COVID-19 vaccines limited

Agencies urge patience from 60K eligible residents

Lake County agencies are asking for patience from the public as the supplies of the novel coronavirus vaccine remain limited.

There are more than 60,000 Lake County residents eligible to receive the vaccine during phase 1B, according to a joint news release from the Lake County General Health District, Lake Health and the Lake County Emergency Management Agency.

Many vaccine providers in the county are only receiving 100 to 200 doses a week, the agencies stated.

“For these reasons, it will take many weeks to reach everyone in Phase 1B who are eligible and seeking vaccination,” the agencies stated.

On Feb. 1 the COVID-19 vaccine became available to residents 70 years of age and older, as well as individuals who have a severe

congenital, developmental, or early-onset medical disorder, as outlined in the guidance provided by the Ohio Department of Health.

“While Lake County has been assured by state and federal partners that it will eventually receive enough vaccine to vaccinate all eligible individuals who desire a COVID-19 vaccine, the current supply of vaccine being allocated weekly to Lake County is not enough

to meet the demand,” the becomes available. The link agencies stated. “Lake to sign up is red and is located County General Health District, under the Phase 1B Lake Health, and Lake heading.

County Emergency Management Those eligible will then Agency appreciate be notified through the the patience of eligible Lake County Wireless individuals that are awaiting Emergency Notification their vaccination.” System, via telephone and

Lake County residents 65 email with instructions and older as well as those on how to schedule an appointment, with severe congenital, developmental, according to the or early-onset news release. disorders are encouraged The WENS system is to go to lcghd.org/2019novel-coronavirus-ncov/covid-19-vaccination, also being used to update residents about important or call changes to the health district’s 440-350-2188 to be placed COVID-19 vaccine on a list to be contacted for web page, according to the scheduling when vaccine release. Residents can text

keyword LAKEOHVAX to 69310 to sign up to receive messages from the WENS system.

This is an optional service, and residents do not need to sign up for this service to receive notifications when a vaccine is available.

A statewide vaccine provider search is also available at coronavirus.ohio. gov/vaccine. This search feature identifies vaccine providers in each Ohio county.

As of Feb. 2, there have been 17,133 vaccines started in Lake County according to the Ohio Department of

Health. That represents 7.44 percent of the county’s population. Statewide 882,796 vaccines have been started, representing 7.55 percent of Ohio’s population.

Lake County had 16,931 cumulative COVID-19 cases as of 2 p.m., Feb. 2, according to ODH. There were 581 new cases reported between Jan. 26 and Feb. 2. That’s a decrease from 758 new cases reported the week prior. It’s the third straight week Lake County has seen a decrease in cases.

As of 2 p.m. Feb. 2, Lake County has 618 cumulative COVID-19 hospitalizations.

There were 21 hospitalizations reported in the past week, down from 27 reported the week prior.

Eight new COVID-19 deaths have been reported in the county in the past week, bringing the cumulative total to 169. Definitive cause of death can take weeks to months to determine according to officials. ‘

Of Lake County’s 16,931 cumulative COVID-19 cases, ODH presumes 14,709 have recovered. ODH defines presumed recovered as those with a symptom onset date greater than 21 days prior who are not deceased.