 While COVID-19 cases continue to wane across our region, Pike County health director Tammy Riley gives us an update on current cases and what we can expect from the sub variant BA2. Currently we have 18,645 total cases that have been reported to public health. You know out of those 18,645 you know we have 114 active so that's a much lower number of active cases than we had say a month two months ago and what that means is we're having fewer cases come in than we are that we're able to release. So we're seeing the active number go down unfortunately the deceased number has gone up slightly and we're now at 268 total confirmed deaths in Pike County but definitely we're seeing you know a slower number of new cases being reported per day. With 11.1 cases per 100,000 Pike County remains in the red zone placing a health care burden. Riley says she expects those numbers to improve. CDC came out with some new recommendations where you look at multiple data points and the emphasis is more on the burden to the health care systems so it's a number of new admissions for hospitalization the percentage of staffed beds that are occupied in your hospitals in your county and then also a number of cases coming in in a seven day period. So there's multiple data points and when you look at those data points that the CDC has recommended that we review that still puts Pike County in the red or the the high level of cases and burden on the county so you know based on CDC guidance we're still in the red zone. I am expecting that to improve if not this week next week but those those data points are updated weekly versus daily. At Pikeville Medical Center we believe that together we can make a difference in the fight against cancer. We are proud to have patients who have experienced successful outcomes over many years. As always we believe in the power of faith. Pikeville Medical Center where cancer can be defeated. Again while cases of COVID-19 continue to wane locally the BA2 sub variant of Omicron is creating an uptick in cases overseas. And what we're seeing is about a third of the cases in the United States for now contributed to BA2 but we're definitely Europe and it looks like potentially the western Pacific countries as well. They're definitely showing an uptick in cases likely due to this variant. So you know it's certainly something that we expect to see. Now how virulent that virus will be the disease burden that that variant will cause. We just don't know yet. Lastly Riley says those who have vaccinated for COVID-19 but have not received a booster should consider it as waning antibodies can place a vaccinated individual at risk. Most individuals are recommended to receive a booster as soon as five months after they have completed the primary series. To get boosted or vaccinated you can call 606-437-5500. For Mountain Top News I'm Joel Horge.