COVID-19 Case Total Update for May 3

As of Noon, Monday, May 3, Russell County has had 858 total positive cases of COVID-19 since tracking began, with no new cases since April 11, according to the Russell County Health Department.

The current active and in isolation case count is zero with 835 recovered cases, 60 hospitalizations with no current hospitalizations, 23 deaths and zero in quarantine.

The cumulative positivity rate for last week was zero percent. The cumulative positivity rate for this week is zero percent. The cumulative positivity rate for April was 3.3 percent.

There are still vaccine doses available. Call the Russell County Health Department at 785-483-6433 to schedule an appointment.

3,765 total vaccine doses have been provided to Russell County residents, including vaccinations provided by facilities outside of Russell County. 1,810 individuals have completed the series of doses. Approximately 26 percent of Russell County has been vaccinated.

"People have asked if we have achieved herd immunity," said Russell County Health Department Administrator Paula Bitter. "Remember, herd immunity is the indirect protection from an infectious disease that happens when a population is immune either through vaccination or immunity developed through previous infection. The percentage needed to achieve herd immunity with COVID is not fully known at this time, but it is more than 26 percent. For example, herd immunity with measles is approximately 95 percent and polio is 85 percent. Russell County needs to have more individuals receive the vaccine and complete the vaccination series before we can say we are even close to herd immunity."

(Information courtesy RCHD.)