New Regional Vaccine Site in Madison County Allows Health Department to Close Waiting List

Written by Kelley McBride on March 2, 2021 in Uncategorized with no comments.

(Richmond, KY)  The Madison County Health Department (MCHD), along with Eastern Kentucky University and Madison County Fiscal Court, is pleased to partner with Baptist Health Richmond (BHR), which has been designated a Regional COVID-19 Vaccination Site in Kentucky.

As a result of this partnership, MCHD has closed its vaccine waiting list to transition access to BHR’s new and expanded resource for vaccinations. Depending upon their eligibility for phases in the state’s roll-out plan, individuals registered on the health department’s list may be contacted by email with instructions how to schedule an appointment.  Communication from BHR will be sent to the email address that was initially provided to MCHD by the registrant.

Community members who have been on the MCHD COVID-19 waiting list and have not yet received their first vaccine should visit ScheduleYourVaccine.com to schedule their appointment with the new regional site. All currently scheduled health department appointments for vaccines will be kept. MCHD is providing vaccinations for those requiring a second dose and prioritizing those in phases 1A and 1B, including healthcare workers, those who are 70 years of age and older, and daycare workers.

The regional vaccination site in Richmond dramatically increases the numbers of individuals who can schedule an appointment directly and receive their vaccine close to home. “Gaining this important designation greatly expands opportunity for COVID-19 vaccinations in our community,” said Madison County Public Health Director Nancy Crewe.

Madison County residents may call the MCHD clinic at 859-623-7312 with questions or concerns.

Recommended links for more information regarding the Madison County Health Department and for information about COVID-19: www.madisoncountyhealthdept.orgwww.kycovid19.ky.gov, www.cdc.gov

Getting Back on Schedule: Madison County Health Department Provides Vaccination Clinics Following Severe Winter Weather

Written by Kelley McBride on February 23, 2021 in News with no comments.

(Richmond, KY) The recent severe winter weather caused closure of the Madison County Health Department and the COVID-19 vaccination clinics scheduled for last week. Three separate winter storm patterns hit Kentucky within a span of eight days. However, essential services from the Madison County Health Department continued.

“We were working to get ahead of the impending bad weather by contacting people with appointments to reschedule, but even those appointments had to be moved once again because storm systems kept coming at us,” said Health Department Clerical Supervisor Stacy Sandlin.

Snow and ice caused a leak in the roof at the Clinic building on Boggs Lane. Health department personnel responded over the weekend to protect equipment and records from damage and to be ready to operate vaccination clinics this week.

“Our staff were determined to provide the vaccination clinics. It was truly a team effort to keep things ready to be operational on Monday,” said Health Education Director Lloyd Jordison, RN.

The majority of the second doses of vaccine have been administered to those who received their initial dose of vaccine from the Madison County Health Department.

Most vaccine doses administered on Tuesday will be first doses for those 70 years old and older.

Vaccinations at the Madison County Health Department are by appointment only. Persons on the MCHD Vaccine Waiting List will be contacted by phone to schedule a vaccination appointment.

“We greatly appreciate the patience of Madison County residents as the vaccine rollout continues, and continues to change,” said Health Department Director Nancy Crewe.

Recommended links for more information regarding the Madison County Health Department and for information about COVID-19: www.madisoncountyhealthdept.org, www.kycovid19.ky.gov, www.cdc.gov.

Updated Limits to Contact Tracing

Written by Kelley McBride on December 21, 2020 in Uncategorized with no comments.

Richmond, KY– In response to the large numbers of COVID-19 cases in Madison County, Madison County Health Department (MCHD) has limited its contact tracing to those person affiliated with schools, healthcare, daycare, long term care or other clearly defined high-risk situations.  For anyone who is a contact to a someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, the health department asks them to follow the Kentucky Department for Public Health’s (DPH) “Guidance for the New CDC COVID-19 Quarantine Options.”

For businesses, MCHD encourages in-house contact tracing.  According to Public Health Director Nancy Crewe, “Due to the growing COVID-19 caseload and limited staffing, we will no longer be able to send return to work letters to contacts”. 

Businesses should follow the same “Guidance for the New CDC COVID-19 Quarantine Options” that individuals do and share this guidance with their employees. The MCHD epidemiology team will provide businesses with consultation and guidance on a case-by-case basis to assist them with in-house contact tracing efforts.

MCHD will continue to contact and follow persons who test positive for COVID-19.  Again, because of case volume and staffing constraints, positive cases may experience delays in being contacted by the health department. 

According to Crewe, “Please be patient with us, wait for our calls, and in the meantime, follow DPH’s COVID-19 Patient Guidance.”

For a link to the “Guidance for the New CDC COVID-19 Quarantine Options,” go to:

https://bit.ly/37FdFXk

To access the “COVID-19 Patient Guidance,” go to  https://www.abchdkentucky.com/Case%20One%20Pager%2011-11-2020%20vFinal.pdf.

Links for more information regarding MCHD and COVID-19 can be found at : www.madisoncountyhealthdept.orgwww.kycovid19.ky.gov, www.cdc.gov  .

Madison County Health Department Adjusts Contact Tracing Efforts

Written by Kelley McBride on November 20, 2020 in News with no comments.

Richmond, KY- The Madison County Health Department (MCHD) reported the highest one-day total of 144 confirmed COVID-19 cases as of November 16. This more than doubled the previous highest one-day case count of 71 on August 27. This surge in cases has placed a strain on public health resources needed to effectively contain the spread of this disease, and MCHD will be modifying their contact tracing efforts accordingly.

“No local health department can keep up the pace along with the increasing number of cases and contacts,” said Madison County Health Department Director Nancy Crewe. “Even with addition of more contact tracers and disease investigators to our team, the numbers of cases are growing at such a rate as to overwhelm our capabilities. Accordingly, MCHD is adjusting our priorities for case investigations and contact tracing in line with guidance issued by the Kentucky Department for Public Health.”

This adjustment means that contact tracers at the health department will focus contact tracing efforts on healthcare workers, first responders, vulnerable populations, persons in congregate settings and event exposures. For newly identified COVID-19 cases, this means that if you are called by the health department you will be asked to notify any close contacts you have that do not meet the criteria listed above.

As always, MCHD will continue to work with community partners and local employers regarding guidance on quarantine.

Rapidly identifying and isolating confirmed cases remains top priority for MCHD to mitigate the spread. However, as cases continue to accelerate, there may be a delay between the time a person is notified of a positive result and the issuance of an isolation order from MCHD. Individuals should not wait on a call from the health department to begin isolating or quarantining at home.

According to Crewe, all Madison Countians should assume they are at heightened risk of COVID-19 exposure, and everyone must practice all the everyday prevention measures listed below:

• Wear a face mask in public
• Wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.
• Maintain a distance of at least 6 feet between yourself and other people
• Avoid large gatherings and crowded places.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
• Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth.
• Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue or your elbow, not with your hands.
• Disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces using a household cleaning spray or wipe.

For more information about COVID-19, visit these links: www.madisoncountyhealthdept.org, www.kycovid19.ky.gov, and www.cdc.gov.