Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
Observations all along the line - Kimball & the Southern Panhandle First
As COVID-19 fatigue sets in on the Panhandle, Kimball County’s numbers continue to stay steady or even decrease.
With a total of 361 confirmed cases, the county had 18 people testing positive in the last 14 days. Since Jan. 7 Kimball County has reported only four new cases of COVID-19, which is encouraging. Neighboring Cheyenne County has had 810 confirmed cases and 54 in the last 14 days. Kimball County has had six deaths while Cheyenne County has experienced 15 COVID-19 related deaths.
The Kimball area isn’t over COVID-19, but there is light at the end of the tunnel.
As the vaccine is being rolled out, a variant of the COVID-19 virus has been detected in Colorado and other states. Panhandle Public Health District cautions people to avoid the Three C’s-avoid crowded places, avoid close contact and avoid confined spaces.
Individuals 75 and older wanting a vaccination are encouraged to call the Panhandle Public Health District at 308-262-5764. They have a list and are keeping track of the names, according to Jessica Webb, Clinic Emergency Preparedness Director from the Kimball Health Services.
PPHD will call the clinic with a list of the names each morning. Webb said they are just “waiting” for more of the vaccine to come in then they will call the people on the list for Kimball.
Jessica Davies from PPHD told the Observer that “vaccine allocations overall are just a slow trickle right now. We’re hoping as production continues to increase and additional vaccines are approved, it will help but at this time it’s slow for all of the states and down.”
As of Tuesday 3,761 people in the eligible population in the Panhandle have received the COVID vaccine. The Panhandle continues to get weekly allotments of the vaccine.