Rise in variants worries official

County sees uptick in COVID-19 cases and three variants.

The public health director for Cobb and Douglas coun- ties says she’s concerned about an uptick in COVID- 19 cases testing positive for three variants.

State District Public Health Director Janet Memark said in her COVID-19 update this week that Cobb County is seeing a “slow movement upwards” in the number of overall cases, but she is most worried about the rising number of coronavirus variants.

Georgia is the third-high- est in the nation, behind Florida and Michigan, for the number of vari a nts d etected, Memark s aid. People throughout Geor- gia have tested positive for variants from the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil and California, while Cobb has only seen cases of the U.K. and South African variants.

Memark said that only 2% of specimens are tested for variants.

Both strains found in Cobb are believed to be more contagious and poten- tially more deadly than the typical COVID-19 virus. Research indicates that cur- rent vaccines offer protection against most variants, Memark said.

Memark urged those who have yet to receive vaccines to make appointments as soon as possible. She also asked for everyone to continue wearing masks in public, washing hands frequently, and social distancing.

President Joe Biden has asked states to restore mask mandates, and the director of the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control has described feeling a sense of “impending doom” over fears of a fourth wave of COVID-19 cases.

“If we delay, we will lose this battle against the fourth surge that is trying to take hold in our community,” Memark said.