The Jefferson County Health Department has reported three new COVID-19-related deaths – a woman in her 60s, a woman in her 70s and a man in his 80s.
The county also moved up to the orange, or high, level this week on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) three-color COVID-19 warning system. The county had been in the yellow, or medium, level for the previous 19 weeks.
The three latest reported deaths brings the county’s total number of deaths from COVID-19 to 19 during this respiratory season, which began the first week of October and ends in May, according to the Health Department.
The county has seen a total of 588 COVID-19-related deaths since the start of the pandemic.
During the week of Dec. 11-17, the Health Department reported 379 new COVID-19 cases for a season total of 2,900.
Brianne Zwiener, Jefferson County Health Department public information officer, recommends anyone who is considered high risk for serious illness from the virus wear a mask in public places. She also said people should wear masks in public if they frequently are around those who are high risk.
Health officials strongly encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19. Anyone 6 months and older is eligible for vaccines.
Zwiener said people may go to vaccines.gov for information about where vaccine appointments are available.
A COVID-19 bivalent booster vaccine that targets both the original strain of the virus and Omicron sub-variants is available at Mercy Jefferson in Crystal City, and people may sign up to receive a dose at mercy.net/movaccine.
However, people may not receive the new booster unless it’s been at least two months since their last COVID-19 vaccine or booster.
Flu
A total of 2,766 cases have been reported since the flu season began on Oct. 2, with 730 additional cases reported this past week, according to the Health Department. There have been 2,688 cases of type A flu and 78 of type B flu reported so far this season.
There have been two flu deaths so far this season.
Health officials strongly encourage people to get vaccinated against the flu.
Appointments to get a flu vaccine from the Health Department can be scheduled by calling 636-797-3737.
