As we get ready for the holiday season, we want to do our part to make sure our community is staying safe and healthy.
The omicron variant is spreading rapidly and now accounts for 3% of all COVID-19 cases. Just last week there were only a handful of confirmed omicron cases (NPR). With that said, we are seeing a huge increase in positive COVID-19 tests at our office. These are both among the vaccinated and unvaccinated population. Of course, symptoms for those vaccinated against COVID-19 are much less severe than those who are unvaccinated, therefore we are still encouraging all those who are eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine and booster shot. We have COVID-19 boosters available for people ages 16+ and COVID-19 vaccines available for ages 5+. We are happy to offer COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to the community, not just PVMG patients.
Because omicron is highly transmissible and spreading at an alarming rate, we are recommending that you wear masks indoors this holiday season, regardless of your vaccination status. We are encouraging you to choose to gather outside whenever possible. We understand that with the weather quickly dropping, that this may not be possible. If you are choosing to gather indoors for the holidays, we are recommending masks and COVID-19 testing for your holiday guests. If you are choosing to COVID test your guests, we highly encourage you to use a PCR test. PCR tests are the most accurate and reliable. Many of the at-home COVID-19 tests provide false results, therefore giving a false sense of security.
If you are experiencing any COVID-19 symptoms or have a known exposure, we encourage you to get tested immediately. We are happy to offer testing 7-days-a-week at our drive through location. Results are given same day. We can also test for the flu in our drive through! To schedule an appointment, please visit our website or call our offices.
From our family to yours, we wish you a very Happy Holiday and a joyful New Year! We are so grateful that you’ve chosen to be part of our community and look forward to serving you in 2022! If you ever have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us!