COVID Cases Continue to Increase in Marshall

The Marshall County Health Department is reporting a threefold increase in its COVID-19 incidence rate since July 27.

Marshall County Public Health Director Billy Pitts says the rate has increased from 31.2 to 106.1. The County's previous highest peak was 85.9 on January 11. 

January was also when the County reported its highest number of cases at 664. Pitts says there are currently 533 cases, with more coming in daily. He expects the County to exceed 970 cases by the end of the month at the current rate.

Due to the dramatic increase in cases, health department staff have been unable to contact everyone who tests positive as quickly as they would like. In addition, the infrastructure put in place by the state earlier in the year no longer exists, leaving the burden of contacting everyone who tests positive on the local health department.

Pitts asks anyone who tests positive to isolate immediately. The health department will contact you as soon as possible to provide you with the necessary documentation. Pitts also asks employers to allow employees who test positive to self-isolate.

If you know that you have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you are asked to self-quarantine and get a test after five days to see if you were infected.

The Marshall County Health Department was recently approved to administer a third dose of vaccine to those meeting the following criteria:

• If you are receiving active cancer treatment for tumors or cancers of the blood;
• If you have received an organ transplant and are taking medicine to suppress the immune system;
• If you have received a stem cell transplant within the last two years;
• If you are experiencing moderate or severe primary immunodeficiency;
• Anyone with advanced or untreated HIV infection;
• Anyone undergoing treatment with high-dose corticosteroids or other similar drugs.

If you meet any of the listed criteria and would like a third dose of vaccine, you can call the health department at 270-527-1496 to schedule an appointment.