SALYERSVILLE – While the state is seeing COVID-19 cases decreasing, Eastern Kentucky cases still remain at record-level highs, with 156 cases just since last week’s paper printed, with only minor changes indicating it may be about to plateau in the region.
On Friday, February 4, 43 new cases were reported in Magoffin County, the now third-highest one-day total for the county since the pandemic began, tying what was the highest day total from the last spike, with the record set at 68, from two weeks ago. At press time, there have been 156 cases reported to the health department in Magoffin County since last Wednesday, showing some improvement compared to last week’s 291 with an all-time total of 3,773 cases from the county since COVID-19 began. 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 much higher.
Many of the daily numbers this past week have doubled the previous week’s numbers, with many of the cases including children.
As no surprise, every Kentucky county is still in the red, with Magoffin County at 163.3 cases per 100,000 population incidence rate, down from 211.4 reported last week. Magoffin County has a positivity rate of 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.
