The Erie County Department of Health provides COVID-19 public health updates

Erie, Pennsylvania – The Erie County Department of Health provides information on COVID-19 in the county. The community may contact the Erie County Department of Health for instructions. For details on how to be aware of vaccines, isolation and quarantine, prevent the spread of COVID-19 in business facilities and activities, and other information, please contact covidresponse@eriecountypa.gov or 814-451-6700 or fill out the online community form at Eriecountypa.gov/covid-19/.

Cases and data

Last week, April 11 from Monday to Sunday 17,

· There were 93 reported cases, on average per day 13 cases.

· 1 death was registered with the date of death in the first week of April 2022, resulting in an increase in total deaths to 797.

· The total number of unvaccinated deaths remains at 655, which is 82% of the total number of deaths (797).

As of April 17, among the total number of deaths in Erie County, the breakdown by vaccination status and age range is as follows:

The number of vaccinated during this period was 304. This increases the total number of vaccinated 181 283 with the following breakdown:

Information on incidents and deaths in Erie County and other data, such as reports on vaccination demographics, can be found on the Erie County Government website https://eriecountypa.gov/covid-19/positive-cases-in-erie-county/. The latest recommendations and relevant data are also available on the websites

· Pennsylvania Department of Health health.pa.gov/topics/disease/coronavirus/Pages/Cases.aspx

· Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view

The benefits of vaccination

The advantage of vaccination is that it helps the body prevent serious diseases and reduces the likelihood of needing hospitalization. If you have any doubts or questions regarding vaccines, contact your healthcare provider or contact the Erie County Department of Health at 814-451-6700 for facts and answers.

Free vaccines are available to Erie County residents ages 5 and older. For a list of local vaccination sites visit eriecountypa.gov/covid-19/covid-19-vaccine.

Not all places can offer COVD-19 vaccines to children 5 to 11 years old. Call in advance to check availability. To find vaccines in other nearby places, send zip code to 438829, visit vaccines.gov or by phone 1-800-232-0233

The importance of testing

The Erie County Department of Health recommends that community members, vaccinated or unvaccinated, be screened for COVID-19 if they have been exposed to COVID-19, or if they have symptoms such as sore throat, cough, difficulty with shortness of breath, fever or chills, muscle or body pain, vomiting or diarrhea, or loss of taste or smell. Test results can help determine appropriate care and treatment if needed.

Community members who use home test kits that have questions or need guidance can call 814-451-6700.

For a list of local sites that offer free testing, visit eriecountypa.gov/covid-19/covid-19-testing-information.

Prevent the spread

According to COVID-19 community levels The Guide to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is updated weekly, Erie County is currently in low risk.

At this level, recommendations to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include:

· Be aware of COVID-19 vaccines for 5 years and older, including those who are pregnant and planning to become pregnant. This means getting all the recommended primary and booster doses if needed.

· Anyone can choose a mask at any time, regardless of vaccination status.

· If you are (or live, work or have contact with someone who is) at high risk for serious illness or have a weak immune system, talk to your doctor about camouflage and other precautions.

· Get ​​tested if you have symptoms or have been exposed to COVID-19.

· Wear a mask if you have symptoms, positive test results or you have been exposed to COVID-19.

· Stay home while waiting for test results. If you have positive test results, even if you have no symptoms, stay home and separate from others in your home and, if possible, use a separate bathroom; tell your close contacts to stay home and get tested.

· If possible, maintain improved ventilation in all rooms.