BETHLEHEM

VACCINATION CLINIC: Neighborhood Health Centers of the Lehigh Valley will hold vaccination clinics in Bethlehem Friday, Jan. 14 from 4-5:30 p.m. at NHCLV Northside Bethlehem 635 E. Broad Street in the Broad and Wood Business Center. Vaccines are free and are available to people ages 5 and older. All three vaccines will be offered.

Booster shots for already-vaccinated people will also be available to those who qualify. Minors must be accompanied to the appointment by a parent or legal guardian.Please register in advance online for an appointment time. Registration: https://bit.ly/Jan14vaccinationclinic.

EXPANDED TESTING HOURS: With the increased demand for COVID-19 tests, the drive-through site located at Coordinated Health, 3100 Emrick Blvd, Bethlehem, PA is expanding its hours for the week of Jan. 10–14. Testing will be available Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. and on Tuesday/Thursday from noon – 6 p.m.. Appointments are not required for COVID-19 tests.

Vaccinations with Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson shots are available by appointment during the site’s regular hours: Monday/Wednesday/Friday from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. and Tuesday/Thursday from 3–6 p.m..

To make an appointment for a vaccine at the COVID-19 testing site use one of the following options:

Schedule at the LVHN website at LVHN.org/appointments.

Schedule on the MyLVHN patient portal, at MyLVHN.org.

Call 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). The COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline is open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. and Saturday-Sunday 9 a.m.-5 p.m.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTYNTY

GRACEDALE UPDATE: As of Jan. 4, there were two cases of COVID-19 among Gracedale residents. The cases are mild and the residents are being treated in-house in a quarantined ward. Twenty-two staff members have tested positive for the virus and are currently in quarantine.

The administration is strongly discouraging visits at this time; however compassionate care visits may be scheduled through Therapeutic Recreation and the Social Services Department. Visitors are requested to wear N-95 or K-95 masks while in the facility.

Currently, 92 percent of residents have been vaccinated with 71 percent also having received the booster; 87 percent of healthcare workers are vaccinated. Gracedale continues to offer vaccination clinics as well as booster shots against the virus.

COUNTY PRISON: The Director of Corrections reports that, as of Dec. 27, there were seven cases of COVID-19 among inmates at Northampton County Prison (NCP). Since the start of the pandemic, 307 inmates have tested positive; 300 have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer at NCP. Seven Department of Corrections employees are currently in quarantine after testing positive for the virus.

Since March 2020, NCP has conducted 6,494 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 cell. Any inmate participating in work release or work programs within NCP must be vaccinated.

NCP has held 29 vaccination clinics this year and vaccinated 524 inmates. The clinics also offer booster shots. Currently, 306 inmates in the facility are fully vaccinated and 55 inmates have received boosters. 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 622 inmates in residence at NCP.

CORONOR’S REPORT: Between Jan. 1 and Dec. 22, 2021, the Northampton County Coroner recorded 257 COVID-19 related deaths in Northampton County (217 residents/40 non-residents). The last COVID-19 related death was recorded on Dec. 22. As of Oct. 14, the Lehigh County Coroner had reported 107 deaths of Northampton County residents. Between the two counties, 324 deaths of Northampton County residents from COVID-19 have been reported last 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.

COUNTY PRISON: The Director of Corrections reports that, as of Jan. 4, there were 15 cases of COVID-19 among inmates at Northampton County Prison (NCP). Since the start of the pandemic, 320 inmates have tested positive; 305 have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer at NCP. Ten Department of Correction’s employees are currently in quarantine after testing positive for the virus.

Since March 2020, NCP has conducted 6,554 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.

NCP has held 29 vaccination clinics this year and vaccinated 524 inmates. The clinics also offer booster shots. Currently, 306 inmates in the facility are fully vaccinated and 55 inmates have received boosters. There are currently 632 inmates in residence at NCP.

LEHIGH VALLEY

ST. LUKE’S SUPPORTS SCHOOL MASKING: St. Luke’s supports mandatory masking at area schools as children return to classrooms after the holiday.

As the country sets daily records for positive COVID tests, masking can help slow the spread of the virus, including the highly contagious Omicron variant that now accounts for a majority of infections. This simple step will help to protect immunocompromised students and staff and help to prevent mass outbreaks and school closures.

Currently, area hospitals are caring for record or near-record numbers of COVID patients. Lines for Covid tests may be hours long.

As a reminder, if you develop a fever and symptoms such as a cough or difficulty breathing, call your doctor for medical advice.

LEHIGH VALLEY HELATH NETWORK: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued Emergency Use Authorization for several new booster initiatives and a third shot for younger people, which have been supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

Booster shots now available for children age 12-15: Children who received the Pfizer-BioNTech booster shot at least five months ago are now eligible for their booster by appointment only at all Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) COVID-19 vaccine clinic locations.

Third shot available for children age 5-11 who are immunocompromised: A third shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine also is available to children between the ages of 5 and 11 who are immunocompromised.

Shorter interval for Pfizer-BioNTech booster: Those who completed the two-dose series of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine are now eligible for a booster shot five months after their second shot, rather than six months. Those who received an initial single dose of the J&J vaccine should be boosted with either Moderna or Pfizer two months after their initial shot.

Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) began offering the boosters and third shots for these age groups Thursday, Jan. 6.

For more vaccination information, visit LVHN.org/vaccines.