Sep 20, 2021

Case count down slightly, overall immunity numbers creeping up

Posted Sep 20, 2021 3:28 PM

In a previous version of this story, Hutch Post used an incorrect number of recoveries that did not reflect statistics on the county dashboard. Hutch Post regrets the error.

HUTCHINSON, Kan. — The COVID-19 case numbers appear to be falling slightly as of the Monday report on the county's dashboard.

Case count in Reno County is down to 625 as of Monday. It was as high as 680 on the 14th. Of the 8,935 resolved cases (either recovery or death) 155 have died, for a death rate of 1.7%.

We are awaiting the latest hospitalization numbers from Hutchinson Regional Healthcare System, though the county dashboard shows only seven Reno County residents hospitalized as of Monday.

Vaccination is still not much above what it has been in recent weeks, with 29,480 county residents having received at least one shot, which is a little less than half of all residents and between 50 and 60 percent of those who are vaccine eligible, which right now is 12 and over, though Pfizer announced what may be promising results in a trial for those ages 5 to 11.

29,480 vaccinated plus 8706 recovered equals 38,186 of 62,450 total residents, for a total of 61.1% with some type of immunity, though that number could be marginally higher or lower based on fully undiagnosed cases that recovered or those who both had COVID and chose to be vaccinated, which would put them on both lists.