Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
A new era in the coronavirus pandemic is beginning this holiday season.
COVID-19 vaccines have now been approved for children ages 5-11, the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates have been announced, and the delta variant surge appears to be tapering off.
As of Wednesday, Nov. 10, the total number of active positives in North Dakota was 3,692, down from 4,595 in early October. Similar numbers are being seen throughout the country, but questions remain about whether this positive trend will continue into the winter months.
In the meantime, medical professionals are now encouraging parents to vaccinate their children as young as five years old. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) cleared the way for 5-to-11-year-olds to begin receiving COVID-19 vaccinations on Nov. 2, and those vaccines are now on their way to Eddy County.
According to Lisa Thompson of the Lake Region District Health Unit (LRDHU) for Eddy County, the vaccines for 5-to-11-year-olds will arrive on Monday, Nov. 15, and a waiting list has already been created. Parents interested in vaccinating their children should call ahead of time to schedule an appointment.
Thompson also explained that the LRDHU plans to be at the NR-S Public School on Tuesday, Nov. 23, in order to provide a more convenient option for parents who would like to vaccinate their children.
“Forms will be available at the school and parents can sign the forms ahead of time,” said Thompson. “Then we’ll get the kids that they want [vaccinated] at the school taken care of.”
Parents interested in scheduling a vaccine for their children can call the LRDHU for Eddy County at (701) 947-5311.
Meanwhile, vaccine controversy has reached new heights following President Biden’s decision to mandate vaccines for millions of workers. The most controversial mandate comes from the Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), which requires employers with 100 or more employees to have a vaccinated workforce, or ensure that their unvaccinated employees submit to weekly testing.
Another mandate comes from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), which requires healthcare workers at facilities participating in Medicare and Medicaid to be fully vaccinated. Employees covered by these mandates, as well as the mandate regarding federal workers and contractors, will need to be fully vaccinated by January 4, 2022.
The mandates are currently undergoing a rigorous legal challenge from multiple states, and a three-judge panel from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit Court of Louisiana has temporarily blocked the mandate regarding large businesses. However, White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain expects the matter to be “well litigated” long before the January 4 deadline, meaning the mandate could still take effect on schedule if it survives in court.
As of Nov. 10, just over 1,800 North Dakotans have died due to COVID-19, and 141 are currently hospitalized. However, cases in Eddy County remain relatively low, with just four active positives as of Wednesday.
Neighboring counties, meanwhile, are seeing slightly higher numbers, with 22 active positives in Wells County, 15 in Foster County, and 14 in Benson County as of Wednesday.
