678 new COVID cases in county the past nine days
The Wichita Falls Wichita County Public Health District reported 402 new COVID-19 infections in the county for the week ending last Friday, with 87 percent of those cases unvaccinated. Wichita County is currently reporting 628 active cases.
Two individuals, both in the 50-59 age group, died as a result of the novel Coronavirus last week, bringing the county total to 346 deaths as of last Friday.
The county reported that 276 had recovered last week.
As of Tuesday evening, 256 new cases had already been reported for this week, and eight deaths, one in their 20s, have already been reported by Wednesday morning, an indicator the pandemic is worsening in this area.
As the Delta variant continues to spread, it seems the younger age groups are seeing the most growth in cases. The Health District released the following percentages of new cases in each age group for last week:
0-19 years 17.74%
20-29 15.42%
30-39 21.14%
40-49 13.93%
50-59 10.95%
60-69 9.95%
70-79 7.21%
80+ 1.24%
Hospitalizations
As of Wednesday morning this week 54 were hospitalized with COVID-19 in Wichita County, with 11of those listed as critical. Those in critical condition as of Wednesday were in the following age groups:
1-30-39
2-40-49
2-50-59
3-60-69
3-70-79
Wichita County Public Health Director Lou Kreidler said, “The hospital numbers speak to the decreasing ages of individuals who are becoming seriously ill. We have had a total of 114 individuals hospitalized since August 1st, so almost double the total number of hospitalizations for all of July.” Kreidler continued, “ Sixty-four percent of those are under the age of 60.”
Positivity Rate
Wichita County’s positivity rate (the ratio of confirmed cases to tests) for last week was 30 percent, up from 25 percent last week.
Reinfections and Breakthrough Cases
As of last Friday, Wichita County had a total of 92 reinfections (unvaccinated for COVID, and second time to have it), six of which are active. They also reported a total of 201 vaccine breakthrough cases since vaccines began, 52 of which are new. Of those, 50 are symptomatic, one was hospitalized, and two are currently hospitalized with COVID-related symptoms.
Who is eligible for vaccination?
All people 12 and older are currently eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine in Texas. Children who are 12-17 years old are allowed to get the Pfizer vaccine. COVID-19 vaccines are not mandatory for Texas students.
As of Wednesday morning, 41.02 percent of eligible Wichita County residents are fully vaccinated; and 54.60 percent of Texans, according to the Texas DHS website.
Vaccinations
With FDA approval of vaccines expected in the next few weeks, county officials are hopeful it will make a difference to those on the fence about vaccines. “At this point we are almost nine months from when vaccinations in the public first began,” Kreidler commented Wednesday. “There have been millions of doses given in the US alone. I hope that when individuals see a final approval it will be enough to move people off high center and they will get vaccinated. I also believe as more and more people face the reality that they do not have to quaratine if they are vaccinated will push people in that same direction.”
As far as “booster shots”, the FDA and the ACIP this week approved a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine for certain individuals who are immunocompromised. The Health District will begin administering booster doses Thursday (today) if the county’s electronic system has completed the upgrades it needs to begin giving boosters. “We have had questions about whether an individual would qualify and we always direct them to have that conversation with their physician,” Kreidler said. “The third dose is only approved for Moderna and Pfizer and people should have the same vaccine they received for their first and second dose. A third dose has not been approved for the Jassen (Johnson & Johnson vaccine.”
The Wichita Falls Wichita County Health District conducts free COVID-19 immunization clinics each Thursday, and the vaccine is widely available at most pharmacies and medical facilities in the county. A full list of those offering COVID testing and vaccines may be found on the City of Wichita Falls website.
