Coronavirus Update – January 29, 2020

Things continue to move in a positive direction in Hancock County!  Only 35 new case were reported in the county on Friday, the lowest number on a weekday since early November.  Hospital census of COVID patients has been in the single digits for a few days now, the number of outpatient MAB infusions has declined, the number people reporting to our testing sites has fallen dramatically, and the associated positivity rate is much lower as well.  Compared to where we were over the holidays, this information should cause us all to breathe a collective sigh of relief.  Our efforts are paying off!

This allows us to focus our full attention on the remaining task – vaccinating enough people to achieve herd immunity in our county.  While it is truly amazing that 7,500 Hancock County residents have received their first dose of vaccine, it is just 15% of the way to our goal of 56,000.  Fortunately, state vaccine allocations for both the hospital and health department will be increasing dramatically over the next several weeks, and pharmacies around the county are beginning to offer immunization as well.  It is likely that 5,0000 – 6,000 doses per week will be available to us by the end of February, meaning that nearly 3,000 people will be added to the rolls of the immune each week.  At this rate, we are sure to meet the goal of herd immunity by the end of summer, right?  Yes…if enough of us make the decision to receive the vaccine…

There is significant hesitation on the part of younger members of our society to be immunized for COVID-19, yet the more mature folks among us have filled every available slot and as a result schedules are booked solid for weeks.  If you think their eagerness to get the vaccine is because they are old and afraid, you are wrong.  These are not faint hearted individuals, they have experienced events in their lives that would make the rest of us tremble.  The better answer is that they know something the rest of us do not…  Intrigued?  Click the following link for a story that may help:  https://vimeo.com/506294879

All the Best

Steve