NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

GRACEDALE VACCINATIONS: COVID-19 vaccine distribution continues at Gracedale Nursing Home. As of Feb. 5, 369 personnel have been vaccinated, with 310 of those being county employees. So far, 50 percent of employees have received their first vaccination, 41 percent have received their second shot. For the residents, 87 percent have received the first vaccination, 60 percent have received the second shot. CVS has scheduled additional distributions of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at Gracedale through February.

COUNTY PRISON: The Director of Corrections reports that, currently, there are no positive cases of COVID-19 among the inmates or staff at Northampton County Prison.

Since the beginning of the outbreak last year, 171 inmates at the Northampton County Prison (NCP) have tested positive for COVID-19. All have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer in the institution.

Fifty NCP employees have tested positive for the virus since the start of the pandemic. All have returned to work.

NCP staff have been given the option to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine; some have already gotten the shot. PrimeCare Medical is working with the state to make the vaccination available to all NCP inmates when supplies become available.

To protect the health of inmates and staff, volunteers, visitors and tours were banned from the prison on March 10, 2020. NCP has suspended all programs and is reevaluating when to restart those services. Inmates can contact their loved ones via phone, tablets or mail.

There are currently 513 inmates in residence at NCP. Thirty non-violent offenders have been granted extended furloughs.

LEHIGH VALLEY

CORONER’S REPORT: Between Jan. 1 and Feb. 3, 2021, the Northampton County Coroner recorded 88 COVID-19 related deaths in Northampton County (75 residents/13 non-residents). As of Jan. 10, 2021, the Lehigh County Coroner reported 13 deaths of Northampton County residents. Between the two counties, 88 deaths of Northampton County residents from COVID19 have been reported this year.

In 2020, the Northampton County Coroner reported 403 COVID-19 related deaths (359 residents and 44 non-residents). The Lehigh County Coroner reported 118 deaths in 2020 for a total of 477 COVID-19-related deaths for Northampton County residents

PENNSYLVANIA

PLCB ENFORCEMENT: Pennsylvania State Police Liquor Control Enforcement Officers visited 419 licensed liquor establishments from Feb. 5 through 7 to ensure businesses are abiding by COVID-19 mitigation requirements that include social distancing, masking, and other health and safety requirements of the liquor code. Liquor Control Enforcement Officers issued 26 notices of violation and 47 warnings for failing to follow COVID-19 requirements. Complaints regarding licensees not complying with COVID-19 mitigation mandates may be directed to the BLCE at 1-800-932-0602 or through BLCE’s online complaint form.