The Jefferson County Health Department reported 68 new COVID-19 cases today (Jan. 2), which brings the total number of cases in the county to 20,733 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 had 167 COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began, and 67 of those have been from long-term care facilities, the Health Department reported.
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.”
The county remains at the red level on the Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system. Red is the highest level on the Health Department’s four-color system and indicates widespread and uncontrolled transmission of the virus.
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 today.
Then, the Health Department is expected to distribute a total of 250 doses of the Moderna vaccine during two clinics this week – one from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday (Jan. 3) and the other from 12:30-7 p.m. Thursday (Feb. 4), both at the Health Department’s High Ridge Office, 5684 Hwy. PP.
The Health Department reported that it received the vaccines from Comtrea, which also is holding a vaccine clinic this week.
Comtrea, which offers health care services around the county, is set to hold its clinic on Friday (Feb. 5) in the gym at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 200 Brierton Lane, in Crystal City.
Nathanael Herbert, Comtrea’s marketing communications manager, said the agency plans to distribute 350 vaccines on Feb. 5 and another 500 over a two-day clinic on Feb. 17-Feb. 18, again to be held at Sacred Heart Church.
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.
