T-L Photo/ROBERT A. DEFRANK Belmont County Deputy Health Director Robert Sproul speaks to health board member Joel Braido Monday. The winter months are expected to see a rise in COVID-19 and flu cases.

ST. CLAIRSVILLE — The Belmont County Health Department is looking to the winter months with an expectation of more COVID-19 cases along with the yearly flu.

Deputy Health Director Robert Sproul said Monday his department is no longer required by the state to record new COVID-19 cases.

“It looks like it’s going to go up. The hospitals are seeing an increase,” Sproul said. “With all the other flus, COVID and everything else is affecting them. Unfortunately, we’re going to see it because people are going to be inside and they’re going to be close together.

“If they’re sick, they need to stay home. Try and protect themselves and not spread it to somebody else,” he said.

He added that with a largely vaccinated population and milder variants, deaths associated with COVID-19 will hopefully be low.

“We’re not seeing deaths as high, which is great. We are seeing the hospitalizations, and with the hospitals having problems getting staffing, they’re having staffing issues at the hospital. They’re trying to find enough nurses to man the facility, and we’re seeing the flus, we’re seeing the (respiratory syncytial viruses) coming in. I feel for them because they’re doing the best they can,” Sproul said. “Get your flu shots to prevent yourself getting the flu.”

Sproul also cautions the public not to overlook the flu, since COVID-19 vaccinations or antibodies from having the disease previously will not guard against the other disease.

“When we were tackling COVID before, everyone was social distancing, everyone was masking and hand-sanitizing. We almost had no flu. Flu almost disappeared, but now we’re back to no masks. We’re back to people congregating together again. We’re going to see the numbers go back up,” he said.

Sproul speculated those who have not had the flu for the past years may experience worse symptoms.

“We’re going to have people be a little more affected because they’re systems aren’t used to the flu,” he said.

The board reports more than 700 vaccinations have been administered at area schools this month, including COVID-19, flu, travel and other vaccinations.

“That is the highest number of shots we’ve given in a month. We’re still doing COVID shots at the office, flu shots at the office,” Sproul said.

In other matters, the board is also deciding how to spend additional funding once the state compensates them for vaccinations administered.

“We were able to bill for COVID shots … we were able to bill insurance companies. It didn’t cost the public anything,” Sproul said. “We got some income from that, and the state is telling us exactly how we can spend that income.”

Sproul is still awaiting the final amount. He said there is also a delay on payments. Sproul said there are several areas of need around the office.

“We have about 25 computers that need updated, the old systems, so that should hopefully be allowed in this. We had a lot of clinics (during the height of COVID) and moved a lot of equipment, so equipment gets worn down and damaged and we want to replace that, so any future clinics that we conduct, we have enough equipment and it’s in good working order.”

In addition, restaurants are expected to see an increase in the yearly cost of food services licenses.

“Every year we adjust our food fees, basically what it costs us to do the program,” Sproul said. “Our inspectors go out at least twice a year to inspect, and we go out for complaints and when they open out or have questions we help.”

Environmental Director Richard Lucas said there are about eight different licenses depending on the size of the restaurant or whether it is a temporary or mobile food service.

“They all fluctuate at different levels,” Lucas said, adding these include larger facilities such as WalMart, smaller restaurants, and businesses with a vending machine, which he said would likely see an increase of 7%.

A public hearing will be held at 9 a.m. Dec. 8 at the Emergency Management Agency at 68329 Bannock Road, St. Clairsville for restaurant owners to provide their feedback. Rates will then be adjusted and the new fees will be sent to the state for approval.