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County health director reports first local Omicron case, urges five‑day isolation then masking
Summary
Wes Gray, director of the Martin‑Tyrrell‑Washington Health Department, said the county recorded its first Omicron case last week, expects Omicron to become the dominant variant in about two weeks, and advised following CDC guidance of 5 days isolation followed by 5 days of masking; no local hospitalizations were reported at the time of the update.
Martin‑Tyrrell‑Washington Health Department Director Wes Gray told the Washington County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 3 that the county had identified its first Omicron COVID‑19 case and that he expects Omicron to become the dominant variant locally within two weeks.
Gray said that increased testing has detected more cases but that there were no hospitalizations in Washington County “as of today.” He noted the health department has reached one year of providing vaccines during two years of the pandemic and endorsed following CDC quarantine guidance: isolate for five days, then wear a mask for five additional days.
Chair Tracey A. Johnson thanked Gray and his staff for their work.
The update was informational; no board action on public‑health restrictions or local orders was recorded in the meeting minutes. Commissioners and staff noted they will continue to monitor cases and follow state and federal guidance.
