NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

COUNTY PRISON UPDATE: Due to the recent surge of COVID-19 cases in the community, Director of Corrections James Kostura announces that the Work Release Program at Northampton County Prison (NCP) has been suspended as of Jan. 10. It is anticipated that the Work Release Program will not be available during the next two months and possibly longer, depending on community transmission rates of COVID-19.

The Department of Corrections reports that, although positive cases of COVID-19 among inmates entering the Northampton County Prison (NCP) has been relatively low since the start of the pandemic, Intake is now seeing a higher incidence, probably due to the widespread transmission of the Omicron variant. Since February 2021, less than 1 percent of inmates entering the facility tested positive for Coronavirus. In December, that percentage rose to 2.7 percent.

All inmates receive a COVID-19 test when they are processed through Intake. They are not moved to General Population until they test negative on two tests administered 72 hours apart. Residents are tested on a random basis and, if they test positive, are quarantined for 10 days.

As of Jan. 10, 33 inmates have tested positive for COVID-19 and are in quarantine. Since the start of the pandemic, 347 inmates have tested positive, 314 have finished their quarantine periods or are no longer at NCP. Fourteen Department of Correction’s employees are in quarantine after testing positive for the virus.

Currently, there are 635 inmates in residence at NCP.

CORONOR’S REPORT: Between Jan. 1 and 9, the Northampton County Coroner recorded 25 COVID-19 related deaths in Northampton County (23 residents/2 non-residents).

“The pandemic isn’t over yet,” says Lamont McClure. “We all need to do what we can to slow down the transmission of this virus. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and to wear a facemask when out in public.”

Please note-the 25 unfortunate victims of COVID-19 do not provide enough data points for a statistically significant sample. Younger people remain at significant and serious risk. All Northampton County residents should continue to practice social distancing and get vaccinated if they can.

This information is being provided as they are the facts as they exist on the ground as of today. These profound losses to our community do not provide enough scientific evidence to draw any conclusions.

LEHIGH VALLEY

LVHN UPDATE: On Friday, Jan. 7, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) amended its Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, shortening the interval for a booster shot from six months to five months. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) also supports this recommendation.

People who have previously been vaccinated with Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine (a two-dose series) can now receive a booster dose five months after their second vaccination. Lehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) began accepting appointment requests for Moderna booster shots at this new shorter interval as of Monday, Jan. 10.

Vaccination remains the most important way to reduce spread of COVID-19, and booster shots help boost waning immunity, according to the FDA.

There are two easy ways to schedule an appointment for your booster:

Go to MyLVHN, the health network’s patient portal.

Call our COVID-19 Vaccine Hotline at 833-584-6283 (833-LVHN-CVD). We’re open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.

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