DHW: Don't dismiss omicron

Idaho health officials on Tuesday called on people not to take the omicron variant lightly.

“We don’t know yet how this virus will behave,” said Dr. Christine Hahn, state epidemiologist during a media briefing with the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare.

She said omicron appears to spread more quickly than the delta variant of COVID-19 and has a 29% lower hospitalization rate compared to “historic variants.”

But she warned it can cause severe illness and the risk of hospitalization remains. She expects to see omicron cases increase nationwide and in Idaho, which has had one confirmed case.

She said omicron is expected to become “more prevalent” in Idaho.

“We are worried that people will hear it’s milder” and decide they don’t need a vaccine or a booster shot.

Officials said those who have had COVID-19 and have antibodies seem to be less protected again omicron than delta.

Hahn said she has seen nothing so far indicating people need to change their behavior to protect themselves against omicron. She called on people to continue the usual — social distancing, masks, vaccines and booster shots.

“Double down on those efforts as this unknown variant comes our way,” she said.

DHW Director Dave Jeppesen said the state recently passed 1,000 COVID deaths among long-term care residents. Idaho has had 4,049 deaths attributed to the coronavirus, according to the state website.

"That means that one in four COVID deaths have been from long-term care residents," he said.

Jeppesen said one year ago, on Dec. 14, 2020, the COVID-19 vaccine became available and many long-term care residents have received it.

"As a result, the number of COVID hospitalizations and deaths for those who live in a long-term care facility has declined," he said.

Dr. Kathryn Turner, deputy state epidemiologist, said the mortality rate among residents of long-term care facilities from April to November 2020 was about 3%. Over the same time frame this year, it was down to 1.3%.

The infection rate in Idaho’s long-term care facilities from last year to this year has declined, too, from about one in five to less than one in 10.

Turner said the mortality rate due to COVID-19 of Idahoans 65 and older is down nearly 50% since last year.

“It’s likely the relatively higher vaccination rates for older adults in Idaho are behind the decline,” she said.

In Idaho, 75% of those 65 and older are fully vaccinated, compared to 59% of those 18 and older.

Only 7% of Idaho’s 5-11 age group is fully vaccinated since that age group got the green light to receive the shot last month.

“We would like to see more children vaccinated,” Jeppesen said.

Hahn said those vaccinated after having COVID-19 have “significant protection” against another infection and less chance of spreading the virus.

She was asked because someone who is vaccinated can still transmit the virus, as well as someone unvaccinated, then “what difference does it make?”

Hahn said it’s not “black and white.”

The vaccine can prevent infection and if you do get the virus, it will pass through quicker.

“If you don’t get it, you can’t spread it,” she said.