The overall caseload and tracing process remains busy, but trends continue in the right direction when it comes to Lyon County’s COVID-19 response effort.
That’s the assessment of Public Health Emergency Preparedness Jennifer Millbern on KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Thursday. Millbern credited the public response and willingness to use the basic prevention strategies — mask use, social distancing, avoidance of large crowds and now increased emphasis on ventilation — despite what she says may be COVID-19 fatigue across the area.
Millbern did not say the county is turning a corner, however, and she says that corner may not be turned until a vaccine is readily available.
Millbern thanked residents for lining up for tests, and she says a recent partnership between Public Health, Newman Regional Health and the city of Emporia to bring close-contact testing to residents is an exciting expansion of current test policy.
The testing could begin as soon as Monday and is funded through $105,000 in CARES Act and SPARK funding.
Public Health is preparing for a drive-through flu shot clinic at Flint Hills Community Health Center, 420 West 15th, from 7 am to 4 pm Friday. Millbern says there will be a flu shot and COVID-19 test lane at the same time. So far, the flu season hasn’t gotten started in Lyon County yet — which is good news because health officials are concerned about the potential of flu and coronavirus putting a heavy strain on medical providers and bed space later this fall and through the winter.
More information is available at www.publichealth.lyoncounty.org.
