SALYERSVILLE – While local COVID-19 numbers are slowly decreasing, officials still urge people to continue wearing masks and practicing social distancing.
To date, 928 people from Magoffin County have tested positive for the novel coronavirus, with 54 people isolated and three people in the hospital currently, and one new death was reported over the weekend, totaling seven deaths from Magoffin County officially attributed to COVID-19.
While the state had moved all vaccinations from health departments to regional vaccine sites, with the additional federal allocation of vaccines to Kentucky announced last week, Magoffin County Public Health Director and Salyersville Mayor James “Pete” Shepherd said the Magoffin County Health Department has been told they will receive 100 doses of the vaccine for the next three weeks.
“With those additional doses, we hope to have the 70 and over completed by next week,” Shepherd said.
He noted that they are going through their waitlist and checking off everyone who has been able to receive the vaccine or get on a waitlist somewhere else, explaining that they do not need anyone to contact the health department to get on the list, again.
The health department will release when they can start taking calls regarding the vaccine waitlist, Shepherd said.
Also available in this region, people can still call or go online to get on the vaccine list at any of the following providers: Paul B. Hall Medical Center, Highlands ARH, Pikeville Medical Center, Kings Daughters in Ashland, ARH West Liberty and Saint Claire Regional Medical Center in Morehead.
Shepherd also explained that having the virus once does not make people immune to catching it, again, with the CDC stating that it will generally protect the person for up to 90 days, though there have been at least two cases in Magoffin County where people have tested positive for the virus, again, less than 90 days after having COVID-19.
At press time, Magoffin County remains in the orange category, though the majority of the counties in the region are still in the red, meaning that the average daily cases are 25 or more cases per 100,000 population, based on the previous seven days.
The health department announced that two churches had one person at each congregation test positive, resulting in notices being made regarding Holiness House of Prayer on Thursday, January 28 and Salyersville Calvary Faith Church on Sunday, January 31, asking those in attendance at those places and dates to monitor for symptoms and to consider getting tested.
Additionally, the Magoffin County High School Girls’ Basketball Team is currently in quarantine until next week, with one player testing positive. The team had played Paintsville the night before she tested positive, resulting in their team also being in quarantine, though no other cases have been reported related to that player.
While most of the new positive cases are seemingly random, Shepherd reminded the public to continue wearing masks, practice social distancing and wash hands often and thoroughly.
“Even if you’ve had the virus or you’ve received the vaccine, make sure you wear your mask and follow all the social distancing,” Shepherd reminded. “This virus is still here and it’s very real, so be safe.”
Lisa Perkins
February 5, 2021 at 1:29 am
Both of my parents are hospitalized with covid-19. I don’t understand how people can still believe, with all these cases, and with so many deaths, that this virus isn’t real or that it cannot affect them. I see many people in my county without masks on, hanging close to other’s outside of their own homes, not knowing, not caring that they could be giving this virus to someone that may die from it. Some folks just are not using any logical wisdom or knowledge to protect themselves or others. Those folks should just stay home.