SALYERSVILLE – Local COVID-19 numbers are up over the last two weeks, especially at the school level.
The Magoffin County Health Department confirmed on Wednesday that there were 4 new COVID-19 cases from Magoffin County on Thursday, November 11, 16 on Friday, 32 on Saturday, 2 on Sunday, 7 on Monday, 22 on Tuesday, and 9 as of 4 p.m. on Wednesday, November 17. To date, 2,389 COVID-19 cases have been reported from Magoffin County, up 92 cases since last week, with 104 active cases to date. Currently, two people from Magoffin County are hospitalized. Of the 9 cases reported on Wednesday, 2 were students, and two were breakthrough/fully vaccinated cases.
Currently, the Magoffin County School District is in the red, or Tier 4, meaning masks are required for all students and staff in all school facilities. The district reevaluates the numbers to see where they are within the tiered system the school board passed earlier this year every Friday, with any changes to the masking policy based on that announced prior to the next week.
Due to the higher numbers, Magoffin County High School has postponed their Maroon and White Night.
When asked why the numbers seem to be spiking, particularly at North Magoffin Elementary, school officials are unsure, noting relaxing the masking rules and Halloween activities could be contributing factors, but they would expect those increases to be even across the district.
With Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines opened up last week 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 announced in a release earlier this week that they will be distributing the vaccine at their Eula Hall Health Center, Martin County Community Health Center, and Physicians for Families, with Hope Family Health Services not at this time. People are encouraged to contact a health center nearest them for information about scheduling a vaccine for their children.
As for more information about the COVID-19 vaccine for children, Big Sandy Health Care cited Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia as an excellent resource for information.
“We urge our patients to follow the science on the COVID-19 vaccine,” the BSHC press release stated.
The Magoffin County Health Department is still taking appointments for first and second doses of the vaccine, as well as for booster shots, with people encouraged to call 606-349-6212 to schedule an appointment or for more information.
Locally, Walgreens also distributes booster vaccines, which have been FDA-approved for people over the age of 65 or in jobs where they work with the public six months after they received the second dose.
On Wednesday, Governor Andy Beshear authorized boosters for all Kentucky adults, signing an executive order that qualifies every person 18 years old or older and living or working in the commonwealth to get a COVID-19 vaccination booster six months after their second dose of the Moderna or Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, or two months after a single-dose Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine.
