Covid case counts are on the rise, and the needle is back in the red in the Four Corners Health Department.
Laura McDougall, executive director of Four Corners, said the last time the district was this high was Jan. 9.
“We are in a bad spot right now,” she said Aug. 26 during the monthly briefing. “We are climbing a cliff we don’t want to be climbing.”
The seven-day average was 312.9 cases per 100,000 people. Four Corners hits the red on the dial at 100 cases per 100,000 people.
McDougall said cases are primarily in unvaccinated people, and the district is seeing more severe illnesses in younger people because of the Delta variant.
“We are starting to feel the pinch,” she said.
This surge is different from last year, McDougall said. Last year, the state was in a state of emergency which provided additional resources. The state of emergency has ended, and with it the extra help.
McDougall said the Four Corners Health District is recommending wearing face coverings again because of the high transmission rate. She also suggested using the same strategies implemented early in the pandemic, including washing your hands often and using hand sanitizer.
Roger Reamer, chief executive officer at Memorial Health Care Systems, said the health care systems are back to holding weekly meetings with Dr. Gary Anthone, Nebraska’s chief medical officer, to talk about case numbers and strategies.
“We anticipate the number will creep up,” Reamer said. “We’re seeing another surge, but it’s different from the last one with different challenges.”
More of the cases are appearing in a younger demographic, but that brings its own challenges, he said.
“The younger the individual, the longer they’re there,” he said, which means they need care over a longer time.
MHCS has seen an increase in testing numbers. Reamer said MHCS tested more people on Aug. 23 than it had throughout July. It has tested 101 people over the past seven days, with 29 testing positive for covid-19.
MHCS provides antibody infusion treatment for those who need it. After three months without taking advantage of the treatment, Reamer said, the hospital is currently averaging three to four per day.
“The vaccine is the No. 1 solution to battle this,” Reamer said.
The hospital offers both Pfizer and Moderna vaccines on Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment. The third shot for people with compromised immune systems is also available.
Reamer said the booster shots will start to become available to the public around Sept. 20. He said MHCS may host mass clinics to provide the booster to as many people as possible.
As the calendar moves toward flu season, Reamer said it’s important to get that vaccine, as well. MHCS is planning to start its drive-through flu vaccine service in September.
