COVID Update -- Vaccines and Stats

On Thursday April 1, the Churchill County Board of Commissioners was given an update on the county's progress in administering COVID vaccines. County Manager Jim Barbee told the Board that 700 additional doses were available this week. He also reported that the county sent a request to the state requesting to lower the age limit because of the poor turn-out on Wednesday. The state responded with their approval lowering the age of eligibility from 55 and older to 18 and older as of today.

There has been a demand for the Johnson and Johnson vaccine by the community, as opposed to the two-shot Moderna vaccine. However, the state is only allocating the Moderna vaccines to the county to be administered through the Point of Delivery (POD) system. Barbee said, “We are hoping to see a jump in vaccine shots today since we've opened it up to a larger population group within the county. Yesterday we only gave out 100 first shots.” Barbee is hopeful that more residents will come out to the fairgrounds where the county is administering the vaccines now that the minimum age limit has been lowered.

Barbee then gave the Board a POD update. The construction office building has been put in place; it has power and water; the offices and conference rooms have been set up. The storage areas for the personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and vaccines are up and operational. A press event is being scheduled for next Thursday, April 8 to tour the new facility, and to see how things are set up and running. Currently there are seven lanes of capacity to administer shots so that things can be moved along quickly if necessary.

Barbee also discussed the construction of the new Civic Center, Rafter 3C building at the fairgrounds. He said the excavators have started pulling the weighted load dirt from there, and are finishing the Miner Road parking area work near the POD. The gravel is getting extended today and he is expecting the road work to be completed this week. Barbee has been told that the digging of foundations is scheduled to start next week. He then said, “That project is moving along well. It's a bit of good news and is no April Fool's joke.”