Getting vaccinated and continuing other mitigation strategies may be your best shot in protecting yourself from the coronavirus’ newest variant.

The Omicron variant is popping up in countries around the world including five confirmed cases in Canada as of Tuesday morning. With many of the cases linked to trips to African nations, more than 70 countries including the United States have issued temporary travel restrictions to parts of the continent like South Africa, Botswana, and Zimbabwe. President Joe Biden said on Monday that the Omicron variant was a cause for concern, but not for panic due to the lack of information scientists have on it. Door County Public Health Officer Sue Powers says this is just what viruses do.

Powers is encouraged by the response to their vaccine clinics over the last few weeks, especially for kids between the ages of 5 and 11. She also warns that hospitals in the region are getting overwhelmed not just because of treating patients for COVID-19, but for other reasons as well.