Lyon County Public Health is closely monitoring the recent increase in COVID-19 cases across the country, which came to the county Wednesday.
Lyon County Public Health added 21 new cases to the county’s overall total, the first time since St. Patrick’s Day where the county had a double-digit increase. Lyon County’s active caseload went from 34 to 52. It’s the highest level of active cases in Lyon County since 64 cases Feb. 28.
On KVOE’s Newsmaker segment Thursday. Health Officer Dr. Ladun Oyenuga mentioned the presence of the delta variant, which is officially low but increasing at this time. She says it’s easier to transmit than the original.
Other stats are of concern. Test positivity rates are around 11 percent, the first time they have been in double digits for months, leading Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Jennifer Millbern to say Lyon County has a high level of community spread. Hospitalization rates have also edged up, with three people currently hospitalized at Newman Regional Health. However, hospitals in larger cities have their COVID-dedicated spaces full or nearly full and ventilators are returning to the care regimen.
Millbern says new cases have been affecting progressively younger ages over time.
There are a handful of “breakthrough” cases, where fully vaccinated residents get sick, but those infections are milder than for people who are unvaccinated.
This comes as vaccine supplies are plentiful and vaccination rates are edging up. About 48 percent of Lyon County’s vaccination-eligible residents ages 12 and up are fully vaccinated.
Both Oyenuga and Millbern say the public health focus is on increasing the vaccination rates rather than returning to widespread use of COVID-19 protocols like mask use and social distancing.
