Shortly after its COVID-19 vaccination scheduling webpage opened at 10 a.m. Friday, Saline County stopped taking appointments.

According to information released this morning, in less than 30 minutes, 900 people secured appointments for their first COVID-19 vaccine, forcing the county to temporarily stop taking appointments.

"Appointment scheduling will re-open as vaccine supply becomes available.&nbsp;We will do our best to announce when all appointments are filled and when they open again," the county information noted.

Shortly after its COVID-19 vaccination scheduling webpage opened at 10 a.m. Friday, Saline County stopped taking appointments.According to information released this morning, in less than 30 minutes, 900 people secured appointments for their first COVID-19 vaccine, forcing the county to temporarily stop taking appointments."Appointment scheduling will re-open as vaccine supply becomes available.&nbsp;We will do our best to announce when all appointments are filled and when they open again," the county information noted.

County stops taking vaccine appointments shortly after site opens

MCPHERSON COUNTY -- The McPherson County Health Department today reported 41 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the county total to 2,889.

Of that total, 1,693 cases have either met recovery guidelines or have died, and 16 of the active cases are hospitalized, the health department noted.

Following is the updated case data as provided by the health department.

• New cases since last public release: 41

• Deaths: 50 -Male: 86, 90, 96, 78, 90, 81, 66, 39, 91, 92, 52, 80, 30, 72, 82, 88, 85, 77, 89, 82, 78, 64, 85, 86, 48, 87, 92, 61, 85, 80, 81, 61, 88 -Female: 92, 89, 94, 66, 82, 91, 84, 90, 89, 81, 62, 83, 62, 98, 81, 84, 80

MCPHERSON COUNTY -- The McPherson County Health Department today reported 41 new confirmed COVID-19 cases, bringing the county total to 2,889.Of that total, 1,693 cases have either met recovery guidelines or have died, and 16 of the active cases are hospitalized, the health department noted.Following is the updated case data as provided by the health department.• New cases since last public release: 41• Asymptomatic: 63• Unknown exposure: 1365• Cases 60 years old and above: 903• Cases 50-59 years old: 404• Cases 40-49 years old: 367• Cases 30-39 years old: 361• Cases 18-29 years old: 573• Cases under 18 years old: 281• Female cases: 1527• Male cases: 1362• Total hospitalizations: 112• Total ventilated cases: 16• Deaths: 50 -Male: 86, 90, 96, 78, 90, 81, 66, 39, 91, 92, 52, 80, 30, 72, 82, 88, 85, 77, 89, 82, 78, 64, 85, 86, 48, 87, 92, 61, 85, 80, 81, 61, 88 -Female: 92, 89, 94, 66, 82, 91, 84, 90, 89, 81, 62, 83, 62, 98, 81, 84, 80

McPherson County reports 41 new cases of COVID-19

Saline County has announced that it will begin Phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday.

At this time, only residents age 65 and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine, according to information released this afternoon by the Saline County Health Department.

"Local health experts determined that due to their high mortality and hospitalization rate that senior citizens are the highest priority group included in Phase 2," the health department noted.

After approximately a third of the over-65 population has been vaccinated, the community health partners will evaluate the ability to move to the next step of Phase 2, according to the health department. Phase 2 also includes high-contact critical workers and those in congregate settings, the health department explained.

"Phases and priority groups within each phase will be determined by supply and demand – not time. Phases will move forward as quickly as possible," the health department noted.

A temporary vaccination location has been set up in the former JC Penney store in the Central Mall to allow the community health partners a single site from which to operate with minimal impact on daily operations, the health department noted.

Vaccines will be given by appointment only and will only be available to those over 65 years old and those in Phase 1 who have yet to be vaccinated.

Due to the limited number of vaccines provided to Saline County each week, mandatory waiting time, vaccine storage requirements, social distancing protocols, and staffing challenges, there will be no walk-in appointments, the health department explained.

Appointment scheduling is only available online. Appointments cannot be taken over the phone or in person at this time.

The county website to sign up for vaccinations is scheduled to be available at 10 a.m. Friday.

Persons under age 65 or those who have not been told they are in Phase 1 are urged to not make appointments at this time.

"Appointments will open up as vaccines become available," the health department noted.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1611271366268.png" alt="Image provided by Saline County Health Department" />
 <figcaption>Image provided by Saline County Health Department</figcaption>
 </figure>Saline County has announced that it will begin Phase 2 of COVID-19 vaccinations on Monday.At this time, only residents age 65 and older will be eligible to receive the vaccine, according to information released this afternoon by the Saline County Health Department."Local health experts determined that due to their high mortality and hospitalization rate that senior citizens are the highest priority group included in Phase 2," the health department noted.After approximately a third of the over-65 population has been vaccinated, the community health partners will evaluate the ability to move to the next step of Phase 2, according to the health department. Phase 2 also includes high-contact critical workers and those in congregate settings, the health department explained."Phases and priority groups within each phase will be determined by supply and demand – not time. Phases will move forward as quickly as possible," the health department noted.A temporary vaccination location has been set up in the former JC Penney store in the Central Mall to allow the community health partners a single site from which to operate with minimal impact on daily operations, the health department noted.Vaccines will be given by appointment only and will only be available to those over 65 years old and those in Phase 1 who have yet to be vaccinated.Due to the limited number of vaccines provided to Saline County each week, mandatory waiting time, vaccine storage requirements, social distancing protocols, and staffing challenges, there will be no walk-in appointments, the health department explained.Appointment scheduling is only available online. Appointments cannot be taken over the phone or in person at this time.The county website to sign up for vaccinations is scheduled to be available at 10 a.m. Friday.Persons under age 65 or those who have not been told they are in Phase 1 are urged to not make appointments at this time."Appointments will open up as vaccines become available," the health department noted.

Local COVID-19 vaccinations moving to Phase 2 on Monday

After careful consideration, the public health order limiting mass gatherings and restricting hours of operation for certain businesses, which was set to expire Sunday will renew for 28 days, the Saline County Health Department announced this evening. 

This extension will end at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2021.

“We understand that this places a hardship upon our businesses and families,” acknowledged Jason Tiller, Salina County Public Health Officer. “We didn’t see the post-holiday surge in numbers we were expecting, which gave us some hope that we might catch a glimpse of a return to normalcy in our future.”

At the county commission meeting this week, Tiller was cautiously hopeful that we would be able to see the order expire. Unfortunately, that sight is another 28 days further from view. Local public health experts weighed in on the decision and advised that allowing the order to expire at this time would be detrimental to public health in Saline County. Those 28 days represent two infection cycles and will allow officials to glean a more accurate picture of where Saline County is heading in terms of infection numbers.

For the moment, it appears the data is trending in the right direction; however, more time is necessary to confirm that Saline County is indeed experiencing a sustained downward trend. Officials are optimistic that with the number of people being vaccinated against the deadly virus alongside the public’s increasing use of proven methods like handwashing, wearing masks, and practicing social distancing, those numbers will continue to fall.&nbsp;

That optimism comes with a full dose of trepidation, however. While Saline County is currently seeing decreased hospitalizations compared to the two previous months, the number of people testing positive in the first 20 days of January is equivalent to those seen in the first 20 days of November – prior to the first public health order being issued. Evidence of&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001jfo07k-8-Y04IG-LYWk0RIcpueH7xLvGScZHNV4xK6B5cTj3dgPVoUYVaZTjM01p9VyjaSfZttMdirA7vfHgX3MuRs8I3c5-M1s-h8bnJfrXKRm2XUmZQjbLUU6-MsNVtB33sjAUuAePoBGicKeAO_G9iHzZd9NgyaZbyZkE7nPAcKW3oS8yJ75eTo7P60j0I5x5jD4hyrkM0hET4M-vsQ==&amp;c=X076vJHUZ_FLwc6L23qCP-RVcAyV2uPCVaYtmv3KBy_zZIb-aGWoQg==&amp;ch=WbhTs-_XsBnRYog3N-VJfTMVUkezVSOnICHHqRWF3SRzs3Ks7V4wIQ==" target="_blank">variants are showing up more and more in the United States</a>&nbsp;– as close as Colorado.

Unfortunately, vaccine deliveries to Saline County continue to be unreliable and inconsistent. Information and guidance trickling in from the state and national government is often vague and ambiguous.&nbsp;

“We are deeply concerned about the effects of this pandemic on public health and the local economy,” explained Tiller. “This decision weighs the effects of our policy on both fronts. As February 21 draws near, we will review the information as it stands at that time and determine if another extension is necessary.”

A recent survey published by the Health Department saw that 60.1 percent of respondents said that they are “very concerned” about the spread of the virus and 49.7 percent said they are “very concerned” about the implications of COVID-19 on the local economy and 45.4 percent say they feel the current measures to prevent the virus from spreading are too relaxed.

“We will continue to look at how our policies effect the community and the quality of life of those around us,” Tiller said. “I am so proud of my staff and our community partners who are doing an outstanding job serving our public while working through this pandemic. We appreciate the public’s continued patience and commitment to recommended practices.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

After careful consideration, the public health order limiting mass gatherings and restricting hours of operation for certain businesses, which was set to expire Sunday will renew for 28 days, the Saline County Health Department announced this evening. This extension will end at 11:59 p.m. on Feb. 21, 2021. “We understand that this places a hardship upon our businesses and families,” acknowledged Jason Tiller, Salina County Public Health Officer. “We didn’t see the post-holiday surge in numbers we were expecting, which gave us some hope that we might catch a glimpse of a return to normalcy in our future.” At the county commission meeting this week, Tiller was cautiously hopeful that we would be able to see the order expire. Unfortunately, that sight is another 28 days further from view. Local public health experts weighed in on the decision and advised that allowing the order to expire at this time would be detrimental to public health in Saline County. Those 28 days represent two infection cycles and will allow officials to glean a more accurate picture of where Saline County is heading in terms of infection numbers. For the moment, it appears the data is trending in the right direction; however, more time is necessary to confirm that Saline County is indeed experiencing a sustained downward trend. Officials are optimistic that with the number of people being vaccinated against the deadly virus alongside the public’s increasing use of proven methods like handwashing, wearing masks, and practicing social distancing, those numbers will continue to fall.&nbsp; That optimism comes with a full dose of trepidation, however. While Saline County is currently seeing decreased hospitalizations compared to the two previous months, the number of people testing positive in the first 20 days of January is equivalent to those seen in the first 20 days of November – prior to the first public health order being issued. Evidence of&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001jfo07k-8-Y04IG-LYWk0RIcpueH7xLvGScZHNV4xK6B5cTj3dgPVoUYVaZTjM01p9VyjaSfZttMdirA7vfHgX3MuRs8I3c5-M1s-h8bnJfrXKRm2XUmZQjbLUU6-MsNVtB33sjAUuAePoBGicKeAO_G9iHzZd9NgyaZbyZkE7nPAcKW3oS8yJ75eTo7P60j0I5x5jD4hyrkM0hET4M-vsQ==&amp;c=X076vJHUZ_FLwc6L23qCP-RVcAyV2uPCVaYtmv3KBy_zZIb-aGWoQg==&amp;ch=WbhTs-_XsBnRYog3N-VJfTMVUkezVSOnICHHqRWF3SRzs3Ks7V4wIQ==" target="_blank">variants are showing up more and more in the United States</a>&nbsp;– as close as Colorado. Unfortunately, vaccine deliveries to Saline County continue to be unreliable and inconsistent. Information and guidance trickling in from the state and national government is often vague and ambiguous.&nbsp; “We are deeply concerned about the effects of this pandemic on public health and the local economy,” explained Tiller. “This decision weighs the effects of our policy on both fronts. As February 21 draws near, we will review the information as it stands at that time and determine if another extension is necessary.” A recent survey published by the Health Department saw that 60.1 percent of respondents said that they are “very concerned” about the spread of the virus and 49.7 percent said they are “very concerned” about the implications of COVID-19 on the local economy and 45.4 percent say they feel the current measures to prevent the virus from spreading are too relaxed. “We will continue to look at how our policies effect the community and the quality of life of those around us,” Tiller said. “I am so proud of my staff and our community partners who are doing an outstanding job serving our public while working through this pandemic. We appreciate the public’s continued patience and commitment to recommended practices.”&nbsp;&nbsp;

Saline County Health Dept.: Public health order to be extended to Feb. 21

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department this evening reported 52 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 2,848.

Of that total, 1,670 have either met recovery guidelines or have died, and 19 of the active cases are hospitalized, the health department noted.

• New cases since last public release: 52

• Deaths: 49 -Male: 86, 90, 96, 78, 90, 81, 66, 39, 91, 92, 52, 80, 30, 72, 82, 88, 85, 77, 89, 82, 78, 64, 85, 86, 48, 87, 92, 61, 85, 80, 81, 61 -Female: 92, 89, 94, 66, 82, 91, 84, 90, 89, 81, 62, 83, 62, 98, 81, 84, 80

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department this evening reported 52 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 2,848.Of that total, 1,670 have either met recovery guidelines or have died, and 19 of the active cases are hospitalized, the health department noted.Following is the updated case data as provided by the health department.• New cases since last public release: 52• Asymptomatic: 62• Unknown exposure: 1338• Cases 60 years old and above: 895• Cases 50-59 years old: 393• Cases 40-49 years old: 363• Cases 30-39 years old: 355• Cases 18-29 years old: 563• Cases under 18 years old: 279• Female cases: 1510• Male cases: 1338• Total hospitalizations: 112• Total ventilated cases: 16• Deaths: 49 -Male: 86, 90, 96, 78, 90, 81, 66, 39, 91, 92, 52, 80, 30, 72, 82, 88, 85, 77, 89, 82, 78, 64, 85, 86, 48, 87, 92, 61, 85, 80, 81, 61 -Female: 92, 89, 94, 66, 82, 91, 84, 90, 89, 81, 62, 83, 62, 98, 81, 84, 80

McPherson County reports 52 new cases of COVID-19

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s state epidemiologist is urging a halt to more than 300,000 coronavirus vaccinations using a Moderna vaccine version because some people received medical treatment for possible severe allergic reactions.

Dr. Erica S. Pan on Sunday recommended providers stop using lot 41L20A of the Moderna vaccine pending completion of an investigation by state officials, Moderna, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the federal Food and Drug Administration.

“Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory,” Pan said in a statement.

She said more than 330,000 doses from the lot arrived in California between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 and were distributed to 287 providers.

Fewer than 10 people, who all received the vaccine at the same community site, needed medical attention over a 24-hour period, Pan said. No other similar clusters were found.

Pan did not specify the number of cases involved or where they occurred.

However, six San Diego health care workers had allergic reactions to vaccines they received at a mass vaccination center on Jan. 14. The site was temporarily closed and is now using other vaccines, KTGV-TV reported.

Moderna in a statement said the company “is unaware of comparable adverse events from other vaccination centers which may have administered vaccines from the same lot.”

The CDC has said COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects for a few days that include fever, chills, headache, swelling or tiredness, “which are normal signs that your body is building protection.”

However, severe reactions are extremely rare. Pan said in a vaccine similar to Moderna, the rate of anaphylaxis — in which an immune system reaction can block breathing and cause blood pressure to drop — was about 1 in 100,000.

The announcement came as California counties continue to plead for more COVID-19 vaccine as the state tries to reduce its rate of infection, which has led to record numbers of hospitalizations and deaths.

California, with a population of 40 million, has shipped about about 3.2 million doses of the vaccine — which requires two doses for full immunization — to local health departments and health care systems, the state’s Department of Public Health reported Monday.

Only about 1.4 million of those doses, or around 40%, have been administered.

So far. the state has vaccinated fewer than 2,500 people per 100,000 residents, a rate that falls well below the national average, according to federal data.

Although Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that anyone age 65 and older would be eligible to start receiving the vaccine, Los Angeles County and some others have said they do not have enough doses to vaccinate so many people and are first concentrating on inoculating health care workers and the most vulnerable elderly living in care homes.

On Monday, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District sent a letter to state and county public health officials asking for authorization to provide COVID-19 vaccinations at schools for staff, local community members and for students once a vaccine for children has been approved.

“Doing so will help reopen schools as soon as possible, and in the safest way possible,” Superintendent Austin Beutner wrote.

California is nearing 3 million coronavirus cases and more than 33,600 people have died since the start of the pandemic last year, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.

The death rate from COVID-19 in Los Angeles County — the nation’s most populous and an epicenter of the state pandemic — works out to about one person every six minutes.

On Sunday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District suspended some pollution-control limits on the number of cremations for at least 10 days in order to deal with a backlog of bodies at hospitals and funeral homes.

“The current rate of death is more than double that of pre-pandemic years,” the agency said.

LOS ANGELES (AP) — California’s state epidemiologist is urging a halt to more than 300,000 coronavirus vaccinations using a Moderna vaccine version because some people received medical treatment for possible severe allergic reactions.Dr. Erica S. Pan on Sunday recommended providers stop using lot 41L20A of the Moderna vaccine pending completion of an investigation by state officials, Moderna, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the federal Food and Drug Administration.“Out of an extreme abundance of caution and also recognizing the extremely limited supply of vaccine, we are recommending that providers use other available vaccine inventory,” Pan said in a statement.She said more than 330,000 doses from the lot arrived in California between Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 and were distributed to 287 providers.Fewer than 10 people, who all received the vaccine at the same community site, needed medical attention over a 24-hour period, Pan said. No other similar clusters were found.Pan did not specify the number of cases involved or where they occurred.However, six San Diego health care workers had allergic reactions to vaccines they received at a mass vaccination center on Jan. 14. The site was temporarily closed and is now using other vaccines, KTGV-TV reported.Moderna in a statement said the company “is unaware of comparable adverse events from other vaccination centers which may have administered vaccines from the same lot.”The CDC has said COVID-19 vaccines can cause side effects for a few days that include fever, chills, headache, swelling or tiredness, “which are normal signs that your body is building protection.”However, severe reactions are extremely rare. Pan said in a vaccine similar to Moderna, the rate of anaphylaxis — in which an immune system reaction can block breathing and cause blood pressure to drop — was about 1 in 100,000.The announcement came as California counties continue to plead for more COVID-19 vaccine as the state tries to reduce its rate of infection, which has led to record numbers of hospitalizations and deaths.California, with a population of 40 million, has shipped about about 3.2 million doses of the vaccine — which requires two doses for full immunization — to local health departments and health care systems, the state’s Department of Public Health reported Monday.Only about 1.4 million of those doses, or around 40%, have been administered.So far. the state has vaccinated fewer than 2,500 people per 100,000 residents, a rate that falls well below the national average, according to federal data.Although Gov. Gavin Newsom announced last week that anyone age 65 and older would be eligible to start receiving the vaccine, Los Angeles County and some others have said they do not have enough doses to vaccinate so many people and are first concentrating on inoculating health care workers and the most vulnerable elderly living in care homes.On Monday, the superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District sent a letter to state and county public health officials asking for authorization to provide COVID-19 vaccinations at schools for staff, local community members and for students once a vaccine for children has been approved.“Doing so will help reopen schools as soon as possible, and in the safest way possible,” Superintendent Austin Beutner wrote.California is nearing 3 million coronavirus cases and more than 33,600 people have died since the start of the pandemic last year, according to figures from Johns Hopkins University.The death rate from COVID-19 in Los Angeles County — the nation’s most populous and an epicenter of the state pandemic — works out to about one person every six minutes.On Sunday, the South Coast Air Quality Management District suspended some pollution-control limits on the number of cremations for at least 10 days in order to deal with a backlog of bodies at hospitals and funeral homes.“The current rate of death is more than double that of pre-pandemic years,” the agency said.

Health official urges stop to 300K vaccines after some fall ill

By JULIE APPLEBY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-01-14/private-practice-doctors-patients-wonder-when-its-their-turn-for-the-covid-19-vaccine">Kaiser Health News</a>

Dr. Andrew Carroll — a family doctor in Chandler, Arizona — wants to 
help his patients get immunized against covid, so he paid more than 
$4,000 to buy an ultra-low-temperature freezer from eBay needed to store
 the Pfizer vaccine.

But he’s not sure he’ll get a chance to use 
it, given health officials have so far not said when private doctor’s 
offices will get vaccine.

Not
 only are doctors having trouble getting vaccine for patients, but many 
of the community-based physicians and medical staff that aren’t employed
 by hospitals or health systems also report mixed results in getting 
inoculated. Some have had their shots, yet others are still waiting, 
even though health workers providing direct care to patients are in the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s top-priority group.

Many
 of these doctors say they don’t know when — or if — they will get doses
 for their patients, which will soon become a bigger issue as states 
attempt to vaccinate more people.

“The reason that’s important is 
patients trust their doctors when it comes to the vaccine,” said 
Carroll, who has complained on social media that his county hasn’t yet 
released plans on how primary care doctors will be brought into the 
loop.

Collectively, physicians in the county could vaccinate 
thousands of patients a day, he said, and might draw some who would 
otherwise be hesitant if they had to go to a large hospital, a 
fairground or another central site.

His concern comes as, 
nationally, the rollout of the vaccine is off to a slower start than 
expected, lagging far behind the initial goal of giving 20 million doses
 before the new year.

But Dr. Jen Brull, a family practice doctor 
in Plainville, Kansas, said her rural area has made good progress on the
 first phase of vaccinations, crediting close working relationships 
formed well before the pandemic.

This fall, before any doses 
became available, the local hospital, the health department and 
physician offices coordinated a sign-up list for medical workers who 
wanted the vaccine. So, when their county, with a population of 5,000, 
got its first 70 doses, they were ready to go. Another 80 doses came a 
week later.

“We’ll be able to vaccinate almost all the health care-associated folks who wanted it in the county” Brull said recently

Dr.
 Jason Goldman, an internist in Coral Springs, Florida, said he was able
 to get vaccinated at a local hospital that received the bulk of 
vaccines in his county and oversaw distribution.

In the weeks since, however, he said several of his front-line staff members still “don’t have access to the vaccine.”

Additionally,
 “a tremendous number” of patients are calling his office because 
Florida has relaxed distribution guidelines to include anyone over age 
65, Goldman said, asking when they can get the vaccine. He’s applied to 
officials about distributing the vaccines through his practice but has 
heard nothing back.

Patients “are frustrated that they do not have
 clear answers and that I am not being given clear answers to provide 
them,” he said. “We have no choice but to direct them to the health 
department and some of the hospital systems.”

Another troubling 
point for Goldman, who served as a liaison between the American College 
of Physicians and the expert panel drawing up the CDC distribution 
guidelines, is the tremendous variation in how those recommendations are
 being implemented in the states.

The CDC <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations-process.html" target="_blank">recommends</a>
 several phases, with front-line health care workers and nursing home 
residents and staff in the initial group. Then, in the second part of 
that phase, come people over 75 and non-health care front-line workers, 
which could include first responders, teachers and other designated 
essential workers.

States have the flexibility to design their own
 rollout schedule and priority groups. Florida, for example, is offering
 doses to anyone 65 and up. In some counties, older folks were told 
vaccines were available on a first-come, first-served basis, a move that
 has resulted in long lines.

“To say right now, 65-plus, when you 
haven’t even appropriately vaccinated all the health care workers, is 
negating the phasing,” said Goldman. “There needs to be a national 
standard. We have those guidelines. We need to come up with some 
oversight.”

On Thursday, the American Hospital Association echoed 
that concern in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex 
Azar. Hospitals — along with health departments and large pharmacy 
chains — are doing the bulk of the vaccinations.

Calling for additional coordination by federal officials, the <a href="https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/01/aha-hhs-leadership-actions-needed-expedite-administration-covid-19-vaccines-lettetr-1-7-20.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>
 outlined what it would take to reach the goal of vaccinating 75% of 
Americans by the end of May: 1.8 million vaccinations every day. Noting 
there are 64 different rollout plans from states, cities and other 
jurisdictions, the letter asked whether HHS has “assessed whether these 
plans, taken as a whole, are capable of achieving this level of 
vaccination?”

Lack of direct national 
support or strategy means each county is essentially on its own, with 
success or failure affected by available resources and the experience of
 local officials. Most state and local health departments are 
underfunded and are under intense pressure because of the surging 
pandemic.

Still, the success of vaccination efforts depends on planning, preparation and clear communication.

In
 Lorain County, Ohio, population 310,000, local officials started 
practicing in October, said Mark Adams, deputy health commissioner. They
 set up mass vaccination clinics for influenza to study what would be 
needed for a covid vaccination effort. How many staff? What would the 
traffic flow be like? Could patients be kept 6 feet apart?

“That 
gave us an idea of what is good, what is bad and what needs to change,” 
said Adams, who has had previous experience coordinating mass 
vaccination efforts at a county level.

So, when the county got its
 first shipment of 500 doses Dec. 21, Adams had his plan ready. He 
called the fire chiefs to invite all emergency medical technicians and 
affiliated personnel to an ad hoc vaccination center set up at a large 
entertainment venue staffed by his health department. Upon arrival, 
people were greeted at the door and directed to spaced-apart “lanes” 
where they would get their shots, then to a monitoring area where they 
could wait for 15 minutes to make sure they didn’t have a reaction.

Right
 after Christmas, another 400 doses arrived — and the makeshift clinic 
opened again. This time, doses went to community-based physicians, 
dentists and other hands-on medical practitioners, 600 of whom had 
previously signed up. (Hospital workers and nursing home staff and 
residents are getting their vaccinations through their own 
institutions.)

As they move into the next phase — recipients 
include residents over 80, people with developmental disorders and 
school staff — the challenges will grow, he said. The county plans a 
multipronged approach to notify people when it’s their turn, including 
use of a website, the local media, churches, other organizations and 
word-of-mouth.

Adams shares the concerns of medical providers 
nationwide: He gets only two days’ notice of how many doses he’s going 
to receive and, at the current pace of 400 or 500 doses a week, it’s 
going to take a while before most residents in the county have a chance 
to get a shot, including the estimated 33,000 people 65 and older.

With
 10 nurses, his clinic can inject about 1,200 people a day. But many 
other health professionals have volunteered to administer the shots if 
he gets more doses.

“If I were to run three clinics, five days a 
week, I could do 15,000 vaccinations a week,” Adams said. “With all the 
volunteers, I could do almost six clinics, or 30,000 a week.”

Still,
 for those in the last public group, those age 18 and up without 
underlying medical conditions, “it could be summer,” Adams said.

<a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the <a href="http://www.kff.org/" target="_blank">Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation</a> which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

By JULIE APPLEBY <a href="https://www.kcur.org/news/2021-01-14/private-practice-doctors-patients-wonder-when-its-their-turn-for-the-covid-19-vaccine">Kaiser Health News</a>Dr. Andrew Carroll — a family doctor in Chandler, Arizona — wants to 
help his patients get immunized against covid, so he paid more than 
$4,000 to buy an ultra-low-temperature freezer from eBay needed to store
 the Pfizer vaccine.But he’s not sure he’ll get a chance to use 
it, given health officials have so far not said when private doctor’s 
offices will get vaccine.“I’m really angry,” said Carroll.Not
 only are doctors having trouble getting vaccine for patients, but many 
of the community-based physicians and medical staff that aren’t employed
 by hospitals or health systems also report mixed results in getting 
inoculated. Some have had their shots, yet others are still waiting, 
even though health workers providing direct care to patients are in the 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s top-priority group.Many
 of these doctors say they don’t know when — or if — they will get doses
 for their patients, which will soon become a bigger issue as states 
attempt to vaccinate more people.“The reason that’s important is 
patients trust their doctors when it comes to the vaccine,” said 
Carroll, who has complained on social media that his county hasn’t yet 
released plans on how primary care doctors will be brought into the 
loop.Collectively, physicians in the county could vaccinate 
thousands of patients a day, he said, and might draw some who would 
otherwise be hesitant if they had to go to a large hospital, a 
fairground or another central site.His concern comes as, 
nationally, the rollout of the vaccine is off to a slower start than 
expected, lagging far behind the initial goal of giving 20 million doses
 before the new year.But Dr. Jen Brull, a family practice doctor 
in Plainville, Kansas, said her rural area has made good progress on the
 first phase of vaccinations, crediting close working relationships 
formed well before the pandemic.This fall, before any doses 
became available, the local hospital, the health department and 
physician offices coordinated a sign-up list for medical workers who 
wanted the vaccine. So, when their county, with a population of 5,000, 
got its first 70 doses, they were ready to go. Another 80 doses came a 
week later.“We’ll be able to vaccinate almost all the health care-associated folks who wanted it in the county” Brull said recently<h2>Gaps in the Rollout</h2>But that’s not the case everywhere.Dr.
 Jason Goldman, an internist in Coral Springs, Florida, said he was able
 to get vaccinated at a local hospital that received the bulk of 
vaccines in his county and oversaw distribution.In the weeks since, however, he said several of his front-line staff members still “don’t have access to the vaccine.”Additionally,
 “a tremendous number” of patients are calling his office because 
Florida has relaxed distribution guidelines to include anyone over age 
65, Goldman said, asking when they can get the vaccine. He’s applied to 
officials about distributing the vaccines through his practice but has 
heard nothing back.Patients “are frustrated that they do not have
 clear answers and that I am not being given clear answers to provide 
them,” he said. “We have no choice but to direct them to the health 
department and some of the hospital systems.”Another troubling 
point for Goldman, who served as a liaison between the American College 
of Physicians and the expert panel drawing up the CDC distribution 
guidelines, is the tremendous variation in how those recommendations are
 being implemented in the states.The CDC <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/recommendations-process.html" target="_blank">recommends</a>
 several phases, with front-line health care workers and nursing home 
residents and staff in the initial group. Then, in the second part of 
that phase, come people over 75 and non-health care front-line workers, 
which could include first responders, teachers and other designated 
essential workers.States have the flexibility to design their own
 rollout schedule and priority groups. Florida, for example, is offering
 doses to anyone 65 and up. In some counties, older folks were told 
vaccines were available on a first-come, first-served basis, a move that
 has resulted in long lines.“To say right now, 65-plus, when you 
haven’t even appropriately vaccinated all the health care workers, is 
negating the phasing,” said Goldman. “There needs to be a national 
standard. We have those guidelines. We need to come up with some 
oversight.”On Thursday, the American Hospital Association echoed 
that concern in a letter to Health and Human Services Secretary Alex 
Azar. Hospitals — along with health departments and large pharmacy 
chains — are doing the bulk of the vaccinations.Calling for additional coordination by federal officials, the <a href="https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/01/aha-hhs-leadership-actions-needed-expedite-administration-covid-19-vaccines-lettetr-1-7-20.pdf" target="_blank">letter</a>
 outlined what it would take to reach the goal of vaccinating 75% of 
Americans by the end of May: 1.8 million vaccinations every day. Noting 
there are 64 different rollout plans from states, cities and other 
jurisdictions, the letter asked whether HHS has “assessed whether these 
plans, taken as a whole, are capable of achieving this level of 
vaccination?”<h2>Making It Work</h2>Lack of direct national 
support or strategy means each county is essentially on its own, with 
success or failure affected by available resources and the experience of
 local officials. Most state and local health departments are 
underfunded and are under intense pressure because of the surging 
pandemic.Still, the success of vaccination efforts depends on planning, preparation and clear communication.In
 Lorain County, Ohio, population 310,000, local officials started 
practicing in October, said Mark Adams, deputy health commissioner. They
 set up mass vaccination clinics for influenza to study what would be 
needed for a covid vaccination effort. How many staff? What would the 
traffic flow be like? Could patients be kept 6 feet apart?“That 
gave us an idea of what is good, what is bad and what needs to change,” 
said Adams, who has had previous experience coordinating mass 
vaccination efforts at a county level.So, when the county got its
 first shipment of 500 doses Dec. 21, Adams had his plan ready. He 
called the fire chiefs to invite all emergency medical technicians and 
affiliated personnel to an ad hoc vaccination center set up at a large 
entertainment venue staffed by his health department. Upon arrival, 
people were greeted at the door and directed to spaced-apart “lanes” 
where they would get their shots, then to a monitoring area where they 
could wait for 15 minutes to make sure they didn’t have a reaction.Right
 after Christmas, another 400 doses arrived — and the makeshift clinic 
opened again. This time, doses went to community-based physicians, 
dentists and other hands-on medical practitioners, 600 of whom had 
previously signed up. (Hospital workers and nursing home staff and 
residents are getting their vaccinations through their own 
institutions.)As they move into the next phase — recipients 
include residents over 80, people with developmental disorders and 
school staff — the challenges will grow, he said. The county plans a 
multipronged approach to notify people when it’s their turn, including 
use of a website, the local media, churches, other organizations and 
word-of-mouth.Adams shares the concerns of medical providers 
nationwide: He gets only two days’ notice of how many doses he’s going 
to receive and, at the current pace of 400 or 500 doses a week, it’s 
going to take a while before most residents in the county have a chance 
to get a shot, including the estimated 33,000 people 65 and older.With
 10 nurses, his clinic can inject about 1,200 people a day. But many 
other health professionals have volunteered to administer the shots if 
he gets more doses.“If I were to run three clinics, five days a 
week, I could do 15,000 vaccinations a week,” Adams said. “With all the 
volunteers, I could do almost six clinics, or 30,000 a week.”Still,
 for those in the last public group, those age 18 and up without 
underlying medical conditions, “it could be summer,” Adams said.<a href="http://www.kaiserhealthnews.org/" target="_blank">Kaiser Health News</a>&nbsp;is a national health policy news service. It is an editorially independent program of the <a href="http://www.kff.org/" target="_blank">Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation</a> which is not affiliated with Kaiser Permanente.

Private practice docs, patients wonder when it’s their turn for vaccine 

With another week of testing complete, Salina Presbyterian Manor reports seven new cases of COVID-19 at the campus.

One PATH® (Post-Acute to Home) program resident tested positive during weekly resident testing for COVID-19, and a second resident in the PATH program tested positive with a rapid point-of-care test after exhibiting signs and symptoms. The residents were placed in COVID-19 isolation to be cared for by designated team members following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols and physician’s orders, a news release from Presbyterian Manor noted.

An independent living resident also tested positive with a rapid POC test after exhibiting signs and symptoms of the virus. The resident will self-isolate in their apartment until they meet the KDHE and CDC guidelines for leaving isolation following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.

“Our efforts to keep COVID-19 out of our building continue,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s vice president for health and wellness and infection preventionist. “The two-week rolling average for positive COVID-19 tests in Saline County dropped significantly, and is now hovering just above 10-percent. This virus is highly contagious, and it is vitally important that everyone in the surrounding communities continue to do their part to reduce the spread.”

Three essential health care workers tested positive with rapid point-of-care tests this week and one non-direct resident care employee tested positive in the community’s employee surveillance testing on Wednesday, January 13. The essential health care employees last worked January 10, and the non-direct resident care employee last worked January 13. The employees had passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required.

The residents will recover in isolation until they meet CDC and KDHE guidelines for leaving isolation. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic residents may leave isolation when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of the resident’s fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and the resident’s symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive residents will quarantine for at least 10 days.

The COVID positive employees will quarantine at home and will not be allowed to work until they meet CDC and KDHE guidelines for when they may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic employees may return to work when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of their fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and their symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive employees or contractors will quarantine for at least 10 days. Upon the employee’s return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.

The facility's next round of testing will be, Monday. Employees will be tested twice a week for surveillance testing and residents once a week, the news release noted.

With another week of testing complete, Salina Presbyterian Manor reports seven new cases of COVID-19 at the campus.One PATH® (Post-Acute to Home) program resident tested positive during weekly resident testing for COVID-19, and a second resident in the PATH program tested positive with a rapid point-of-care test after exhibiting signs and symptoms. The residents were placed in COVID-19 isolation to be cared for by designated team members following Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) protocols and physician’s orders, a news release from Presbyterian Manor noted.An independent living resident also tested positive with a rapid POC test after exhibiting signs and symptoms of the virus. The resident will self-isolate in their apartment until they meet the KDHE and CDC guidelines for leaving isolation following a positive COVID-19 diagnosis.“Our efforts to keep COVID-19 out of our building continue,” said Jeanne Gerstenkorn, PMMA’s vice president for health and wellness and infection preventionist. “The two-week rolling average for positive COVID-19 tests in Saline County dropped significantly, and is now hovering just above 10-percent. This virus is highly contagious, and it is vitally important that everyone in the surrounding communities continue to do their part to reduce the spread.”Three essential health care workers tested positive with rapid point-of-care tests this week and one non-direct resident care employee tested positive in the community’s employee surveillance testing on Wednesday, January 13. The essential health care employees last worked January 10, and the non-direct resident care employee last worked January 13. The employees had passed pre-shift screening and wore personal protective equipment as required.The residents will recover in isolation until they meet CDC and KDHE guidelines for leaving isolation. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic residents may leave isolation when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of the resident’s fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and the resident’s symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive residents will quarantine for at least 10 days.The COVID positive employees will quarantine at home and will not be allowed to work until they meet CDC and KDHE guidelines for when they may return to work. Under the current guidelines, symptomatic employees may return to work when at least 72 hours have passed since resolution of their fever without the use of fever-reducing medications and their symptoms have improved and at least 10 days have passed since symptoms first appeared. Asymptomatic positive employees or contractors will quarantine for at least 10 days. Upon the employee’s return to work, we will follow CDC recommendations related to work practices and restrictions.The facility's next round of testing will be, Monday. Employees will be tested twice a week for surveillance testing and residents once a week, the news release noted.

Presbyterian Manor reports 7 new cases of COVID-19

Here's the Saline County COVID-19 update for Friday:

Sadly, we have been notified of three additional deaths due to COVID-19 since our last update on January 13. Eighty-three members of our community have lost their lives to this virus.&nbsp;Salina Regional Health Center notified us that they currently have 23 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

There have been 103 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Saline County since January 13. The total number of positive cases for Saline County has risen to 5,076.

The Health Department staff are now actively monitoring 1,805 cases. At least 3,188 have recovered. Our dashboard has been updated with the latest information:

●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ccad98556b7a46648616706b9f3e9cc4">Mobile Device Users</a>

●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4c3ee372c5704546b7771da303afd0a7">Desktop Users</a>

This is an ever-evolving situation. Please continue to follow official sources to obtain the most accurate information possible.

If you have tested positive or you are known to be a close contact, please do not call the Health Department unless it has been at least five days since you received your results and you have not heard from us. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence. Please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RzpnOWnmiQiV6KvmR7n9IxKe2jfT-8eN_DdxGOle8pwoGf6a5-3iB4wPZXY3LRPNIEkpMkgoAU7HgY56-5aa3iACRy8NkfrJRTMdzyDu7lqg6OKQIyRvhojHOKR100CGXyC6GjovHIY94p2s8QYutMm91CqpBouY&amp;c=ZhTEf8FsqJI7whXJFtn-P5QJsdIMjrSftqLt7vRXxU5BhB7CZMkppw==&amp;ch=5Ud6WI6qHcAHpUwTlnPZS8iEjdpUfkMNX3oIx0Va6PQcWFehWBjlSg==" target="_blank">FAQ Section</a>&nbsp;for additional questions.

Health Department staff continue to be overwhelmed and several days behind with contacting new positive cases and close contacts and we are unable to produce the necessary documentation immediately. We have added staff and some cases being routed to contact tracers at KDHE, but with cases rising every day we continue to be behind. Thank you for your patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RzpnOWnmiQiV6KvmR7n9IxKe2jfT-8eN_DdxGOle8pwoGf6a5-3iB4wPZXY3LRPNPvRmyU_NkBmnBz1zpn-2NHHlibpA_O0ThqZNlPCvOR2WyoM5mdgjZKq2J9lE-B8uM9MN18ju2n-ZRkeoC2WrakWrotRoloup&amp;c=ZhTEf8FsqJI7whXJFtn-P5QJsdIMjrSftqLt7vRXxU5BhB7CZMkppw==&amp;ch=5Ud6WI6qHcAHpUwTlnPZS8iEjdpUfkMNX3oIx0Va6PQcWFehWBjlSg==" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment Coronavirus Website</a>, there are now 256,134 cases and 3,502 deaths statewide.

Following the proven public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to be extremely important for everyone to do. Please:&nbsp;

1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water.&nbsp;

2. Maintain physical distance between yourself and others of at least 6 feet or more.&nbsp;

3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.&nbsp;

4. By Public Health Order, gatherings are limited to 15 persons or less (with certain exceptions for establishments).&nbsp;

5. Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, handles, cell phones, tablets, etc.

6. Stay home if you are sick. Regardless if you think it may be a cold, it could be allergies, but it also could be something worse.&nbsp;

Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RzpnOWnmiQiV6KvmR7n9IxKe2jfT-8eN_DdxGOle8pwoGf6a5-3iB4wPZXY3LRPNDxZovRhwV1nwLAd4v3GGWuF6FbR0IBHrpZiKfycRhCnNZfjaVOk-Wfg8-lhsF1JzmvYv0gZ16Xn6hqpRPhpA7my9DEg2FJ1l&amp;c=ZhTEf8FsqJI7whXJFtn-P5QJsdIMjrSftqLt7vRXxU5BhB7CZMkppw==&amp;ch=5Ud6WI6qHcAHpUwTlnPZS8iEjdpUfkMNX3oIx0Va6PQcWFehWBjlSg==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RzpnOWnmiQiV6KvmR7n9IxKe2jfT-8eN_DdxGOle8pwoGf6a5-3iB4wPZXY3LRPNuWYhY-jy9n-NwiaU5zLwQ8j6h8gLrNHKOBMlRRuozAz-tq9IQofsVLeyT9jTPhlnQz4bp9PnuI8=&amp;c=ZhTEf8FsqJI7whXJFtn-P5QJsdIMjrSftqLt7vRXxU5BhB7CZMkppw==&amp;ch=5Ud6WI6qHcAHpUwTlnPZS8iEjdpUfkMNX3oIx0Va6PQcWFehWBjlSg==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610748421692.png" alt="Saline County COVID19 update 1152021.png" />
 <figcaption>Saline County COVID19 update 1152021.png</figcaption>
 </figure>Here's the Saline County COVID-19 update for Friday:Sadly, we have been notified of three additional deaths due to COVID-19 since our last update on January 13. Eighty-three members of our community have lost their lives to this virus.&nbsp;Salina Regional Health Center notified us that they currently have 23 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. There have been 103 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Saline County since January 13. The total number of positive cases for Saline County has risen to 5,076. The Health Department staff are now actively monitoring 1,805 cases. At least 3,188 have recovered. Our dashboard has been updated with the latest information:●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ccad98556b7a46648616706b9f3e9cc4">Mobile Device Users</a>●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4c3ee372c5704546b7771da303afd0a7">Desktop Users</a> This is an ever-evolving situation. Please continue to follow official sources to obtain the most accurate information possible. If you have tested positive or you are known to be a close contact, please do not call the Health Department unless it has been at least five days since you received your results and you have not heard from us. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence. Please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RzpnOWnmiQiV6KvmR7n9IxKe2jfT-8eN_DdxGOle8pwoGf6a5-3iB4wPZXY3LRPNIEkpMkgoAU7HgY56-5aa3iACRy8NkfrJRTMdzyDu7lqg6OKQIyRvhojHOKR100CGXyC6GjovHIY94p2s8QYutMm91CqpBouY&amp;c=ZhTEf8FsqJI7whXJFtn-P5QJsdIMjrSftqLt7vRXxU5BhB7CZMkppw==&amp;ch=5Ud6WI6qHcAHpUwTlnPZS8iEjdpUfkMNX3oIx0Va6PQcWFehWBjlSg==" target="_blank">FAQ Section</a>&nbsp;for additional questions. Health Department staff continue to be overwhelmed and several days behind with contacting new positive cases and close contacts and we are unable to produce the necessary documentation immediately. We have added staff and some cases being routed to contact tracers at KDHE, but with cases rising every day we continue to be behind. Thank you for your patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RzpnOWnmiQiV6KvmR7n9IxKe2jfT-8eN_DdxGOle8pwoGf6a5-3iB4wPZXY3LRPNPvRmyU_NkBmnBz1zpn-2NHHlibpA_O0ThqZNlPCvOR2WyoM5mdgjZKq2J9lE-B8uM9MN18ju2n-ZRkeoC2WrakWrotRoloup&amp;c=ZhTEf8FsqJI7whXJFtn-P5QJsdIMjrSftqLt7vRXxU5BhB7CZMkppw==&amp;ch=5Ud6WI6qHcAHpUwTlnPZS8iEjdpUfkMNX3oIx0Va6PQcWFehWBjlSg==" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment Coronavirus Website</a>, there are now 256,134 cases and 3,502 deaths statewide.

Following the proven public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to be extremely important for everyone to do. Please:&nbsp;1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water.&nbsp;2. Maintain physical distance between yourself and others of at least 6 feet or more.&nbsp;3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.&nbsp;4. By Public Health Order, gatherings are limited to 15 persons or less (with certain exceptions for establishments).&nbsp;5. Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, handles, cell phones, tablets, etc.6. Stay home if you are sick. Regardless if you think it may be a cold, it could be allergies, but it also could be something worse.&nbsp; Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RzpnOWnmiQiV6KvmR7n9IxKe2jfT-8eN_DdxGOle8pwoGf6a5-3iB4wPZXY3LRPNDxZovRhwV1nwLAd4v3GGWuF6FbR0IBHrpZiKfycRhCnNZfjaVOk-Wfg8-lhsF1JzmvYv0gZ16Xn6hqpRPhpA7my9DEg2FJ1l&amp;c=ZhTEf8FsqJI7whXJFtn-P5QJsdIMjrSftqLt7vRXxU5BhB7CZMkppw==&amp;ch=5Ud6WI6qHcAHpUwTlnPZS8iEjdpUfkMNX3oIx0Va6PQcWFehWBjlSg==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001RzpnOWnmiQiV6KvmR7n9IxKe2jfT-8eN_DdxGOle8pwoGf6a5-3iB4wPZXY3LRPNuWYhY-jy9n-NwiaU5zLwQ8j6h8gLrNHKOBMlRRuozAz-tq9IQofsVLeyT9jTPhlnQz4bp9PnuI8=&amp;c=ZhTEf8FsqJI7whXJFtn-P5QJsdIMjrSftqLt7vRXxU5BhB7CZMkppw==&amp;ch=5Ud6WI6qHcAHpUwTlnPZS8iEjdpUfkMNX3oIx0Va6PQcWFehWBjlSg==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

Saline County: 3 more deaths, 103 new cases of COVID-19

Here is the Saline County COVID-19 vaccine update for Thursday:

●A semi-permanent centralized vaccination location is under construction. Based on vaccine supply, this site will open next week to Phase 1 healthcare workers on the waiting list.

●A community vaccination scheduling website is under construction and will be available to Phase 1 and 2 populations as they become eligible.

●KDHE has requested any county who has excess vaccines after completing their Phase 1 vaccinations send those additional vaccines to other counties in Kansas who need them to complete their Phase 1 vaccinations.

●Our ability to vaccinate our population is dependent upon the number and frequency with which we receive vaccines from KDHE.

●Thus far, more than 1,600 Phase 1 healthcare workers have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00148C0sG75Jb1DSwigntQJtPiOE_jAm1JxrKWwcnehYty-RWbO3zxMN-VmzrR7VGk-AvElVJjIIibbilI_-Ha3HthtZDE_lOL3dcoBWtxFNta91UYkIHs8qqzoyYCxQYwBzkHVEmHolJEfLLyqyK60fXq_neOToTZ4&amp;c=nt1nOqBWnZhWzZc0P2NveyTAk2xQn59aHuUiSIZyDk20CDnrSxK-hw==&amp;ch=NthxFu4QhXhfaZ3E3dX-D4AF869ZxQTsHRSAUcdNgvD9bfd_YGEvkw==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00148C0sG75Jb1DSwigntQJtPiOE_jAm1JxrKWwcnehYty-RWbO3zxMN-VmzrR7VGk-_TNcE4E_cL_XkiUhP64wZqp3i8xfj4VvQA5r3kzfd6bvprROpfMIt-sS8EzAUDdLsOyQ0rElcDw=&amp;c=nt1nOqBWnZhWzZc0P2NveyTAk2xQn59aHuUiSIZyDk20CDnrSxK-hw==&amp;ch=NthxFu4QhXhfaZ3E3dX-D4AF869ZxQTsHRSAUcdNgvD9bfd_YGEvkw==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

Here is the Saline County COVID-19 vaccine update for Thursday:●A semi-permanent centralized vaccination location is under construction. Based on vaccine supply, this site will open next week to Phase 1 healthcare workers on the waiting list.●A community vaccination scheduling website is under construction and will be available to Phase 1 and 2 populations as they become eligible.●KDHE has requested any county who has excess vaccines after completing their Phase 1 vaccinations send those additional vaccines to other counties in Kansas who need them to complete their Phase 1 vaccinations.●Our ability to vaccinate our population is dependent upon the number and frequency with which we receive vaccines from KDHE.●Thus far, more than 1,600 Phase 1 healthcare workers have received the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.Following the proven public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to be extremely important for everyone to do. Please:&nbsp;1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water.&nbsp;2. Maintain physical distance between yourself and others of at least 6 feet or more.&nbsp;3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.&nbsp;4. By Public Health Order, gatherings are limited to 15 persons or less (with certain exceptions for establishments).&nbsp;5. Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, handles, cell phones, tablets, etc.6. Stay home if you are sick. Regardless if you think it may be a cold, it could be allergies, but it also could be something worse.&nbsp; Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00148C0sG75Jb1DSwigntQJtPiOE_jAm1JxrKWwcnehYty-RWbO3zxMN-VmzrR7VGk-AvElVJjIIibbilI_-Ha3HthtZDE_lOL3dcoBWtxFNta91UYkIHs8qqzoyYCxQYwBzkHVEmHolJEfLLyqyK60fXq_neOToTZ4&amp;c=nt1nOqBWnZhWzZc0P2NveyTAk2xQn59aHuUiSIZyDk20CDnrSxK-hw==&amp;ch=NthxFu4QhXhfaZ3E3dX-D4AF869ZxQTsHRSAUcdNgvD9bfd_YGEvkw==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=00148C0sG75Jb1DSwigntQJtPiOE_jAm1JxrKWwcnehYty-RWbO3zxMN-VmzrR7VGk-_TNcE4E_cL_XkiUhP64wZqp3i8xfj4VvQA5r3kzfd6bvprROpfMIt-sS8EzAUDdLsOyQ0rElcDw=&amp;c=nt1nOqBWnZhWzZc0P2NveyTAk2xQn59aHuUiSIZyDk20CDnrSxK-hw==&amp;ch=NthxFu4QhXhfaZ3E3dX-D4AF869ZxQTsHRSAUcdNgvD9bfd_YGEvkw==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

Saline County: Semi-permanent vaccination site under construction

Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update from Saline County.

Sadly, we have been notified of two additional deaths due to COVID-19 since our last update on January 11. Eighty members of our community have lost their lives to this virus.&nbsp;Salina Regional Health Center notified us that they currently have 25 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

There have been 125 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Saline County since January 11. The total number of positive cases for Saline County has risen to 4,973.

The Health Department staff are now actively monitoring 1,859 cases. At least 3,034 have recovered. Our dashboard has been updated with the latest information:

●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ccad98556b7a46648616706b9f3e9cc4">Mobile Device Users</a>

If you have tested positive or you are known to be a close contact, please do not call the Health Department unless it has been at least five days since you received your results and you have not heard from us. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence. Please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001yI4BgLMOpJGFie8modQfxO_rDCETH5aeZJ0tX_f2Js5jk2phFAkd-P9sLFf-akZWyneM0Etyn3EyBvSM7VaMRDnD41kdoOMCFCM5P4TLTu2wAnlpAcRtHK55HVuGH9ZFu-9n3eJplQ52SvpaZ2pEuSS5Mxgkeg72&amp;c=dXauQ_czyj7PFUsqi_U__Rz595Kpzlsr0ouzZprVPZnh8C7kaI6UoA==&amp;ch=ZWD77SbVTuJYi4YR4B7pc9wsMIeM_5nU9FISRxUm6LlWF4IwDBXsOw==" target="_blank">FAQ Section</a>&nbsp;for additional questions.

Health Department staff continue to be overwhelmed and several days behind with contacting new positive cases and close contacts and we are unable to produce the necessary documentation immediately. We have added staff and some cases being routed to contact tracers at KDHE, but with cases rising every day we continue to be behind. Thank you for your patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001yI4BgLMOpJGFie8modQfxO_rDCETH5aeZJ0tX_f2Js5jk2phFAkd-P9sLFf-akZW89DM_CRhljA-W6B4Nor4S0xL6-N_9byrso8QV1Z1C26VbdQ9oC8H-7FLK8DKNlWJzQZcmibnpDEminN0finki4m_WdsX35z7&amp;c=dXauQ_czyj7PFUsqi_U__Rz595Kpzlsr0ouzZprVPZnh8C7kaI6UoA==&amp;ch=ZWD77SbVTuJYi4YR4B7pc9wsMIeM_5nU9FISRxUm6LlWF4IwDBXsOw==" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment Coronavirus Website</a>, there are now 252,041 cases and 3,355 deaths statewide.

Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001yI4BgLMOpJGFie8modQfxO_rDCETH5aeZJ0tX_f2Js5jk2phFAkd-P9sLFf-akZW2q-mY3yZtBcq6dOxF9_lSTFZroq5hIFOxODygk-a0NA68E-5Q68B5pDIKPZYA-YistN3r0jcD9c8ZvhV78KQdnbAsabqWjei&amp;c=dXauQ_czyj7PFUsqi_U__Rz595Kpzlsr0ouzZprVPZnh8C7kaI6UoA==&amp;ch=ZWD77SbVTuJYi4YR4B7pc9wsMIeM_5nU9FISRxUm6LlWF4IwDBXsOw==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001yI4BgLMOpJGFie8modQfxO_rDCETH5aeZJ0tX_f2Js5jk2phFAkd-P9sLFf-akZWTtP9Hwe_o4WPEomvrAWMYGb9X8gxc9yDB7N9Tmgm4Vkz61UZJrGqj4i8GxB6YTITVY6bxoxyXMM=&amp;c=dXauQ_czyj7PFUsqi_U__Rz595Kpzlsr0ouzZprVPZnh8C7kaI6UoA==&amp;ch=ZWD77SbVTuJYi4YR4B7pc9wsMIeM_5nU9FISRxUm6LlWF4IwDBXsOw==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610575854396.png" alt="Image courtesy Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Image courtesy Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update from Saline County.Sadly, we have been notified of two additional deaths due to COVID-19 since our last update on January 11. Eighty members of our community have lost their lives to this virus.&nbsp;Salina Regional Health Center notified us that they currently have 25 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. There have been 125 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Saline County since January 11. The total number of positive cases for Saline County has risen to 4,973. The Health Department staff are now actively monitoring 1,859 cases. At least 3,034 have recovered. Our dashboard has been updated with the latest information: ●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ccad98556b7a46648616706b9f3e9cc4">Mobile Device Users</a>●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4c3ee372c5704546b7771da303afd0a7">Desktop Users</a> This is an ever-evolving situation. Please continue to follow official sources to obtain the most accurate information possible. If you have tested positive or you are known to be a close contact, please do not call the Health Department unless it has been at least five days since you received your results and you have not heard from us. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence. Please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001yI4BgLMOpJGFie8modQfxO_rDCETH5aeZJ0tX_f2Js5jk2phFAkd-P9sLFf-akZWyneM0Etyn3EyBvSM7VaMRDnD41kdoOMCFCM5P4TLTu2wAnlpAcRtHK55HVuGH9ZFu-9n3eJplQ52SvpaZ2pEuSS5Mxgkeg72&amp;c=dXauQ_czyj7PFUsqi_U__Rz595Kpzlsr0ouzZprVPZnh8C7kaI6UoA==&amp;ch=ZWD77SbVTuJYi4YR4B7pc9wsMIeM_5nU9FISRxUm6LlWF4IwDBXsOw==" target="_blank">FAQ Section</a>&nbsp;for additional questions. Health Department staff continue to be overwhelmed and several days behind with contacting new positive cases and close contacts and we are unable to produce the necessary documentation immediately. We have added staff and some cases being routed to contact tracers at KDHE, but with cases rising every day we continue to be behind. Thank you for your patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001yI4BgLMOpJGFie8modQfxO_rDCETH5aeZJ0tX_f2Js5jk2phFAkd-P9sLFf-akZW89DM_CRhljA-W6B4Nor4S0xL6-N_9byrso8QV1Z1C26VbdQ9oC8H-7FLK8DKNlWJzQZcmibnpDEminN0finki4m_WdsX35z7&amp;c=dXauQ_czyj7PFUsqi_U__Rz595Kpzlsr0ouzZprVPZnh8C7kaI6UoA==&amp;ch=ZWD77SbVTuJYi4YR4B7pc9wsMIeM_5nU9FISRxUm6LlWF4IwDBXsOw==" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment Coronavirus Website</a>, there are now 252,041 cases and 3,355 deaths statewide.

Following the proven public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to be extremely important for everyone to do. Please:&nbsp;1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water.&nbsp;2. Maintain physical distance between yourself and others of at least 6 feet or more.&nbsp;3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.&nbsp;4. By Public Health Order, gatherings are limited to 15 persons or less (with certain exceptions for establishments).&nbsp;5. Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, handles, cell phones, tablets, etc.6. Stay home if you are sick. Regardless if you think it may be a cold, it could be allergies, but it also could be something worse.&nbsp; Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001yI4BgLMOpJGFie8modQfxO_rDCETH5aeZJ0tX_f2Js5jk2phFAkd-P9sLFf-akZW2q-mY3yZtBcq6dOxF9_lSTFZroq5hIFOxODygk-a0NA68E-5Q68B5pDIKPZYA-YistN3r0jcD9c8ZvhV78KQdnbAsabqWjei&amp;c=dXauQ_czyj7PFUsqi_U__Rz595Kpzlsr0ouzZprVPZnh8C7kaI6UoA==&amp;ch=ZWD77SbVTuJYi4YR4B7pc9wsMIeM_5nU9FISRxUm6LlWF4IwDBXsOw==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001yI4BgLMOpJGFie8modQfxO_rDCETH5aeZJ0tX_f2Js5jk2phFAkd-P9sLFf-akZWTtP9Hwe_o4WPEomvrAWMYGb9X8gxc9yDB7N9Tmgm4Vkz61UZJrGqj4i8GxB6YTITVY6bxoxyXMM=&amp;c=dXauQ_czyj7PFUsqi_U__Rz595Kpzlsr0ouzZprVPZnh8C7kaI6UoA==&amp;ch=ZWD77SbVTuJYi4YR4B7pc9wsMIeM_5nU9FISRxUm6LlWF4IwDBXsOw==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

Saline County: Two additional deaths, 125 new COVID-19 cases

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department today reported 113 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 2,730.

Of that total, 1,524 cases have either met recovery guidelines or died, and 18 active cases are hospitalized, the health department noted.

• New cases since last public release: 113

• Deaths: 44 -Male: 86, 90, 96, 78, 90, 81, 66, 39, 91, 92, 52, 80, 30, 72, 82, 88, 85, 77, 89, 82, 78, 64, 85, 86, 48, 87, 92, 61, 85, 80 -Female: 92, 89, 94, 66, 82, 91, 84, 90, 89, 81, 62, 83, 62, 98

MCPHERSON -- The McPherson County Health Department today reported 113 new confirmed cases of COVID-19, bringing the county total to 2,730.Of that total, 1,524 cases have either met recovery guidelines or died, and 18 active cases are hospitalized, the health department noted.Following is the updated case data as provided by the health department.• New cases since last public release: 113• Asymptomatic: 61• Unknown exposure: 1266• Cases 60 years old and above: 861• Cases 50-59 years old: 374• Cases 40-49 years old: 347• Cases 30-39 years old: 338• Cases 18-29 years old: 551• Cases under 18 years old: 259• Female cases: 1441• Male cases: 1289• Total hospitalizations: 107• Total ventilated cases: 13• Deaths: 44 -Male: 86, 90, 96, 78, 90, 81, 66, 39, 91, 92, 52, 80, 30, 72, 82, 88, 85, 77, 89, 82, 78, 64, 85, 86, 48, 87, 92, 61, 85, 80 -Female: 92, 89, 94, 66, 82, 91, 84, 90, 89, 81, 62, 83, 62, 98

McPherson County reports 113 new cases of COVID-19

Here's the Saline County COVID-19 vaccination report for Tuesday:

●Saline County is currently in Phase 1 of vaccine distribution. (Note from Salina Post: According to an earlier COVID-19 vaccination update from Saline County, Phase 1 includes healthcare workers, long-term care employees and patients, and EMS.)

●Phase 1 will last at least until the end of January.

●No county in Kansas will move into Phase 2 until all counties have finished Phase 1.

●The Saline County Health Department has secured a location for a semi-permanent vaccination clinic.

●The Health Department continues to be overwhelmed with calls inquiring about when vaccines will be made available for those outside of the Phase 1 group. This places and excess burden on our staff and impedes our ability to serve our community. The Health Department will release information about Phase 2 to the public as soon as it is available.

3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.

Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001drRHjGi1VOMg9kxCqa542fF6xDF7-WunLz0Lhm1r2mPinGJTDMjRkBvXVC7Kvx0kaErP2sj7hOgguDlYHPXWr5WKLhI1JZ1qIBzgDlBox_uOQ5eSymVDtbq0_vPo-dnPQeOCCC8xmAGNKFYkAN_0UlUiHPq_wo3t&amp;c=n2DAZt3E9Cx2OCU4GHVXH2Ya6GIIOZOf4dBKBY0EANVRHVlTo22row==&amp;ch=pFBElVwxYMghLdt_CdtZkxH1xCuNCygKYO3c_fpCJTu8OP0ctWmb8g==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001drRHjGi1VOMg9kxCqa542fF6xDF7-WunLz0Lhm1r2mPinGJTDMjRkBvXVC7Kvx0kSfyO3oI2s3JqZsKPdO58z7LBbo_ycepR79iMpPUtYF-htNE0CgI6x3vDG1eXV_AzeVEDHs3G-IM=&amp;c=n2DAZt3E9Cx2OCU4GHVXH2Ya6GIIOZOf4dBKBY0EANVRHVlTo22row==&amp;ch=pFBElVwxYMghLdt_CdtZkxH1xCuNCygKYO3c_fpCJTu8OP0ctWmb8g==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610491546465.png" alt="Chart from KDHE courtesy Saline County" />
 <figcaption>Chart from KDHE courtesy Saline County</figcaption>
 </figure>Here's the Saline County COVID-19 vaccination report for Tuesday:●Saline County is currently in Phase 1 of vaccine distribution. (Note from Salina Post: According to an earlier COVID-19 vaccination update from Saline County, Phase 1 includes healthcare workers, long-term care employees and patients, and EMS.)●Phase 1 will last at least until the end of January.●No county in Kansas will move into Phase 2 until all counties have finished Phase 1.●The Saline County Health Department has secured a location for a semi-permanent vaccination clinic.●The Health Department continues to be overwhelmed with calls inquiring about when vaccines will be made available for those outside of the Phase 1 group. This places and excess burden on our staff and impedes our ability to serve our community. The Health Department will release information about Phase 2 to the public as soon as it is available.Following the proven public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to be extremely important for everyone to do. Please:&nbsp;1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water.&nbsp;2. Maintain physical distance between yourself and others of at least 6 feet or more.&nbsp;3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.4. By Public Health Order, gatherings are limited to 15 persons or less (with certain exceptions for establishments).&nbsp;5. Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, handles, cell phones, tablets, etc.6. Stay home if you are sick. Regardless if you think it may be a cold, it could be allergies, but it also could be something worse.&nbsp; Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001drRHjGi1VOMg9kxCqa542fF6xDF7-WunLz0Lhm1r2mPinGJTDMjRkBvXVC7Kvx0kaErP2sj7hOgguDlYHPXWr5WKLhI1JZ1qIBzgDlBox_uOQ5eSymVDtbq0_vPo-dnPQeOCCC8xmAGNKFYkAN_0UlUiHPq_wo3t&amp;c=n2DAZt3E9Cx2OCU4GHVXH2Ya6GIIOZOf4dBKBY0EANVRHVlTo22row==&amp;ch=pFBElVwxYMghLdt_CdtZkxH1xCuNCygKYO3c_fpCJTu8OP0ctWmb8g==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001drRHjGi1VOMg9kxCqa542fF6xDF7-WunLz0Lhm1r2mPinGJTDMjRkBvXVC7Kvx0kSfyO3oI2s3JqZsKPdO58z7LBbo_ycepR79iMpPUtYF-htNE0CgI6x3vDG1eXV_AzeVEDHs3G-IM=&amp;c=n2DAZt3E9Cx2OCU4GHVXH2Ya6GIIOZOf4dBKBY0EANVRHVlTo22row==&amp;ch=pFBElVwxYMghLdt_CdtZkxH1xCuNCygKYO3c_fpCJTu8OP0ctWmb8g==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

Saline County remains in Phase 1 of vaccine distribution

Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Monday.

Sadly, we have been notified of four additional deaths due to COVID-19 since our last update on January 8. Seventy-eight members of our community have lost their lives to this virus.&nbsp;Salina Regional Health Center notified us that they currently have 27 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

There have been 110 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Saline County since January 8. The total number of positive cases for Saline County has risen to 4,848.

The Health Department staff are now actively monitoring 1,935 cases. At least 2,835 have recovered. Our dashboard has been updated with the latest information:

This is an ever-evolving situation. Please continue to follow official sources to obtain the most accurate information possible.

If you have tested positive or you are known to be a close contact, please do not call the Health Department unless it has been at least five days since you received your results and you have not heard from us. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence. Please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012m-pqAr4goHg7nAt1JjI9MGIuOZHnyzJlWqTI-PTw1WQSRYFQraUssBnLjVBVdPBmW8SRO7P1NGjnlowitd043uxjzH4H60SpHu0AymUzL0gf0ainz1i48QWUk_ABceUe23eAouVNLjNT8TCXWPNBr_dzOGq17UK&amp;c=BekbDbwd0KyUvDlyaK7pnHL_IZ2p0ucLYz11DiJ0P9MMATfFsvzOCw==&amp;ch=fYpzShM8GXUZeMj29EcBwJgSPEyzEkhWB5gorY--ii54l-uS0JghwA==" target="_blank">FAQ Section</a>&nbsp;for additional questions.

Health Department staff continue to be overwhelmed and several days behind with contacting new positive cases and close contacts and we are unable to produce the necessary documentation immediately. We have added staff and some cases being routed to contact tracers at KDHE, but with cases rising every day we continue to be behind. Thank you for your patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012m-pqAr4goHg7nAt1JjI9MGIuOZHnyzJlWqTI-PTw1WQSRYFQraUssBnLjVBVdPBKS0plBcECw2hZUJftUytymViVC28DCTt8D6GceO73aPxdU1a-qhxKV3vTa3Jf8lpkYvwH3rzos9UUg4cJrOnALmpKhSzXvDP&amp;c=BekbDbwd0KyUvDlyaK7pnHL_IZ2p0ucLYz11DiJ0P9MMATfFsvzOCw==&amp;ch=fYpzShM8GXUZeMj29EcBwJgSPEyzEkhWB5gorY--ii54l-uS0JghwA==" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment Coronavirus Website</a>, there are now 247,502 cases and 3,255 deaths statewide.

Following the proven public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to be extremely important for everyone to do. Please:&nbsp;

1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water.&nbsp;

2. Maintain physical distance between yourself and others of at least 6 feet or more.&nbsp;

3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.&nbsp;

4. By Public Health Order, gatherings are limited to 15 persons or less (with certain exceptions for establishments).&nbsp;

5. Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, handles, cell phones, tablets, etc.

6. Stay home if you are sick. Regardless if you think it may be a cold, it could be allergies, but it also could be something worse.&nbsp;

Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012m-pqAr4goHg7nAt1JjI9MGIuOZHnyzJlWqTI-PTw1WQSRYFQraUssBnLjVBVdPBJQcZTNrGA_m-HjmsdHgD4FCuO8Ev9KATzuf15Q5xor0-lpb8nEB1VFFqA0BGu9BkyPaHnvvFoKeZditma13AuzBkm0xFzIEp&amp;c=BekbDbwd0KyUvDlyaK7pnHL_IZ2p0ucLYz11DiJ0P9MMATfFsvzOCw==&amp;ch=fYpzShM8GXUZeMj29EcBwJgSPEyzEkhWB5gorY--ii54l-uS0JghwA==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012m-pqAr4goHg7nAt1JjI9MGIuOZHnyzJlWqTI-PTw1WQSRYFQraUssBnLjVBVdPBT6--V9qbUwdGN34DrquO13uO0W_kcxyfe0Z7pVBRTZ4lxvExWeDljG2jsUcycmUuB85E8XFkzKU=&amp;c=BekbDbwd0KyUvDlyaK7pnHL_IZ2p0ucLYz11DiJ0P9MMATfFsvzOCw==&amp;ch=fYpzShM8GXUZeMj29EcBwJgSPEyzEkhWB5gorY--ii54l-uS0JghwA==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610402884065.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Monday.Sadly, we have been notified of four additional deaths due to COVID-19 since our last update on January 8. Seventy-eight members of our community have lost their lives to this virus.&nbsp;Salina Regional Health Center notified us that they currently have 27 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. There have been 110 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Saline County since January 8. The total number of positive cases for Saline County has risen to 4,848. The Health Department staff are now actively monitoring 1,935 cases. At least 2,835 have recovered. Our dashboard has been updated with the latest information:●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ccad98556b7a46648616706b9f3e9cc4">Mobile Device Users</a>●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4c3ee372c5704546b7771da303afd0a7">Desktop Users</a>This is an ever-evolving situation. Please continue to follow official sources to obtain the most accurate information possible. If you have tested positive or you are known to be a close contact, please do not call the Health Department unless it has been at least five days since you received your results and you have not heard from us. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence. Please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012m-pqAr4goHg7nAt1JjI9MGIuOZHnyzJlWqTI-PTw1WQSRYFQraUssBnLjVBVdPBmW8SRO7P1NGjnlowitd043uxjzH4H60SpHu0AymUzL0gf0ainz1i48QWUk_ABceUe23eAouVNLjNT8TCXWPNBr_dzOGq17UK&amp;c=BekbDbwd0KyUvDlyaK7pnHL_IZ2p0ucLYz11DiJ0P9MMATfFsvzOCw==&amp;ch=fYpzShM8GXUZeMj29EcBwJgSPEyzEkhWB5gorY--ii54l-uS0JghwA==" target="_blank">FAQ Section</a>&nbsp;for additional questions. Health Department staff continue to be overwhelmed and several days behind with contacting new positive cases and close contacts and we are unable to produce the necessary documentation immediately. We have added staff and some cases being routed to contact tracers at KDHE, but with cases rising every day we continue to be behind. Thank you for your patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012m-pqAr4goHg7nAt1JjI9MGIuOZHnyzJlWqTI-PTw1WQSRYFQraUssBnLjVBVdPBKS0plBcECw2hZUJftUytymViVC28DCTt8D6GceO73aPxdU1a-qhxKV3vTa3Jf8lpkYvwH3rzos9UUg4cJrOnALmpKhSzXvDP&amp;c=BekbDbwd0KyUvDlyaK7pnHL_IZ2p0ucLYz11DiJ0P9MMATfFsvzOCw==&amp;ch=fYpzShM8GXUZeMj29EcBwJgSPEyzEkhWB5gorY--ii54l-uS0JghwA==" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment Coronavirus Website</a>, there are now 247,502 cases and 3,255 deaths statewide.

Following the proven public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to be extremely important for everyone to do. Please:&nbsp;1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water.&nbsp;2. Maintain physical distance between yourself and others of at least 6 feet or more.&nbsp;3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.&nbsp;4. By Public Health Order, gatherings are limited to 15 persons or less (with certain exceptions for establishments).&nbsp;5. Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, handles, cell phones, tablets, etc.6. Stay home if you are sick. Regardless if you think it may be a cold, it could be allergies, but it also could be something worse.&nbsp; Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012m-pqAr4goHg7nAt1JjI9MGIuOZHnyzJlWqTI-PTw1WQSRYFQraUssBnLjVBVdPBJQcZTNrGA_m-HjmsdHgD4FCuO8Ev9KATzuf15Q5xor0-lpb8nEB1VFFqA0BGu9BkyPaHnvvFoKeZditma13AuzBkm0xFzIEp&amp;c=BekbDbwd0KyUvDlyaK7pnHL_IZ2p0ucLYz11DiJ0P9MMATfFsvzOCw==&amp;ch=fYpzShM8GXUZeMj29EcBwJgSPEyzEkhWB5gorY--ii54l-uS0JghwA==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=0012m-pqAr4goHg7nAt1JjI9MGIuOZHnyzJlWqTI-PTw1WQSRYFQraUssBnLjVBVdPBT6--V9qbUwdGN34DrquO13uO0W_kcxyfe0Z7pVBRTZ4lxvExWeDljG2jsUcycmUuB85E8XFkzKU=&amp;c=BekbDbwd0KyUvDlyaK7pnHL_IZ2p0ucLYz11DiJ0P9MMATfFsvzOCw==&amp;ch=fYpzShM8GXUZeMj29EcBwJgSPEyzEkhWB5gorY--ii54l-uS0JghwA==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>

Saline County: 4 new deaths, 110 new cases of COVID-19

Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Friday.

Sadly, we have been notified of two additional deaths due to COVID-19 since our last update on January 6. Seventy-four members of our community have lost their lives to this virus.&nbsp;Salina Regional Health Center notified us that they currently have 34 hospitalized COVID-19 patients.

There have been 100 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Saline County since January 6. The total number of positive cases for Saline County has risen to 4,738.

The Health Department staff are now actively monitoring 1,829 cases. At least 2,835 have recovered. Our dashboard has been updated with the latest information:

This is an ever-evolving situation. Please continue to follow official sources to obtain the most accurate information possible.

If you have tested positive or you are known to be a close contact, please do not call the Health Department unless it has been at least five days since you received your results and you have not heard from us. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence. Please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s8SDhOE_dkTyQZBPSkyrqXR6tBmxSZPi40sqs5wraCO1URqgbUXY4St42LQEAuOVLQIJTRceSaNFxJ5z0FmbzdO44k3z88UZMXY3RFsdcqNtHdHhCty0Ty-w3Y1YoDPAZmgn9q6XtrpT0Lg628SfS6u_xZBTyb_T&amp;c=OErPrkQNZzUqAGWSx6mKnhYuGLC-rFiFI_FqAZXHDkw5CLvHzNiJjQ==&amp;ch=wFfhkGCHwv-fMfFXQQWp04JCS6d-nPejv4KHstzgPmfjLuqKuczVyQ==" target="_blank">FAQ Section</a>&nbsp;for additional questions.

Health Department staff continue to be overwhelmed and several days behind with contacting new positive cases and close contacts and we are unable to produce the necessary documentation immediately. We have added staff and some cases being routed to contact tracers at KDHE, but with cases rising every day we continue to be behind. Thank you for your patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s8SDhOE_dkTyQZBPSkyrqXR6tBmxSZPi40sqs5wraCO1URqgbUXY4St42LQEAuOVnXssNJjAQrag2Hvu6TyzMpQDWU3K5iRRIL_geT3kfKejasMZ5csRF237XoiEueKQSE2rdOuG8UINFYOH-2pZFwQ95fGYc8Ox&amp;c=OErPrkQNZzUqAGWSx6mKnhYuGLC-rFiFI_FqAZXHDkw5CLvHzNiJjQ==&amp;ch=wFfhkGCHwv-fMfFXQQWp04JCS6d-nPejv4KHstzgPmfjLuqKuczVyQ==" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment Coronavirus Website</a>, there are now 242,322 cases and 3,148 deaths statewide.

Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s8SDhOE_dkTyQZBPSkyrqXR6tBmxSZPi40sqs5wraCO1URqgbUXY4St42LQEAuOVbnIE7d5YbIFcJnSpMSIsYkv2kL1FDySB9bnJXnKnoHf9wqSP1TyU4bPkQwFLvjQjiBSKNI46pdG6t8K6wByTUFJ1fkMyYAG2&amp;c=OErPrkQNZzUqAGWSx6mKnhYuGLC-rFiFI_FqAZXHDkw5CLvHzNiJjQ==&amp;ch=wFfhkGCHwv-fMfFXQQWp04JCS6d-nPejv4KHstzgPmfjLuqKuczVyQ==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s8SDhOE_dkTyQZBPSkyrqXR6tBmxSZPi40sqs5wraCO1URqgbUXY4St42LQEAuOVfcdIh6ZfsRfP9QaQylZ5UIxNHGavjOkPdkl6FFpA-l8HmG8xnsmvaKVuJtY5b6PJ4f53OLH-ZGE=&amp;c=OErPrkQNZzUqAGWSx6mKnhYuGLC-rFiFI_FqAZXHDkw5CLvHzNiJjQ==&amp;ch=wFfhkGCHwv-fMfFXQQWp04JCS6d-nPejv4KHstzgPmfjLuqKuczVyQ==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610143944546.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>Following is the Saline County COVID-19 update for Friday.Sadly, we have been notified of two additional deaths due to COVID-19 since our last update on January 6. Seventy-four members of our community have lost their lives to this virus.&nbsp;Salina Regional Health Center notified us that they currently have 34 hospitalized COVID-19 patients. There have been 100 new positive COVID-19 cases reported in Saline County since January 6. The total number of positive cases for Saline County has risen to 4,738. The Health Department staff are now actively monitoring 1,829 cases. At least 2,835 have recovered. Our dashboard has been updated with the latest information:●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/ccad98556b7a46648616706b9f3e9cc4">Mobile Device Users</a>●<a href="https://sacoks.maps.arcgis.com/apps/opsdashboard/index.html#/4c3ee372c5704546b7771da303afd0a7">Desktop Users</a>This is an ever-evolving situation. Please continue to follow official sources to obtain the most accurate information possible. If you have tested positive or you are known to be a close contact, please do not call the Health Department unless it has been at least five days since you received your results and you have not heard from us. We understand that for both employees and employers, quarantine or isolation documentation may be necessary to verify a leave of absence. Please refer to our&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s8SDhOE_dkTyQZBPSkyrqXR6tBmxSZPi40sqs5wraCO1URqgbUXY4St42LQEAuOVLQIJTRceSaNFxJ5z0FmbzdO44k3z88UZMXY3RFsdcqNtHdHhCty0Ty-w3Y1YoDPAZmgn9q6XtrpT0Lg628SfS6u_xZBTyb_T&amp;c=OErPrkQNZzUqAGWSx6mKnhYuGLC-rFiFI_FqAZXHDkw5CLvHzNiJjQ==&amp;ch=wFfhkGCHwv-fMfFXQQWp04JCS6d-nPejv4KHstzgPmfjLuqKuczVyQ==" target="_blank">FAQ Section</a>&nbsp;for additional questions. Health Department staff continue to be overwhelmed and several days behind with contacting new positive cases and close contacts and we are unable to produce the necessary documentation immediately. We have added staff and some cases being routed to contact tracers at KDHE, but with cases rising every day we continue to be behind. Thank you for your patience.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; According to the&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s8SDhOE_dkTyQZBPSkyrqXR6tBmxSZPi40sqs5wraCO1URqgbUXY4St42LQEAuOVnXssNJjAQrag2Hvu6TyzMpQDWU3K5iRRIL_geT3kfKejasMZ5csRF237XoiEueKQSE2rdOuG8UINFYOH-2pZFwQ95fGYc8Ox&amp;c=OErPrkQNZzUqAGWSx6mKnhYuGLC-rFiFI_FqAZXHDkw5CLvHzNiJjQ==&amp;ch=wFfhkGCHwv-fMfFXQQWp04JCS6d-nPejv4KHstzgPmfjLuqKuczVyQ==" target="_blank">Kansas Department of Health &amp; Environment Coronavirus Website</a>, there are now 242,322 cases and 3,148 deaths statewide.

Following the proven public health guidance to slow the spread of COVID-19 continues to be extremely important for everyone to do. Please:&nbsp;1. Wash your hands often, for at least 20 seconds with warm soapy water. Use hand sanitizer if you do not have access to soap and water.&nbsp;2. Maintain physical distance between yourself and others of at least 6 feet or more.&nbsp;3. Wear masks in public spaces as required by City Ordinance and County Resolution. You must cover your nose and mouth for masks to be effective.&nbsp;4. By Public Health Order, gatherings are limited to 15 persons or less (with certain exceptions for establishments).&nbsp;5. Sanitize frequently touched surfaces and areas such as doorknobs, handles, cell phones, tablets, etc.6. Stay home if you are sick. Regardless if you think it may be a cold, it could be allergies, but it also could be something worse.&nbsp; Only follow official sources to obtain information:&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s8SDhOE_dkTyQZBPSkyrqXR6tBmxSZPi40sqs5wraCO1URqgbUXY4St42LQEAuOVbnIE7d5YbIFcJnSpMSIsYkv2kL1FDySB9bnJXnKnoHf9wqSP1TyU4bPkQwFLvjQjiBSKNI46pdG6t8K6wByTUFJ1fkMyYAG2&amp;c=OErPrkQNZzUqAGWSx6mKnhYuGLC-rFiFI_FqAZXHDkw5CLvHzNiJjQ==&amp;ch=wFfhkGCHwv-fMfFXQQWp04JCS6d-nPejv4KHstzgPmfjLuqKuczVyQ==" target="_blank">www.saline.org/coronavirus</a>&nbsp;or&nbsp;<a href="http://r20.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001s8SDhOE_dkTyQZBPSkyrqXR6tBmxSZPi40sqs5wraCO1URqgbUXY4St42LQEAuOVfcdIh6ZfsRfP9QaQylZ5UIxNHGavjOkPdkl6FFpA-l8HmG8xnsmvaKVuJtY5b6PJ4f53OLH-ZGE=&amp;c=OErPrkQNZzUqAGWSx6mKnhYuGLC-rFiFI_FqAZXHDkw5CLvHzNiJjQ==&amp;ch=wFfhkGCHwv-fMfFXQQWp04JCS6d-nPejv4KHstzgPmfjLuqKuczVyQ==" target="_blank">www.kdheks.gov</a>.

Saline County: 2 additional deaths, 100 new COVID-19 cases

TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas expects to finish giving COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care residents and health care workers by the end of this month and has moved people aged 65 and older into the next group to receive the shots.

Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday announced new details about the order in which her state’s residents will be eligible for inoculations, and making people aged 65 to 74 years an earlier priority was the biggest shift.

The state’s previous plan had that age group getting theirs after people in “congregate” living, such as state hospitals, shelters for the homeless, and prisons.

The governor’s comments last month that prisoners would get vaccinated relatively early prompted scathing comments from the Kansas Republican Party and leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature.

<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610104544544.png" alt="" />
 <figcaption></figcaption>
 </figure>By HEATHER HOLLINGSWORTH and JOHN HANNATOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Kansas expects to finish giving COVID-19 vaccines to long-term care residents and health care workers by the end of this month and has moved people aged 65 and older into the next group to receive the shots.Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly on Thursday announced new details about the order in which her state’s residents will be eligible for inoculations, and making people aged 65 to 74 years an earlier priority was the biggest shift.<div><iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/video.php?height=314&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2FGovLauraKelly%2Fvideos%2F707415516490444%2F&show_text=false&width=560" width="560" height="314" style="border:none;overflow:hidden" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="true" allow="autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowFullScreen="true"></iframe></div>The state’s previous plan had that age group getting theirs after people in “congregate” living, such as state hospitals, shelters for the homeless, and prisons.The governor’s comments last month that prisoners would get vaccinated relatively early prompted scathing comments from the Kansas Republican Party and leaders in the GOP-controlled Legislature.But Kelly said during a Statehouse news conference, “This is all based on science.”<div><blockquote class="twitter-tweet">It’s a good thing <a href="https://twitter.com/GovLauraKelly?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@GovLauraKelly</a> listened to us and moved vulnerable seniors up the vaccine priority list. It’s a bad thing prisoners remain in the same phase as those seniors. Prioritize law-abiding Kansans first! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ksleg?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ksleg</a>&mdash; Kansas GOP (@KansasGOP) <a href="https://twitter.com/KansasGOP/status/1347315181769129988?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 7, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div><a href="https://twitter.com/KansasGOP/status/1347315181769129988" target="_blank">The Kansas GOP tweeted</a>&nbsp;that Kelly “listened to us” in moving older Kansans up in line but added: “It’s a bad thing prisoners remain in the same phase as those seniors. Prioritize law-abiding Kansans first!”The American Medical Association&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ama-assn.org/press-center/press-releases/ama-policy-calls-more-covid-19-prevention-congregate-settings" target="_blank">adopted a policy</a>&nbsp;in November calling for prisons to have priority in getting vaccines, with one board member calling it among the steps vital to stopping the spread of the virus.&nbsp;<a href="https://justicelab.columbia.edu/sites/default/files/content/COVID_Vaccine_White_Paper.pdf" target="_blank">A report in December</a>&nbsp;from professors of medicine at Yale, Columbia and the University of North Carolina called for giving inmates vaccines early, saying outbreaks in prisons and jails “spill over to the community.”“My administration will make our decisions based on what the doctors, the public health experts and the science tells us, not the politics,” Kelly said.Kelly released the updated vaccine rollout plan, with a chart designed to make its five phases easier to follow, amid concerns that the process was moving too slowly.On Monday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ranked Kansas last among states for its inoculation rate per 100,000 residents. That was no longer the case in&nbsp;<a href="https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations" target="_blank">a CDC report</a>&nbsp;Thursday, with five states trailing Kansas.The CDC’s data said 36,538 vaccine shots had been given in Kansas, or 1,254 per 100,000 residents. Kelly told reporters the actual figure is 45,872, or almost 26% higher and 1,575 for every 100,000 residents.<figure>
 <img src="https://media.eaglewebservices.com/public/2021/1/1610057822570.png" alt="Dr. Lee Norman answers questions during Thursday's news conference." />
 <figcaption>Dr. Lee Norman answers questions during Thursday's news conference.</figcaption>
 </figure>Dr. Lee Norman, head of the state Department of Health and Environment, said he believes the true number of shots given could be nearly twice Kelly’s figure, about 90,000.“People are not sitting on the vaccines and keeping it in storage,” Norman said. “They’re giving it into people’s arms.”The state’s revised vaccine distribution plan shows that the second group to get shots also will include critical workers including firefighters, law enforcement officers, meatpacking employees, grocery store workers, teachers and child-care workers.The third phase includes people aged 16 to 64 with medical conditions that put them at severe risk if they are infected with COVID-19, including cancer and Type 2 diabetes, as well as workers in critical industries such as information technology, aviation, transportation and government.People with less severe health problems are included in the fourth phase and the fifth and final group includes everyone else.Counties with unused vaccine doses after inoculating all health care workers and long-term care residents who wanted to be vaccinated were supposed to shift spare doses to counties in need of more. But the process is paperwork heavy, and some counties just went ahead and vaccinated people in lower priority groups, said Dennis Kriesel, executive director of the Kansas Association of Local Health Departments.He said the state should have moved quicker to explain the phases of the rollout, noting that people are desperate for information. He got one call from a woman in her 70s with lymphoma who wanted details because she hadn’t been able to see her grandchildren in a year.“We didn’t need the vaccines to be ready to set our priorities,” he said. “We could have set the priorities months before that.”Sedgwick County health director Adrienne Byrne said she has been getting emails from people with chronic illnesses who have hardly left their homes since March.She said the county has administered about half of the 10,400 doses it has received and noted that the process is speeding up. A massive clinic has been set up at an arena, with staff capable of vaccinating 50 people every 15 minutes.“Some of them are crying with relief,” she said. “I heard one gentlemen say to the person who gave him the vaccine: ‘You may have just helped save my life.’”<a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDEsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAxMDcuMzI5NTQzNTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2djYzAxLnNhZmVsaW5rcy5wcm90ZWN0aW9uLm91dGxvb2suY29tLz91cmw9aHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZnb3Zlcm5vci5rYW5zYXMuZ292JTJGd3AtY29udGVudCUyRnVwbG9hZHMlMkYyMDIxJTJGMDElMkZVUERBVEVEMl9WYWNjaW5lUGhhc2VzLTAwMi5wZGYmZGF0YT0wNCU3QzAxJTdDUmF5bmEuS2Fyc3QlNDBrcy5nb3YlN0MzYmE2ZDU2MzEzOWU0M2M5ODA4MDA4ZDhiMzU5Yzk1OSU3Q2RjYWU4MTAxYzkyZDQ4MGNiYzQzYzY3NjFjY2NjYzVhJTdDMCU3QzAlN0M2Mzc0NTY1NDU0OTE3OTAwNjElN0NVbmtub3duJTdDVFdGcGJHWnNiM2Q4ZXlKV0lqb2lNQzR3TGpBd01EQWlMQ0pRSWpvaVYybHVNeklpTENKQlRpSTZJazFoYVd3aUxDSlhWQ0k2TW4wJTNEJTdDMTAwMCZzZGF0YT1hS1NrTGw5OG5zdDdLemp5TUhDNUNZZ1pHc1dqTElTZXZtNzFRNXoya2U4JTNEJnJlc2VydmVkPTAifQ.csKEwO2cHbw8M5zi6TRutzHWqdxBIFAo23eiujJpUwU/s/1303160919/br/92812776098-l" target="_blank">View a visual representation of the distribution order here.</a><a href="https://lnks.gd/l/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJidWxsZXRpbl9saW5rX2lkIjoxMDIsInVyaSI6ImJwMjpjbGljayIsImJ1bGxldGluX2lkIjoiMjAyMTAxMDcuMzI5NTQzNTEiLCJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2dvdmVybm9yLmthbnNhcy5nb3Yvd3AtY29udGVudC91cGxvYWRzLzIwMjEvMDEvQUNUVUFMLVBIQVNFLUdST1VQLnBkZiJ9.E_BnrO0RAeuHPTBmfzO-dQxS4LAoUpXOaBJkO01153s/s/1303160919/br/92812776098-l" target="_blank">View informational slides regarding vaccine distribution here.</a>

Coronavirus Update