In terms of COVID-19 metrics in Lyon County, 2022 is picking up where 2021 left off.
In its first data report of the new year Monday, Lyon County Public Health reported 147 new cases between reporting periods putting the overall total since March of 2020 at 6,847. This follows an increase of 104 new cases last Wednesday. Active cases also increased by 51 from 232 to 283 with 95 recoveries reported Monday.
Of the 283 active cases, 85 are considered breakthroughs meaning infections in fully vaccinated residents. Collectively, Public Health has identified a total of 584 breakthrough cases.
Deaths were unchanged at 97 with two cases pending final cause information from the Kansas Department of Health and Environment. Active hospitalizations were unchanged at 4.
Meanwhile, residents wanting to buy at-home tests have to look to mid-January before those become more available. Lyon County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Jennifer Millbern says residents need to get lab confirmation of their home tests if they come back positive, in large part because a confirmed lab test can adjust isolation or quarantine status in case a person is a close contact or gets the virus later. She also addressed critics that say the guidance on confirmatory lab tests is rooted in finances, not health.
Millbern says there are some situations where the home tests need lab confirmation even if they don’t come back positive.
The next data release from Public Health is coming Wednesday.
At the federal level, the government may well approve COVID-19 booster shots for certain youths and also shorten the time for when Pfizer’s boosters can be administered.
The Food and Drug Administration authorized boosters for children between ages 12-15 Monday, also authorizing a reduced timetable for students in this age range getting the Pfizer boosters — from six months to five — as well as a third dose for immunocompromised patients between ages 5-11.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention must still sign off on these steps.
This comes as America set a record for most hospitalized pediatric patients involving confirmed or suspected COVID cases Sunday with the omicron variant pushing a spike in cases nationwide but not yet in Kansas. The delta variant is still the dominant strain in Kansas at this time.
