WSW’S 20TH ANNUAL PINK RIBBON BINGO

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 10:30 a.m. Come listen to stories about the great unknown. Take home activity included. For ages 2-5 years. www.worcesterlibrary.org, 410-632-2600

Williards Lion Club, 36393 Hearn St., 5-9 p.m. Tickets $30. Games begin at 6 p.m. Cost is $30 in advance or $40 at the door. Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/20th-annual-pink-ribbon-bingo-tickets247278696237. Food and beverages available for purchase. 410-548-7880

WOMEN IN HISTORY

TOWN HALL SERIES: ONE PILL CAN KILL

ZUMBA FOR ALL LEVELS

BEACH SINGLES

STEM STORY TIME: SPACE

Worcester County Library - Ocean Pines Branch, 11107 Cathell Road, 2 p.m. Held in-person and via Zoom. The program looks at dynamic historical women who impacted others’ lives. Presented by Martina Mathisen. Registration required: www.worcesterlibrary.org, 410-632-2600

Answers on page 30

classes uplift and improve mood. Register: www.worcesterlibrary.org under “Events.” 410-632-2600

Worcester County Library - Berlin Branch, 13 Harrison Ave., 4:30 p.m. Join certified Zumba instructor Joyce Landsman for an hour of movement. These

Ocean Pines Community Center, 235 Ocean Parkway, 6 p.m. Learn about “fake pills.” Designed for parents and those who work with youth. Register: https://forms.gle/Dhxc8uFMd5EokAMY 8. Worcester Goes Purple, 410-870-5161, wgpwarriors2021@gmail.com

Thursdays - Join us 55 plus at Harpoon Hanna’s, 39064 Harpoon Road, Fenwick Island, DE, 4-6 p.m. Info: 302-436-9577 or BeachSingles.org