LARNED — For the third consecutive week, Pawnee County has remained at Level Green on the COVID-19 risk assessment, but county Health Director Cheryl Hoberecht said cases are starting to pick back up again.

“While Pawnee County is still at Level Green, the numbers are increasing,” said Hoberecht. “Because we have been at Level Green for a sustained amount of time, decreased mask use may be the reason why numbers are increasing.” 

She urged residents to continue wearing masks if they have not been fully vaccinated and until more people are vaccinated. “A couple more cases and we will move up to Level Yellow again,” said Hoberecht. 

“Try to think about what you want to do in the future like going to prom, enjoying Easter and not having to be quarantined. Use that as motivation to wear a mask,” she said.

She added that if individuals are wearing masks during contact at less than six feet apart for more than 10 minutes, then quarantine is not indicated as per recommendations by the Pawnee County Board of Health.

The weekly report from the PCHD shows 1,137 cases (six active cases) of COVID-19 as of Tuesday, March 9. That’s an increase of four cases from a week ago. Community case totals (excluding Larned State Hospital, individuals in long-term care and Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility) are 602, up from 597 last week. Nine cases of the virus have been identified in the past 14 days and six cases within the last seven days. The county death total from COVID-19 remains at 14, unchanged from the past three weeks.

PCHD is administering vaccine on a regular basis said Hoberecht. 

“Currently we have given 1,160 doses,” she said. “We are still giving vaccine to all of those in Phase 2.”