FILE - A doctor loads a dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine into a syringe, Thursday, Dec. 2, 2021, at a mobile vaccination clinic in Worcester, Mass. In January 2022, an influential government advisory panel is considering COVID-19 boosters for younger teens, as the U.S. battles the omicron surge and schools struggle with how to restart classes amid the spike. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)

Chautauqua County is seeing a surge in COVID-19 cases after the holidays.

On Wednesday, the Health Department noted 852 new cases reported and 12 new deaths. Hospitalizations decreased to 24 from 41 last week.

Those currently hospitalized, the county notes, include nine individuals who are fully vaccinated and 15 who are not.

On Tuesday, the county announced changing protocols in how it was handling COVID cases due to rapidly rising numbers.

“You no longer should expect to receive a call from us, nor do you need to call us,” said Christine Schuyler, public health director. “Please follow the general direction that we provide for isolation and quarantine and contact your healthcare provider for medical advice. If you are in need of isolation or quarantine documents, they are available on our website.”

In addition, the Health Department is adopting the Center for Disease Control’s recommendations for isolation and quarantine, updated based on what is currently known about COVID-19 and the Omicron variant of the coronavirus.

As such, anyone, regardless of vaccination status, who receives a positive COVID-19 test result, either from a lab, pharmacy, medical office or an at-home test, is to self-isolate for five days and notify their household and close contacts. Individuals who have no symptoms or their symptoms are resolving (without fever for 24 hours) after five days can leave their house. Those individuals must continue to wear a well-fitting mask around others for five additional days. If an individual’s symptoms are not improving, or that person has a fever, he/she should continue to stay home until fever resolves and symptoms improve. Contact a health-care provider for medical advice.

Overall, there have been 19,280 cases since March 2020 of COVID-19, 18,110 recoveries; 283 total deaths and 1,075 who are in quarantine. The Centers for Disease Control notes the community transmission level remains high and the seven-day positivity average is 18.4%.