ODESSA, Texas — COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continue to decline in West Texas.
At this point last month, the positivity rate for our area was about 30 to 40%. Today, that rate stands between 5 to 10%.
At the moment, hospitalizations remain low. As of Monday, Medical Center Hospital reported 20 people hospitalized with the virus. Midland Memorial Hospital reported 11 COVID-19 patients.
NewsWest 9 spoke to local doctors about the decline in cases and what you should know about a 4th COVID-19 vaccine.
Dr. Rohith Saravanan, Chief Medical Officer for Odessa Regional Medical Center, said the community has been in this position before, and while COVID-19 numbers are declining once again, we're still not at zero cases.
"We have always followed since the beginning of the pandemic is about 2 weeks of no new cases in our community," said Saravanan. "We haven't quite hit that no new case mark yet, but we are getting closer to hitting that. At that point we can say the disease is gone. Last year there was a period of time for about a month and half where we had no new cases, and we are waiting to get to that same point again."
The decline in cases sparked the CDC to outline new mask guidelines for most of the United States.
"In those places they don't recommend a need to wear a mask indoors, especially if you are vaccinated," said Saravanan. "There are really three levels that we are looking at from a community-level standpoint. Those levels are low risk, medium risk and high risk."
Val Sparks, Infection Preventionist at Midland Memorial Hospital, said that at the moment the CDC has not recommend a 4th COVID-19 shot. However, there is a very limited group of people with severe underlying conditions that do qualify.
"It's very prescriptive for those who need it," said Sparks. "For example, those that are receiving cancer treatments for tumors or blood cancers, or if there is a physician order for a person with multiple underlying conditions and high risk conditions, or being severely immunocompromised."
Doctors continue to encourage people to get vaccinated with the first two doses of the vaccine and the booster shot.
"For those that got vaccinated and at least 6 months have passed from when you got fully vaccinated, the booster is still recommended," said Saravanan. "It proves continued protection to not get a severe disease, and protects you if it comes back again."