HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — Huntsville-area health leaders on Wednesday discussed the most recent dominant strain of COVID-19: The Omicron variant.
As the Omicron variant continues to spread, hospitalizations are also increasing.
"It's important to mention that the number of pediatric patients that are now admitted is three times what it was just a month ago," said Alabama Department of Public Health District Medical Officer Dr. Wes Stubblefield.
As to what could be behind the increase in hospitalizations, Crestwood Medical Center CEO Dr. Pam Hudson has a theory.
"Is it the Omicron variant?" said Hudson. "It is highly likely that it is and the second question that we ought to be asking is: Is it also having contribution from football, and other fall sports, and gatherings, and holidays, and the answer there is also it's highly likely that it is related."
Experts still are not certain how the Omicron variant will compare to previous strains.
"The thing about Omicron that is more concerning is that it is much more transmissible than the Delta variant," said Hudson. "I'm hoping that this new early evidence will continue and be the real evidence long term is that it is perhaps less severe."
Due to the high transmissibility of the new strain, health care professionals say it's a good idea to have an at-home COVID test on hand and use it if you plan on gathering during the holidays.
The discussion wasn't all negative, though, as a new treatment option is now available in the form of a pill from Pfizer called Paxlovid.
"If you have an oral treatment for serious illness like this, it can be much more available," said Hudson.
Hudson continues to stress that the best option to protect yourself against COVID is to get vaccinated.