Is the New Variant Spreading In Prince George's County?
Is the New Variant Spreading In Prince George's County?
Maybe
The World Health Organization is watching the spread of the new variant. According to the Centers For Disease Control, variant EG.5 is 17.3 percent of the new cases in the U.S. The CDC’s data is collected from three regions in the US (Northeast, Southeast, and Southwest). (Note: Maryland is not collected in this data set). During a press conference, which can be viewed here, Maria Van Kerkhove - infectious disease epidemiologist, COVID-19 technical lead, and emerging diseases and zoonoses lead at The WHO - made these statements:
“EG.5 is one of the sub-lineages of Omicron that is in circulation.”
“It is a descendant lineage of XBB.1.2, and it has the same spike amino acid profile as XBB.1.5. In terms of its behavior, it has an increased growth rate as we expect all of these emerging sub-lineages.”
“We don't detect a change in the severity of EG.5, compared to other sub-lineages of Omicron that have been in circulation since late 2021.”
Kerkhove concluded, “To date, there have been about 7,000 sequences of this EG.5 sub-lineage which has been shared with public platforms like GISAID, and they have come from 51 countries. What is important today is that we will be classifying this as a variant of interest.”
What does this have to do with Prince George’s County?
The Maryland Department of Health nor The Prince George’s County Health Department has made statements about the spread of the new variant. We don’t know how reliable current data is due to a lack of individuals self-reporting to the state, and the lack of publicized data. Prince George’s County hasn’t reported new cases since June. The numbers could be higher.
Yet, the state’s Covid-19 data does show a slight uptick in cases over seven days, ending on August 7. The chart below shows that the county’s case average (3.27) is higher than the state’s (2.25). On July 22, the CDC reported 91 new hospitalizations for the state. By July 29, new hospitalizations had crept up to 127. August’s data has not been made public yet. There is also no wastewater data for Prince George’s County. Wastewater data has been used to track the spread of the virus. This may be due to the fact that the county health department doesn’t have the capabilities to collect this data.
As new infections seem to be rising, it must be noted that people have been suffering with long-covid, and the effects of catching the virus. We have learned that the virus can cause cognitive decline. Long covid has an enduring negative impact on the body - including heart failure. Prince George’s County continues to lead the state in cases. More Black men have died from Covid-19 than Black women.
Calling Community Members
Capital Market
Please take a moment to register for the Healthy Foods Community Walk Audit by visiting the following link: t.ly/cCsnz
The District Heights Healthy Foods Community Walk Audit is a two-part event:
August 12, 2023 - Healthy Foods Walk Audit at 9:30 a.m.
We will provide instructions on how to conduct a walk audit, explain the significance of such audits, and offer valuable insights into community design, infrastructure, and the creation of healthy environments. BREAKFAST IS PROVIDED.
By participating in the Healthy Foods Community Walk Audit, you will join an enthusiastic team of City Residents and Community Stakeholders as we explore safe routes to community gardens and other nourishing food outlets in District Heights. This is an incredible opportunity for residents like you to come together and contribute towards building vibrant and healthy neighborhoods.
This event is not just for adults! We warmly invite citizens of all ages to join us in this meaningful endeavor. It is a fantastic opportunity to educate our younger generations about the value of healthy living and inspire them to make positive choices for themselves and their communities.
Contact: Brittney Drakeford, The Capital Market Info@thecapitalmarketmd.com
Returning Citizens Town Hall
Place: The Episcopal Church of the Atonement, 5073 E. Capitol St SE
Event: Co-sponsored by The Episcopal Church of the Atonement, Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington, and Progressive Maryland's Returning Citizens Task Force, this event aims to create a platform where voices are heard, concerns are addressed, and connections are made.
Keynote speakers include Rev. Ricardo Sheppard, State Delegate Jamila Woods, Michael Williams, Charles Hopkins, and Lamont Carey (Invited). But the heart of the event lies in the voices of returning citizens themselves.
Time: August 12th, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm
Contact: Contact Kurt Stand if you have any questions kurt@progressivemaryland.org
2023 Green Summit Announced
Join us on Saturday, October 21, 2023, from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., at the David C. Driskell Community Park (3911 Hamilton St, Hyattsville, MD) for the 9th annual Green Summit!
Come out for a day full of family-friendly activities, sustainable tips, green vendors, food trucks, and fun that highlight how we can all make a difference to protect and preserve our environment. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is preferred, but not required, at doesummit2023.eventbrite.com.
If you're a partner interested in tabling, complete this Exhibitor Form and return it by Friday, September 22, 2023 to Terra Virsilas at tvirsilas@lowimpactdevelopment.org.
Rain date will be Saturday, November 4, 2023 (same time and location).
For questions and special accommodations, contact Brittani Garner at BGarner@co.pg.md.us.
Largo Downtown Festival - Placemaking
The core partners, Prince George's County's Planning Department, Largo Town Center Association, Better Block, Prince George's Arts and Humanities Council, Prince George's Parks and Recreation, and the Office of the County Executive are coming together in this joint venture to bring a unique experience that cultivate partnerships, support local business growth, spotlight local artists and unify the community.
This festival event will celebrate black business month by focusing on some of the area’s local black vendors, as well as local artists and their artwork.
Cost: Free
When: August 12
Time: 11 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Get tickets here.
Are you a nonprofit, email us at: largotowncenterassociation@gmail.com