County residents urged to take precautions during Labor Day weekend

With a dramatic increase in COVID-19 cases, Tulare County Health and Human Services are urging residents to take precautions during Labor Day weekend.

The latest results show nearly all of the COVID-19 cases are due to the highly infectious Delta variant.

With the Delta variant being more contagious and spreading rapidly in Tulare County, it’s important for all individuals regardless of vaccination status to wear a face covering when indoors in public buildings or businesses and when outdoors in crowds. Masking is required for all unvaccinated individuals, and vaccinated individuals are strongly advised to wear a face covering due to the high degree of infectiousness caused by the Delta variant.

“It is imperative for everyone to get vaccinated as soon as possible to decrease the spread of this highly infectious Delta variant and stall any potential for other COVID-19 variants to mutate and develop in our community,” said Tulare County Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Haught. “COVID-19 hospitalizations have drastically increased, our local hospitals are at full capacity, health care workers are significantly strained, and medical resources are limited. We all must do our part to decrease the spread of COVID-19 by getting vaccinated and following public health guidelines.”

During the upcoming Labor Day weekend, it remains extremely important all residents continue to maintain safety precautions to prevent the spread of COVID-19, knowing the highly contagious Delta variant continues to spread at alarming rates in Tulare County, the health department stated.

“Everyone needs to take all necessary precautions to limit the spread of COVID-19, so we refrain from continuing to overwhelm our local hospitals,” the health department stated. “Getting vaccinated against COVID-19 is proven most effective, and implementing prevention measures to limit the spread of COVID-19 can also make a safer environment for our children who are not yet able to be vaccinated, as we are seeing increased evidence of the COVID-19 virus causing infection and serious illness in school-aged children.”

Everyone eligible for the vaccine who hasn’t yet been vaccinated should be vaccinated now to protect themselves and their families. Everyone also needs to adhere to other essential layers of prevention, including face coverings in indoor public spaces and crowded situations, avoiding crowds and gatherings, and social distancing as much as possible, the health department stated.

Individuals experiencing symptoms of COVID-19 should contact their doctor or health care provider to be tested as soon as possible. Those who test positive for COVID-19 are urged to speak and cooperate with representatives from Tulare County Public Health when contacted, to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 variants.

COVID-19 vaccines continue to be highly effective at protecting and preventing severe disease, hospitalization, and death. Hospital data show a vast majority of those requiring hospitalization for a COVID-19 illness were unvaccinated.

Officials strongly urge residents to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as possible. Visit the Tulare County COVID-19 Vaccine webpage at: https:// covid19.tularecounty. ca.gov/covid-19-vaccine/ for vaccination locations, including a full listing of health care providers and local pharmacies offering COVID-19 vaccinations.