Washington County deaths from COVID have doubled

WASHINGTON - The number of Washington County deaths due to the COVID-19 pandemic has doubled in the last month.

During the Board of Health meeting on Thursday, Public Health Director Danielle Pettit-Majewski said Washington County currently has 26 COVID-19 deaths, an increase of 14 compared to last month.

There have been 9,090 people tested and 1,690 people tested positive, an increase of 500 positive cases since the last meeting a month ago, Pettit-Majewski said.

But there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Pettit-Majewski said Thursday afternoon, state officials are meeting to approve the Moderna vaccine for emergency use.

Washington County Public Health will be responsible for doing mass vaccinations in the community, Pettit-Majewski said. But right now they are focusing on health care provides, long-term care residents and long-term care workers.

'We are working on getting rosters for those people who are interested in getting vaccinated so we can start those closed pods mass vaccination clinics,” she said.

Pettit-Majewski said the department is waiting to get exact specifications on who would be considered health care provider. Individuals such as dentists and physical therapists may be eligible for the initial round of vaccines, she said.

She also said the county will receive 30 percent less vaccines than originally planned.

Washington County is not the only county to see a decrease. Henry County Public Health Director Shelley Van Dorin said the county was originally slated to receive 600 doses but are now anticipating only 420 in the first round.