War Memorial Health Expert Has Some Tips for Getting through Omicron Surge and Preventing Hospital Overcrowding

BERKELEY SPRINGS, W.Va. — A local health expert is asking employers to not require their employees to see a doctor for a COVID test.

War Memorial Hospital in Berkeley Springs released some tips from Dr. Jeffrey Feit, Valley Health Population and Community Health Officer.

Feit suggests using an at-home test for COVID. If it is positive, he says immediately begin isolating. He says you do not need further testing.

If you test negative, you should wear a mask, social distance, and retest in a few days if symptoms continue. A second negative means you are unlikely to have COVID.

Feit says to see a doctor for symptoms that are persistent, worsening or otherwise concerning or if you are in a high-risk group.

Feit asks employers to NOT  require employees to get PCR tests or see a doctor related to their employment needs regarding COVID. He calls those tests and visits ‘unnecessary’ and says they make it harder for people who are sick to get needed care.

The CDC now recommends that people with COVID can return to work 5 days after the onset of symptoms if they are feeling better and have no fever. They need to wear a mask for 5 additional days.

For additional guidance, visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus.

Feit says Valley Health is seeing a higher number of very sick hospitalized patients. He says “Omicron generally creates mild illness in the vaccinated but can still cause severe disease in the unvaccinated, especially in high-risk groups (those who are older, with chronic illnesses, pregnant, or overweight.”

You can read Feit’s article at this link:

https://www.valleyhealthlink.com/blog/2022/january/omicron-is-an-emergency-here-s-how-you-can-help-/?fbclid=IwAR2YKDVyt5jqjeahAU5w-gfcL8-2D1AoAY_mibFaNxEp4BymGHr30iY-wqQ