COVID creeps back into Perkins County

COVID-19 cases are starting to show up again at the Perkins County Community Hospital, according to CEO Neil Hilton. 

As of Tuesday afternoon, Hilton said the hospital has admitted six COVID patients since Sept. 11. 

Of those, four remain in the hospital while two have been dismissed. 

Dating back from Tuesday to July 2020, when the hospital admitted its first COVID patients, a total of 64 have been admitted with COVID.

Six admissions in September marks the most of any month since January 2021. The peak occurred in November 2020 when 14 COVID patients were admitted. 

The bulk of COVID admissions has been in the 60-80 year-old age group, with 17 in their 60s, 20 in their 70s and 14 in their 80s.

According to the Southwest Nebraska Public Health Department, a rising number of cases is showing up in younger people. 

Director Myra Stoney said the Delta variant of COVID-19 is responsible for the majority of cases. 

In 2021, cases of COVID in young people up to age 19 in the district is up 4.1% when compared to all of 2020. 

Cases are up 1.3% for 20-29 year-olds during the same time frame. 

SWNPHD had 80 new cases of COVID-19 reported from Sept. 14 to Sept. 20, 2021, bringing the weekly average to 86.5 cases per week in the last 30 days. 

A breakdown by age includes: 0 to 19—14; 20 to 29—11; 30 to 39—15; 40 to 49—7; 50 to 59—12; 60 to 69—8; 70 to 79—9; 80 and over—4.

The total number of cases for the district stands at 4,494.

Vaccination rates across the health district have reached 49%, counting both fully vaccinated and partially vaccinated individuals.

J&J one-shot vaccine 

Stoney said the one-shot COVID vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson will be available again at several locations throughout the health district including SWNPHD, local pharmacies and participating providers. 

All three COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use in the United States have proven to be effective at preventing serious illness, hospitalization and death.

Stoney said a frequent question asked about the vaccines is whether it will alter a person’s DNA. 

She said COVID-19 vaccines do not change or interact with DNA in any way. 

Both mRNA and viral vector COVID-19 vaccines deliver instructions (genetic material) to cells to start building protection against the virus that causes COVID-19. However, the material never enters the nucleus of the cell, which is where DNA is kept.

More information is available at swhealth.ne.gov. or by calling 308-345-4223.