The Jefferson County Health Department reported 68 new COVID-19 cases over the past two days, for a total of 21,769 cases since the first ones were reported in March 2020.
Of those latest cases, 47 were reported on Thursday (March 4) and 21 cases were reported today (March 5).
Of the county’s total cases, 1,336 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County, the Health Department reported.
The county has had 222 COVID-19 deaths, and 83 have been from long-term care facilities.
Brianne Zwiener, communications specialist with the Health Department, said the agency no longer will provide daily updates on county COVID-19 stats on social media, although the online dashboard will still be updated Monday through Friday.
The dashboard can be viewed on the Health Department’s website, jeffcohealth.org.
Zwiener said the Health Department will post a case breakdown, death update and color status update on Wednesdays.
The county remains in the orange status on the Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system, the second highest level on the four-color system. The orange status indicates widespread but controlled transmission of the coronavirus.
Even though new COVID-19 cases have been on the decline over the past few weeks, Health Department officials say it’s still important to continue taking steps to limit the spread of the virus, like limiting nonessential travel, avoiding crowds, wearing masks, practicing social distancing and frequent hand-washing, and staying home when you are sick.
Vaccines
The Health Department plans on March 8 to distribute 1,500 doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, which received emergency use authorization from the FDA on Feb. 27.
So far the Health Department has provided 4,130 vaccines to people.
Anyone who wants to get the vaccine through the Health Department must sign up for it by completing an interest survey at jeffcohealth.org. The Health Department will contact people who sign up to make an appointment when they’re eligible for the vaccine under the state’s COVID-19 vaccination distribution plan.
People without internet access may call the Health Department registration line at 636-789-8941.
Comtrea, which also offers health care services around the county, has upcoming vaccine clinics, too, including first-dose clinics on March 9, March 16, March 23 and March 30. Comtrea marketing communications manager Nathanael Herbert said 400 vaccines will be provided at each of those clinics.
Herbert said 11 second-dose clinics were planned for February and March. He said starting in April, Comtrea will offer 400 second doses every Wednesday in Festus and Arnold, with 200 second doses given at each location.
Comtrea also gives all vaccines by appointment only and will contact people who have registered for the vaccine and who are eligible to receive it under the state’s distribution plan to set up the appointments.
To register with Comtrea, visit comtrea.org/vaccine-inquiry.
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 vaccines at this time. For more information about the state’s vaccine plan, go to covidvaccine.mo.gov.
Mercy also has created an online sign-up method to help distribute vaccines to those eligible under the state’s vaccination plan. To sign up with Mercy, go to mercy.net/MOVaccine.
Other hospital systems and pharmacies also are registering people for the vaccines.
