COVID-19 numbers — at least those that have been reported — have been pretty stable in Lyon County for several months.
Those numbers, though, are likely low, according to Lyon County Public Health Emergency Preparedness Director Jennifer Millbern.
Millbern says many test results, including the at-home variety, no longer have to be reported to the county, even if people are sick with the virus.
Millbern says the Lyon County numbers, like those across the country, are being pushed higher by the presence of the omicron BA.4 and BA.5 variants. These variants are leading to what’s being called “immune escape,” or a greater chance for vaccinated residents to get sick, although Millbern says vaccines still offer good protection against acute or severe illness.
Millbern says residents ages 50-plus should get their second booster shot if they haven’t already done so.
Millbern also believes there could be a booster for residents under 50 as well as a more omicron-specific booster in the next few months.
Lyon County is now at 10,792 total cases, including 125 deaths, since the pandemic started in March 2020. Areawide, Osage County is nearing 4,200 cases for the most in our neighboring counties. Chase County is just under 700 for the area low.
