The Jefferson County Health Department reported 192 new COVID-19 cases today (Jan. 22), for a total of 19,784 cases since the first ones were reported in March.
Of the county’s total coronavirus cases, 1,285 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County.
The county has an estimated 787 active cases, the Health Department reported.
Brianne Zwiener, communications specialist with the Health Department, said the Health Department doesn’t follow up with all cases anymore, and the number of active cases is meant to give the public a “general estimate.”
Of the 164 COVID-19 total deaths in the county, 66 have been from long-term care facilities, the Health Department reported.
The county remains at the red level on the Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system for the 12th consecutive week.
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 take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, like wearing masks as stipulated by the county mask order, which has been extended until 5 p.m. Feb. 25.
The order is a joint order with the county government and requires residents to wear face masks in public spaces when social distancing cannot be maintained, but it does not call for any type of fine or penalty for people who violate it.
Residents are also advised to avoid nonessential travel, avoid crowds, practice social distancing and frequent hand-washing, and stay home if you are sick.
Vaccines
The Health Department is registering residents for the COVID-19 vaccine. To sign up, residents must complete a form, and they will be contacted when they are eligible to be vaccinated.
The Health Department has not received any vaccines, but Jeana Vidacak, public health preparedness coordinator, said the agency hopes to receive the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine by the end of January or the start of February.
Those interested in signing up for one of the vaccines may do so online at hipaa.jotform.com/210126757688060.
Comtrea, which offers health care services around the county, also is signing up residents for COVID-19 vaccinations. Comtrea has not received vaccines for the community yet, but once the agency receives them, it will administer vaccines based on each person’s eligibility, marketing communications manager Nathanael Herbert said. To sign up through Comtrea, go to comtrea.org/vaccine-inquiry.
Herbert said on Thursday (Jan. 21) that Comtrea had received vaccines for its staff, and 250 of the agency’s front-line employees have received the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
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.
On Monday, the state moved into Phase 1B-Tier 1, so vaccinations are being administered to those in Phase 1A and Phase 1B-Tier 1.
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.
After that, Phase 1B-Tier 2 will begin and 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.
The Health Department reported that it is working with Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City and Comtrea, which provides health care services around the county, to plan “unified efforts” for COVID-19 vaccine distribution to county residents.
