Covid-19 cases continue to drop as county moves into orange zone

With only 31 new covid-19 cases being reported by the Muhlenberg County Health Department since the beginning of November, the county is finally seeing orange again, instead of red. The county moved from the red zone to orange over the weekend as cases dropped to 15.9 per 100,000 population. The state uses the color orange for counties with 10-25 cases per 100,000.

As of Nov. 8, the health department is reporting 40 active cases in the county. This is a steep decline from this time last month, when there were more than 200 active cases and two months ago, when more than 350 active cases were reported.

Data from the state’s covid-19 dashboard shows one death due to the virus was reported on Nov. 5. This brings the total to 93 in the county since the beginning of the pandemic.

This trend reflects the waning delta variant of the covid-19 virus across Kentucky and the nation. But while cases are dropping locally, statewide numbers over the past week show a plateau and not a downward trend. Data reported each day last week show roughly five to six percent of those testing for covid-19 are positive cases.

“Please don’t let your guard down,” Health Commissioner Steven Stack said. “Temperatures are getting colder, the end-of-the-year holidays are coming up. The best way for us to enjoy the holidays and be safe with each other and enjoy and celebrate these holidays in the presence of those we love and care about is for all of us to be vaccinated and be safe.”

Director of the county health department, Cathy Bethel, agrees. “Vaccines are still the best solution to end this pandemic and to protect our vulnerable population and young children.”

Vaccination rates reported by the Centers for Disease Control show in Muhlenberg County, nearly 60% of those age 12 or older has received at least one dose and 53.7% are fully vaccinated. All Kentuckians are now eligible to get any of the three COVID-19 vaccine boosters: Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson.

Last week, the CDC approved emergency-use authorization of the Pfizer vaccine for children ages 5-11. CDC data shows about 769 children age 12-17 in the county have received at least one dose, and about 667 are fully vaccinated. This is only about five percent of children in that age group who are fully vaccinated against covid-19 at this time.

When it comes to easing mask requirements at public schools, Gov. Andy Beshear on Nov. 4 said the time is coming. “To say we’ve got a vaccine for kids now, so we’re going to drop masks before they can get the immunity that the vaccines would offer would be a mistake,” he said. “Continuing universal masking in schools right now maximizes the chance for our kids to be in and stay in school, each and every day.”

Beshear said “orange is still a bad color” and schools should get in the yellow or green on the state’s infection map before removing mask mandates. Orange counties still face “substantial” spread of the covid-19 virus.

Locations in the county where the Pfizer vaccine is available for those age 5 and up are Owensboro Health Muhlenberg Community Hospital, Community Health Centers of Western Kentucky, Walgreens, Walmart and Poole’s Pharmacy Care.

Covid-19 testing on is available at the Muhlenberg County Health Department Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays by appointment. The health department is also continuing to give first, second and booster doses of Moderna on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays by appointment.