For Immediate Release: January 5, 2021
The Jefferson County Health Department is providing COVID testing Monday- Friday from 9:00 am-11:00 am by appointment. The testing site is located southwest of the Jefferson County Ambulance building, 1250 Walnut Street, Oskaloosa Kansas. Beginning today through the end of January 2021, the health department is now able to collect Saliva tests in addition to the Nasal- Mid Turbinate tests that are currently done. Testing is available for people who are symptomatic and for those who have no symptoms. For appointments or additional information please contact the health department at 785-403-0025.
The Jefferson County Health Department is planning and preparing for the next round of COVID vaccine. You can find the Kansas Department of Health and Environment’s vaccination plan at coronavirus.kdheks.gov. The Jefferson County Health Department will notify the public when vaccine is available- the location, date and time to obtain COVID vaccine. To be put on the Jefferson County waitlist-separated by priority groups as determined by the Advisory Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP) please call the health department at 785-403-0025.
The Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) is now completing most of the Case Investigations and Contact Tracing for Jefferson County. This allows Jefferson County Health Department the ability to focus on COVID testing and COVID vaccinations, once more vaccine becomes available. Due to the fact that Jefferson County Health Department staff has turned the monitoring of cases over to KDHE the Jefferson County Health Department staff is not always informed or knowledgeable of when contacts of positive cases become symptomatic and are classified as probable cases or when positive cases are hospitalized. Beginning Wednesday, January 6, 2021 the Jefferson County Health Department will report total cases, deaths, and hospitalizations utilizing the Kansas Department of Health and Environment data every Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Updates can be found on the Jefferson County website at www.jfcountyks.com.
Please continue to do your part in slowing the spread of the virus and protecting those in our community who are most at risk for severe illness and complications. The most vulnerable include those over the age of 65 and those with underlying health conditions.
January 5th 2021 Press Release