Social Services Director Shannon Ernst, reported on Wednesday to the County Board of Health the county’s COVID response. According to Ernst 7,861 Churchill County residents are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus, with 293 of those ages 12 to 17, for a total of 35.93% of the population. The test positivity rate continues to hover around 4%, with roughly 1 to 2 positive test results daily, with a recent uptick of cases at the Fallon Tribe.
Out of a total of 11,482 tests provided to the community, there have been a total of 2,116 positive cases of COVID in the community since March of 2020, with 2,056 people recovering. There are four active cases currently in the community and a total of 49 deaths have been attributed to COVID.
Because Churchill County does have a deep freeze for vaccine storage, the county uses a provider that handles vaccines for rural communities.
Ernst said her staff will be holding a vaccination Point of Delivery (POD)at the fairground’s facility one day a week and then work on “pop-up” PODs throughout the community. “The CDC reminds us weekly about getting at ‘least one in the arm.’ And we don’t want anything to expire.”
Social Services will also be coordinating with the schools to get all the kids their regularly required vaccinations for classes, as well as offer the COVID vaccine at the drive through.
In other business, Ernst presented the funding recommendations for the RU92 Marijuana Tax revenue grant program. The project supports community partnerships that meet the Board of Health priorities of substance abuse prevention, reduction of teen pregnancy, and mental health and wellness. Approximately $88,000 is available each year to Churchill County, and then made available through an applications process through social services and approved by the Board of Health.
Recommended funding was proposed and accepted by the Board for: $6,472 to New Frontier for a teen support group focusing on substance abuse and mental health; the Churchill Coalition for the Too Good for Drugs program in the amount of $4,528; a match for the Resource Liaisons of $66,728; and the Churchill County School District for the Mental Health partnership with the University of Nevada for mental health services in the amount of $10,272.
Ernst also reported on the weekly meetings and the work for the eventual establishment of a Rural Health District in Churchill County in partnership with the UNR, which is expected to be up and running by November of 2023. The county has been awarded a $2 million grant to evaluate and begin the expansion plans for a health clinic that will eventually see the county health staff double. John Peckham and Gerald Ackerman, both with UNR, are working with Ernst to get the contracting in place. On Monday, the parties are expected to tour the new lab in the County Annex building.
Sheriff Hickox reported that his office has been working with an organization called Blue Help that catalogues officer suicides. They are also working with Lexipol, an organization that develops tools to assist law enforcement officers (LEOs) with an app customized for active and retired personnel. The program assists them and their spouses with mental health, resilience, financial issues, and physical fitness - all toward the goal of saving the lives and marriages of LEOs.
Summer Stephens, Superintendent of Churchill County School District, reported on the district reopening plan. They are working to fully reopen, with some adjustments to meet the federal government requirements to receive COVID relief funds. School will begin August 23rd, with slight adjustments for elementary students to begin and end their day a little earlier. Those times will be forthcoming. Additionally, there will be no social distancing requirements for bussing, however, the district is waiting on mask protocols from the state. The transportation department is doing away with the transfer system this year and increasing the number of stops in town for students who are outside ½ mile to school eligibility for the bus. There is also work being done on vaccine and testing protocols, however, neither will be required/mandated.
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