Omicron Update for Martinsburg/Berkeley County WV

1. All local hospitals are experiencing spikes in emergency room visits from people with respiratory illnesses (Flu and Covid). Avoid unnecessary emergency room visits but if you have to go to the emergency room, plan to wear a KN95, N95, or tightly fitting surgical mask. Purchase these in advance either online or from a local store (I hope you never need them).

2. You can protect yourself from severe Covid symptoms that are likely to lead to hospitalization by getting vaccinated and/or boosted. Most local pharmacies offer Covid vaccinations but you may need to make an appointment. Robinwood Medical Center has a daily vaccine clinic that offers all available vaccines (Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson) with walk-ins from 8:30 to 3, appointments can be made on Meritus My Chart to reduce your wait. Robinwood has pediatric (age 5-11) vaccines from 12-3:30 on Tuesday and Thursday. In Berkeley County, PAAC has weekly vaccine clinics and a mobile unit that may be able to come out to patients who are unable to leave their homes. Contact PAAC at 304-610-6815.

Don’t forget flu shots which help to protect the very young and very old in our community, they are available from your doctor or at local pharmacies.

3. Covid tests may take a little bit of extra time to locate, but they can be found if you are vigilant. If you really need a covid test contact an Urgent Care office but anticipate a wait. Meritus Urgent Care (off of Maugans Avenue in Hagerstown) has very long lines (often multiple hours) but can provide quick results. Spring Mills ((681) 242-3997) and Shepherdstown ((304) 876-9966)pharmacies have a saliva based PCR test available, anticipate a few days between submitting your sample and getting results. PAAC also has testing clinics. Most pharmacies order fast result antibody tests that sell out each day. Knowing that, go out to several pharmacies between 10 and 1 and you might be rewarded by picking up a test kit.

4. If you test positive for Covid, contact your health care provider. There may be some therapies available that can reduce the likelihood of hospitalization or severe disease. Make sure you take your vitamins and stay hydrated if you get sick. I purchased a pulse oxygen meter for about $30, you can use it to judge when an individual needs to go to the hospital. Generally, pulse oxygen below 92% is an indication that a person needs to be put on oxygen.