COVID update

According to Barton County Health Department Administrator Joel Dermott, Barton County is seeing an increase of COVID cases in the county and surrounding areas. Dermott stated, “It is somewhat difficult to gauge the actual number of cases, as clinical test numbers are low”. He added that a majority of folks are either testing at home, nor not testing at all, which creates some difficulty in actual assessment.

“What we are seeing in sewershed testing data for the area is an increase viral load of the Omicron BA.2 variants,” said Dermott, adding, “We do have reports of hospitalizations of county residents who have tested positive”.

Dermott said that overall numbers do not approach the level of outbreak that was seen with either the Omicron of late fall or the Delta fueled outbreak of last summer, but went on to say that it is something to remain aware of as one engages in their busy summer activities.