The Jefferson County Health Department announced two new COVID-19-related deaths today (Feb. 10), bringing the county’s total number of deaths from the disease to182 since the start of the pandemic.
The two deaths include a woman in her 70s and a woman in her 80s, and one of the two deaths was connected with a long-term care facility, according to the Health Department.
Of the county’s 182 COVID-19 deaths, 70 have been from long-term care facilities.
The Health Department also reported 38 new COVID-19 cases today, for a total of 21,117 cases since the first ones were reported in March.
Of the county’s total coronavirus cases, 1,330 have been at long-term care facilities, which includes residents and staff members who live in Jefferson County, the Health Department reported.
Orange status
After 14 weeks at the highest level on the Jefferson County Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system, the county has been moved to the orange status, the second highest level on the four-color system.
The orange status indicates widespread but controlled transmission of the coronavirus, and the red status, which is the highest level on the system, indicates widespread and uncontrolled transmission of the virus.
Health Department officials changed the status to orange Tuesday (Feb. 9), after county’s recent decline in new positive COVID-19 cases.
Despite the lower case numbers over the past couple of weeks, the Health Department still urges residents to take steps to prevent the spread of the virus, including limiting nonessential travel; avoiding crowds; wearing masks; practicing social distancing and frequent hand-washing; and staying home when you are sick.
Vaccines
Comtrea, which offers health care services around the county, will hold more COVID-19 vaccine clinics Feb. 17, 18 and 19.
Comtrea vaccinations are given by appointment only, and the agency will contact eligible people who have registered and who are eligible to receive the vaccine under the state’s distribution plan to set up the appointments.
To register with Comtrea, visit comtrea.org/vaccine-inquiry.
As of today, 17,000 people had registered for the vaccine through Comtrea.
As of Feb. 5, Comtrea, the Health Department and Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City together had administered 5,421 COVID-19 vaccines in Jefferson County, Zwiener said.
On Monday (Feb. 8), the Health Department administered another 210 vaccination and was expected to distribute 90 more vaccines during a clinic held on Tuesday (Feb. 9).
The Health Department also gives all vaccines by appointment only and will contact people who have registered for the vaccine and who are eligible to receive it.
As of Monday, more than 44,000 people had signed up for vaccines through the Health Department, the agency reported.
To register for a vaccine through the Health Department, go to https://hipaa.jotform.com/210126757688060. People without internet access may call the registration line at 636-789-8941.
According to the state’s COVID-19 vaccine dashboard, an estimated 5.3 percent of Jefferson County residents have received at least one dose of the vaccine, and a total of 16,818 doses have been administered, including both first and second doses, to county residents. Jefferson County has a population of about 225,000 people.
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 at this time.
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.
