July 14th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Health Department has reported that the highly contagious COVID-19 delta variant has been confirmed in Allegany County.  The Maryland Public Health Laboratory conducts RNA sequencing on COVID-19 case specimens from across the state, and the delta variant was found in an Allegany County specimen.  The delta variant now accounts for about 58% of all new COVID-19 cases in the United States, up from just 3% in late May.   The variant was first detected in the U.S. in March and is now present in all 50 states. 

 

The World Health Organization and the CDC have labeled the delta variant of COVID-19 as a variant of concern because it is spreading much more quickly and easily than other variants of the disease.  The CDC reports that the delta variant has been found to be particularly dangerous to those who are unvaccinated or partially vaccinated against COVID-19, and preliminary data indicates that it may increase the risk of hospitalization.

 

“The good news is that studies show that all three available vaccines – Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson – do provide protection against the delta variant and help to prevent hospitalizations and deaths,” said ACHD spokesperson Brenda Caldwell.  “The presence of the delta variant in Allegany County underscores the importance of vaccination in the fight against COVID.”

 

“It comes as no surprise that the delta variant has been detected locally,” said Dr. Jennifer Corder, Deputy Health Officer for Allegany and Garrett Counties.  “Please protect yourself, your family and your community by being vaccinated. If vaccination rates are high, transmission can be greatly reduced, and this is in the best interest of each of us.”

 

The Allegany County Health Department will hold two walk-in COVID-19 vaccination clinics on the ground floor of the Willowbrook Office Complex (12501 Willowbrook Road, Cumberland, MD) on Wednesday, July 21.  From 9 a.m. to noon both the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines will be offered for those age 18 and older.  Then, from 1 to 4 p.m. a Pfizer COVID vaccine clinic will be held for those age 12 and older.  Anyone under 18 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian in order to be vaccinated.

 

The Allegany County Health Department reports that 40.1% of Allegany County residents are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 compared to 57.5% of all Marylanders. 

 

Allegany County COVID-19 Case Statistics as of July 13:

 

• New COVID Cases:  3 (cumulative total 7,071)
• Additional Deaths:  0 (cumulative total 212)
• Cases Per 100,000 Population:  2.64 (Maryland: 1.77)
• Positivity Rate:  2.22 % (Maryland: 1.04%)