SALYERSVILLE – Magoffin County is finally catching up with the rest of the state, now seeing a decrease in COVID-19 cases.
While a few weeks ago Magoffin nearly hit 300 cases a week, at press time there have been 114 cases reported since last week’s paper printed, with no record-breaking one-day or weekly totals for the first time in weeks. To date 3,887 cases have been reported from the county since COVID-19 began. It is important to note, however, that positive at-home tests are not included in the total numbers and the health department is not contact tracing except for children and the nursing home, so the total numbers are expected to be higher than reported totals, but at least improving in the right direction.
Also for the first time in weeks, six Kentucky counties are no longer in the red, though all of Eastern Kentucky is still in the red, with Magoffin County at 113.9 cases per 100,000 population incidence rate, down from 163.3 reported last week. Magoffin County has a positivity rate of 26.79%, down from 32.23%.
The state recently announced changes last week to its guidance on isolation and quarantining, with people who have tested positive for COVID-19 and have symptoms to isolate for 10 days from the date symptoms began. If symptoms fully resolve, isolation may be shortened and end after day 5 from the first day without symptoms, but people are advised to wear a well-fitting face mask for 10 full days from the start of symptoms.
For those who have tested positive for the virus and never had symptoms, they are to isolate for five days from the date the positive test was done. After five days, they can go out in public with a well-fitted face mask for five additional days. If a mask cannot be worn properly and consistently, isolations should be extended to 10 days.
People who are not fully vaccinated or are booster-eligible but not yet boosted and have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 must quarantine for 10 days from last exposure. The quarantine may be shortened to 5 days if there are no symptoms and the person tests negative for COVID on day 5, but a well-fitted face mask is still required for 10 days from the last exposure.
Those who are boosted or fully vaccinated ad not yet booster-eligible and have been in close contact with someone diagnosed with COVID-19 do not have to quarantine unless symptoms develop. They are still required to wear a well-fitted face mask for 10 full days from the last exposure and are recommended to get tested for COVID-19 on day 5.
“Booster-eligible” includes people 16 years of age or older who completed their primary mRNA (Pfizer/Moderna) vaccine series six months or more ago or their J&J/Janssen vaccine two or more months ago.
Vaccines and boosters are still being scheduled through the Magoffin County Health Department by calling 606-349-6212.
With Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are now approved for children ages 5 to 11 years, Frontier Medical and Big Sandy Healthcare taking appointments for children to get the vaccine. Big Sandy Health Care is now distributing the vaccine at their Eula Hall Health Center, Martin County Community Health Center, Physicians for Families, and locally at Hope Family Health Services. People are encouraged to contact a health center nearest them for information about scheduling a vaccine for their children.
Check with your doctor’s office or local pharmacy for more information about the vaccine and booster shots.
The federal government has also unrolled their program to provide four free COVID-19 at-home tests to each home in the US, with the link to apply for the free test available at https://special.usps.com/testkits. Even the shipping is free, with no credit card required to order, and yes, the link does take you to a page on the United States Postal Service website, which is handling the orders.
