NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

COUNTY PRISON: The Director of Corrections reports that currently there are 16 cases of COVID-19 among inmates at Northampton County Prison (NCP). Since the start of the pandemic, 227 inmates have tested positive; 211 have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer at NCP. Four Department of Corrections staff and one vendor employee have also tested positive and are currently in quarantine.

Since March 2020, NCP has conducted 4,414 tests for COVID-19 on inmates. All new inmates are tested when they come into the facility and must show a negative result before they are transferred to General Population; residents are tested on a random basis. PrimeCare Medical does daily temperature checks, movement of inmates is restricted within the facility and meals are served in the housing unit. In-person visitation is prohibited and no volunteers are permitted in the facility. Cloth masks are provided and inmates must wear them whenever they leave their cells. Any inmate participating in work release or work programs within NCP must be vaccinated.

NCP has held 16 vaccination clinics this year and vaccinated 353 inmates. Currently, 288 inmates in the facility are fully vaccinated. Shots for inmates and staff are administered by PrimeCare Medical. The vaccinations are not compulsory and are only provided to those who request them.

There are currently 613 inmates in residence at NCP.

CORONER’S OFFICE: Between Jan. 1 and Sept 18, the Northampton County Coroner recorded 194 COVID-19 related deaths in Northampton County (160 residents/34 non-residents). The last COVID-19 related death was recorded Sept. 18. As of May 3, the Lehigh County Coroner reported 66 deaths of Northampton County residents. Between the two counties, 226 deaths of Northampton County residents from COVID-19 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 for a total of 477 COVID-19-related deaths for Northampton County residents in 2020.

LEHIGH VALLEY

LVHN BOOSTER SHOTS: Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) began administering a booster shot of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine Sept. 27, to population groups approved this week by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The FDA granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer booster on Wednesday (Sept. 22) and the CDC gave its approval late Thursday (Sept. 23).

Based on the FDA and CDC approvals, the Pfizer booster can be given at least six months after completion of the initial Pfizer two-shot series for people:

Age 65 and older

Living in long-term care facilities

Age 50-64 with underlying medical conditions that increase their risk for COVID infection

Age 18-64 with underlying medical conditions. The decision to receive a booster should be based upon individual circumstances that impact their overall risk of infection.

Age 18-64 whose frequent institutional or occupational exposure to the virus that causes COVID-19 puts them at high risk for serious complications of COVID-19. This group includes health care workers, teachers and day care staff, grocery workers and those in homeless shelters or prisons.

Scheduling a booster is encouraged and can be completed through MyLVHN, the patient portal, at MyLVHN.org, or by calling the COVID-19 hotline at 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). The hotline is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. COVID-19 vaccinations will continue to be offered at LVHN’s vaccination clinic locations in the region, including in Whitehall and Palmer townships. Walk-ins also are accepted.

PENNSYLVANIA

WORKING FROM HOME: In Pennsylvania, 25.5 percent of adults reported living in a household with at least one adult who teleworked because of the coronavirus pandemic in the past seven days (averaged over the survey weeks during which this question was asked: April 14 through July 5). Notably, this figure represents those who teleworked because of the pandemic, and not those that would have teleworked regardless. Out of all states, Pennsylvania reported the 19th most people living with at least one person who is working remotely because of COVID-19.

VACCINATION PAYMENT: MyBioSource.com, a biotechnical products distribution company, conducted a survey (3,000) to gauge how much the general public thinks that the unvaccinated should be incentivized in order to get a jab. Pennsylvanians, on average, agree that the unvaccinated should be paid a substantial $153 each! This is lower than the national average of $182.