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COVID-19 positive rates are down for Atmore Community Hospital clinics and the hospital, according to officials.

According to the Alabama Department of Public Health’s COVID-19 dashboard, the state positivity rate is 10.2 percent. Escambia County is at 12.8 percent with 12 positive tests over the last seven days.

Registered Nurse and ACH Manager of Patient Safety and Employee Health Ashley Strawbridge said compared to the Delta variant in the fall of 2021, the Omicron variant has caused less severe disease, resulting in fewer hospitalizations. As of Feb. 16, there was one COVID-19 positive patient at ACH.

Strawbridge said the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) continues to recommend vaccination, masking, social distancing, frequent hand washing and disinfection of surfaces to prevent illness from COVID.

“It is also important to stay home and isolate when sick with fever or other symptoms associated with COVID-19,” she said.