The Jefferson County Health Department has reported another two COVID-19-related deaths, bringing the county’s total number of deaths from the virus to 266 since the start of the pandemic.
The two latest reported deaths include a man in his 60s and a woman in her 90s, according to the Health Department.
New COVID-19 cases continue to rise in the county, and during the week of Aug. 8-14, the county saw 573 new COVID-19 cases. Of those cases, 89.88 percent were among unvaccinated people, and 10.12 percent were breakthrough cases, meaning cases among those who had been vaccinated, the Health Department reported.
Since the first breakthrough cases were reported in the county, five of those, or .005 percent, patients have been hospitalized, the report said.
As of Wednesday, the county had seen a total of 26,844 coronavirus cases since the first ones were reported in March 2020.
Color status
The county is in the red status on the Health Department’s COVID-19 warning system for a fourth week. Red is the highest level on the four-color system and indicates high transmission of the virus within the community.
The main indicator of the color status is the total number of cases in a seven-day period per 100,000 people.
The number of cases per 100,000 people for the week of Aug. 8-14 was 250.2, slightly more than the previous when there were 242.2 new cases.
“Once again the 0-9-year age group had the highest percent increase in cases, followed by the 20-29-year age group,” Health Department epidemiologist Sara Wilton reported.
A total of 15.4 percent of tests among Jefferson Countians was positive during the week of Aug. 8-14, the same as the previous week.
Vaccines
Health officials urge residents to take steps to limit the spread of the virus, including wearing masks and getting the COVID-19 vaccine, which they say is the best way to curb the spread of the virus and prevent hospitalizations and deaths from the virus.
As of Aug. 14, the Health Department reported that 17.47 percent of Jefferson County children eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine, those 12- to 19-years old, was vaccinated, and 25.65 percent of countians 20-29 years old was vaccinated, the Health Department reported.
Overall, 33.03 percent of Jefferson County residents was vaccinated, up slightly from the week before, when 32.23 percent was vaccinated, according to the Health Department.
Certain immunocompromised people may now receive a booster vaccine – a third dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine – if it’s been at least 28 days after their second dose, the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services has announced.
People may sign up for a vaccine appointment through the Health Department by going to the state vaccine Navigator website at covidvaccine.mo.gov/navigator. Or they may call 877-435-8411.
Or, to find a local vaccine site, visit vaccinefinder.org.
