Though COVID has confirmed unpredictable, native well being officers are optimistic about exiting the pandemic part of the illness.
PORTLAND, Oregon — Whereas the omicron variant has confirmed that COVID-19 is unpredictable, well being specialists in Multnomah County are wanting ahead to transferring previous the pandemic part of the illness.
It has been over two years for the reason that first confirmed case of COVID-19 in the United States was detected the Pacific Northwest. And this week, state well being officers mentioned the omicron variant still hasn’t hit its peak in Oregon.
Nevertheless, Multnomah County well being officer Dr. Jennifer Vines and public well being director Jessica Guernsey are presently making ready for what they anticipate can be a sluggish, regular climb out of the pandemic.
“We’re nonetheless optimistic in regards to the one-way road, with the key caveat — and let me simply get this out entrance — that the virus calls the pictures,” mentioned Vines.
Well being officers count on we’ll finally get to a spot the place COVID-19 turns into endemic, that means it would not disappear however turns into extra manageable for our well being care system.
Dr. Vines clarified she shouldn’t be a giant fan of the time period “endemic.” She mentioned: “I feel a part of our job is knowing that there is actual concern and dangers that include COVID, but additionally beginning to broaden our view of what it’s we’re making an attempt to do right here round well being and well being of the county specifically, and having to zoom out a bit from simply COVID.”
Vines and Guernsey mentioned “zooming out” doesn’t imply giving up on ending the pandemic or the problems it has helped make clear, resembling ongoing racial and ethnic disparities.
“When folks ask me, ‘Are we ever going again?’ (I say) we should not return; we have now quite a few well being outcomes which are devastating in BIPOC communities that we have to proceed to give attention to,” mentioned Guernsey.
For now, the direct and oblique results of the COVID-19 pandemic are ongoing. And whereas this spring might present some reduction, there isn’t any date set for once we are anticipated to exit the pandemic.
“The hope is that with time and with sufficient of us getting some stage of safety, COVID turns into much less disruptive to our lives, though we nonetheless have a transparent mandate to guard those that are susceptible to it,” mentioned Vines.
