LARNED — The Pawnee County Health Department (PCHD) has moved into Phases 3 and 4 of Gov. Laura Kelly’s Kansas COVID-19 vaccine distribution, County Health Director Cheryl Hoberecht announced earlier this week.

“We’re encouraging everyone to help us make sure our community is vaccinated for COVID-19,” Hoberecht said. Phases 3 and 4 include those 18 years of age and older with medical risks and people in Phases 1 and 2 that have not yet been vaccinated. “Those people include health care workers, individuals over 65 years of age, agricultural, retail, essential services, critical infrastructure and grocery store workers,” said Hoberecht. “If you do not know if you qualify, call the health department and you can get scheduled as we have vaccine to give.”

She added that masks, hand sanitizing and social distancing are still recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention when out in public or in contact with anyone with an unknown vaccination or disease status.

“If you are two weeks post vaccination it is considered safe to gather with small groups if all of the people in the group are two weeks from being fully vaccinated,” Hoberecht said. To schedule an appointment, call PCHD, 620-285-6963.

Pawnee County weekly COVID update

The county’s weekly COVID case numbers saw an increase of one from last week at 1,143 cases (0 active cases) as of Tuesday, March 23. Community case totals (excluding Larned State Hospital, individuals in long-term care and Larned Correctional Mental Health Facility) are 605, an increase of two from a week ago. Only two cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Pawnee County in the last two weeks and two cases identified in the past seven days. 

No new deaths from COVID-19 have been reported in the last five weeks. The current death total in Pawnee County is 13. The county remains at Level Green on the COVID risk assessment matrix. Level Green represents no to minimal risk of spreading COVID-19.