TriCounty Health Director Kirk Benge visited the KLCY studio this week for this week’s Give’m Health segment. Unfortunately, COVID-19 related hospitalizations have continued to increase and just recently hit a new high with 16 people in the hospital on a single day due to COVID-19. Benge’s message is to remind the public that there is still individual risk, especially for those that either cannot or choose not to get the vaccine. While it is still possible to get COVID-19 when you’ve been vaccinated, the data shows that getting the vaccine is extremely effective, around 99 percent effective, at preventing hospitalizations and other serious outcomes, including death. Benge calls the vaccine the “best tool we have out there” and a way to “limit risk”. As far as how the health department will handle COVID-19 with a new school year coming up, Benge says for now COVID will be treated like any childhood disease in schools. That could change if things take a turn for the worse. Questions can be directed to TriCounty Health Department.
