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Date: 6/2/2022
CHICOPEE – With a new omicron variant emerging, Mayor John Vieau expressed some concern with the recent rise of COVID-19 cases.
“I am concerned…There’s a new variant emerging, and the numbers are rising again. This variant is very contagious,” said Vieau in an interview with Reminder Publishing.
The new variant is BA.2, which is a subvariant of the omicron strain that caused a sizable spike in cases in December 2021 and January 2022. According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), 85 percent of current COVID-19 cases are a byproduct of the new variant. Similar to its omicron predecessor, BA.2 is more contagious but less severe than previous variant strains.
Chicopee Health Director Lisa Sanders detailed the specifics of the variant.
“It tends to present [itself] as a bad cold or allergies, with symptoms ranging from a stuffy nose, runny nose, coughing, body aches and fatigue. It does not appear to cause severe illness and death in most cases,” said Sanders in a statement to Reminder Publishing.
Vieau shared that the city incurred 168 positive cases on the week of May 5. During the May 17 City Council meeting, the mayor said there were 294 active cases. Compared to April, the mayor said most weeks featured 50 positive cases or less as concerns around COVID-19 waned.
Reflecting on the city’s COVID-19 prevention efforts, Vieau expressed pride in the work of the Coronavirus Task Force. The group assembled during the initial stages of the coronavirus pandemic and collaborated in forming cohesive mitigation strategies, according to Vieau.
“I think we’re doing everything possible…I am so proud of the COVID-19 Task force and the work we accomplish,” said Vieau.
The advent of at-home testing and a significant decrease in activity led to the task force shuttering the city-funded COVID-19 testing site at RiverMills Senior Center in March. The site operated for 14 months as a local source for COVID-19 testing. The center’s last day featured only 15 tests taken, with none of tests showcasing a positive result.
A point of discouragement for the mayor is the city’s stagnant COVID-19 vaccination rate. After making some gains during the fall of 2021, the city’s vaccination rate remains at 65 percent for eligible adults. Vieau stressed that every Chicopee resident should consider vaccination.
“Science proves time and time again that vaccines are the way to go...I believe in science. these vaccines are saving lives,” said Vieau. The mayor shared that vaccines continue to be readily available at local health centers and chains like CVS, Walmart and Target.
Sanders also encouraged masking for people with underlying health conditions in public places and COVID-19 booster shots to increase protection.
Vieau acknowledged that the city will have to continue “coexisting” with COVID-19. The mayor also shared his hopes that people continue to take the coronavirus pandemic seriously as the city reaches the summer season.
“We want to have outdoor events…No one wants to go back to what we were doing,” said Vieau in reference to a mask mandate.