PORT CLINTON – The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recently updated its interim public health recommendations for limiting the spread of Covid-19 in response to the Delta variant, which is driving an increase in cases across the U.S.

In its updated guidance, the CDC recommended that everyone, including fully vaccinated people, wear masks in indoor public settings in communities with substantial or high transmission.

Due to the smaller population size of Ottawa County, this increase in cases over the last two weeks currently categorizes the county as having “substantial” transmission in our communities.

The Ottawa County Health Department (OCHD) is continuing to monitor the new cases and trends of Covid-19 within Ottawa County. During the month of June, Ottawa County was averaging less than a case per day. This trend continued into the first half of July, averaging less than a case per week.

In the last 14 days, Ottawa County has averaged almost three new cases per day. While this may not seem like a significant increase to some, it is a trend the OCHD is monitoring very closely heading into the coming weeks.

Visit the CDC tracker at https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#datatracker-home to see the most up to date data at the county level in the United States.

In most cases, those who are vaccinated are protected from serious disease and hospitalization, so we continue to urge anyone who can do so to get vaccinated. Getting vaccinated is still the best way to protect yourself against Covid-19, say OCHF officials. Adding a mask indoors will help to further protect those in the community who can’t yet get the vaccine, including children under 12 and people with health conditions.

The only way we will defeat this pandemic is by working together. By applying the many tools we have – getting vaccinated, masking, distancing and limiting indoor gatherings – we can limit the spread of Covid-19 in Ottawa County. Everyone has a part to play.

By checking the OCHD website at ottawahealth.org, as well as its social media, you can stay informed and up to date with the latest information on ways you can protect yourselves and each other form COVID-19.

For more information contact OCHD Health Commissioner Jerry Bingham on Monday through Friday from 7:45 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at 419-734-6800.