COVID-19 cases are on the decline in Oglethorpe County.
The Georgia Department of Public Health reported six positive cases in the last two weeks (through March 11), with the last reported one on March 8.
The Oglethorpe County school system also has reported low numbers.
On Feb. 25, Oglethorpe County Schools posted on its Facebook page: “We currently have Z. E. R. O. positive cases reported in the system!!!”
The week after the post, one positive case was reported for the school system. Kristina Turner, the Board of Education’s district nurse, said there have been no new cases reported in the county school system since then.
The last time Oglethorpe County saw such low numbers was last June and July, the same time that many places suspended their mask mandates.
Cases started to rise again in August, when the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that the Delta variant was substantially more contagious than previous strains.
Although cases are low, the DPH is still strongly recommending that everyone 5 years and older should be vaccinated.
“Vaccination is the best way to prevent severe illness, hospitalization and death, and to prevent and slow the spread of new variants,” Sarah Peck, the organizational development manager for the Northeast Health District of the DPH, said in an email. “We don't know yet when the next variant will emerge or how it will act, but just like with other viruses — the flu, for example — we do expect to see new variants in the future. If another variant comes along, being vaccinated will be the best defense against serious illness.”
According to data collected by the CDC, 42% of all Oglethorpe County residents are fully vaccinated and 67% of residents aged 65 and older have been vaccinated. Also, 40% of Oglethorpe residents have received a booster shot.
The CDC recommends that anyone 18 years or older should get their booster shot at least five months after receiving two doses of Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna, or at least two months after receiving their primary Johnson & Johnson dose.
According to the DPH, “Adolescents aged 12-17 years may receive a single booster dose of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 at least 5 months after completion of the primary series.”
At this time, only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is permitted for people 12-17.
Oglethorpe County residents can get vaccinated and boosted at two locations: the MedLink clinic and the Oglethorpe County Health Department.
The MedLink clinic, which is in Lexington, offers the Moderna vaccine for those 18 years and older. The Oglethorpe County Health Department offers Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech and Johnson & Johnson for anyone 5 years and older.
Residents can receive a COVID-19 test at several locations in Oglethorpe County. Oglethorpe Ear, Nose & Throat offers rapid, PCR and antigen tests, and accepts both Medicare and Medicaid as forms of payment. MedLink and Lexington Primary Care offer COVID-19 rapid testing.