The Jefferson County Health Department reported 13 new COVID-19-related deaths today (Feb. 3), bringing the county’s total number of deaths from the disease to 180 since the beginning of the pandemic.
The latest deaths included a woman in her 50s, a woman in her 60s, a man in his 60s, two women in their 70s, seven men in their 70s and a woman in her 90s.
Two of the 13 deaths were connected to a long-term care facility in the county, according to the Health Department.
Of the county’s total COVID-19 deaths, 69 have been from long-term care facilities, the Health Department reported.
The Health Department also reported 78 new COVID-19 cases today, for a total of 20,811 cases since the first ones were reported in March.
Of the county’s total coronavirus cases, 1,317 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County.
The county has an estimated 732 active cases, according to the Health Department.
Brianne Zwiener, communications specialist with the Health Department, said the agency doesn’t follow up with all cases anymore, and the number of active cases is meant to give the public a “general estimate.”
Health Department officials urge residents to continue taking steps to prevent the spread of the virus, like wearing masks as stipulated by the county mask order.
Residents are also advised to avoid nonessential travel, avoid crowds, practice social distancing and frequent hand-washing, and stay home if you are sick.
Vaccine clinics
The Health Department held a small scale vaccination clinic for its staff on Tuesday (Feb. 2) and a community vaccination clinic today. Another community vaccination clinic is set for Thursday (Feb. 4). In all, the Health Department expects to administer a total of 250 vaccinations during those two clinics.
Comtrea, which offers health care services around the county, is set to distribute 350 vaccinations at a community vaccination clinic on Friday (Feb. 5), as well as another 500 over a two-day clinic on Feb. 17-Feb. 18.
The vaccinations at both the Health Department and Comtrea will be given by appointment only, and the agencies will contact eligible people who have registered for the vaccine to set up the appointments.
As of Monday, more than 32,000 people had signed up for vaccines through the Health Department, and 13,874 had signed up through Comtrea, the agencies reported.
Only those who are included in Phase 1A, Phase 1B-Tier 1 and Phase 1B-Tier 2 of the state’s vaccine distribution plan may receive the Health Department vaccines.
Phase 1A includes patient-facing health care workers and long-term care facility staff and residents, according to the Health Department.
Phase is 1B-Tier 1 includes essential workers in emergency services and the public health infrastructure.
Phase 1B-Tier 2 includes people 65 and older, as well as high-risk people between 18 and 64, including those with cancer, chronic kidney disease, COPD, heart conditions, weakened immune systems due to organ transplant, severe obesity (BMI >40), pregnancy, sickle cell disease, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, or intellectual and/or developmental disabilities such as Down syndrome.
Next will be Phase 1B-Tier 3, which includes essential workers in education, childcare, communications, information technology, transportation, government, food production and agriculture, energy, water and wastewater treatment and other fields.
Phase 2 includes populations at increased risk, like prisoners and homeless people. The last phase, which is Phase 3, includes all Missouri residents.
Those interested in signing up for one of the Health Department vaccines may do so online at hipaa.jotform.com/210126757688060.
Those without internet access may call the Health Department’s COVID-19 Vaccine Registration Line at 636-789-8941.
To register with Comtrea, visit comtrea.org/vaccine-inquiry.
Mercy also has created an online sign-up method to help distribute vaccines to those eligible under the state’s vaccination plan. Anyone seeking the vaccine may visit mercy.net/MOVaccine to see if they are eligible under the current phase and register to receive a vaccine.
Other hospital systems and pharmacies also are registering people for the vaccines.
