The effects of COVID and the omicron variant have taken Franklin County by storm. After setting an all time high in COVID cases last week, the County Health Department reports that there have been 378 new cases reported just in the past week, pushing our total case count to over 500, at 502. This is by far the highest active case count this area has seen throughout the pandemic. There are 88 people pending results and 11 hospitalizations at Advent Health Ottawa. In addition, 132 breakthrough cases have been discovered as the Health Department diligently works through previous case counts.
Health officials across the Nation are urging people to get the vaccine, including County Health Officer, Dr. Bud Ransom:
Ransom also cautioned people to wear masks whenever they are in public spaces and where social distancing can’t be maintained.
