Clarke County Democrat

Over half of countians at least half vaccinated




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There’s good news and bad news as related to Covid-19.

The good news is that more Clarke County residents are vaccinated than ever before.

As of Monday, Sept. 13, 40% of all eligible countians, or 9,520 people, were fully vaccinated and 55% have had at least one dose. That’s 12,875 residents.

It should be safely assumed that if 55% have had one shot, they will take the second one to become fully vaccinated.

Senior citizens 65 and over remain the group most fully vaccinated, some 71%.

On the other hand, there are still significant positive cases each week, too.

According to the Alabama Political Reporter’s tracker website, 19 new cases were reported in Clarke County the past week as of Monday. That reflects a positivity rate of 14.5%, or that percentage of people tested were positive for Covid. The state positivity rate is 19.5%.

Looking at a county map of Alabama, significant hot spots now include Butler, Conecuh, Escambia and Monroe counties to the east. Escambia, for instance, added 172 new cases this past week. Monroe added 75.

Washington County added only 12 new cases while Wilcox added eight and Choctaw only three.

While Clarke County’s cases appear to be down some, EMA Director Roy Waite told commissioners that new positive cases are still climbing.

He also said the county’s death rate of 68 has not been updated lately and isn’t accurate. The number of deaths is a lot higher, he suggested.

Hospitalizations are down some but ICU beds are still critical. A total of 2,474 people are hospitalized this week with Covid- 19 and 83% of that number are unvaccinated.

It was reported this week that the Alabama Statehouse in Montgomery will remove all restrictions requiring face masks and other precautions. This announcement comes as Gov. Kay Ivey is expected to call a special session possibly before the end of the month to address prison issues.

As for county supplies of protective gear, Waite said the jail is going through a lot of gloves and a lot of masks are being handed out at the front door of the courthouse. A mask mandate is in effect for the courthouse.

Waite said one of the PPE suppliers donated an 18- wheeler load of hand sanitizer, some 48,000 bottles. He said the sanitizer was unloaded at the old armory and he thanked jail inmate volunteers who assisted in unloading the truck.

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