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HOLLIDAYSBURG -- Plans are developing in Blair County to be ready when COVID-19 vaccinations become available, Director of Public Safety Mark Taylor said Tuesday.
"I think hope is something we all need to hang onto," Taylor told commissioners who convened a meeting through video and telephone connections. "We know this virus can be defeated."
Before speaking of developing vaccination plans, Taylor reported that the amount of county residents testing positive for COVID-19 continues to increase. As of Monday, the deaths of 88 residents were linked to COVID-19 to date, he said.
He said another measure of concern is the county's positivity rate -- the amount of positive vs. negative test results -- increased from 14.2% to 15.9%.
Meanwhile, Taylor said the amount of people hospitalized in Blair County with COVID-19 symptoms has stabilized, a status he hopes will hold.
Anyone with COVID-19 or non-COVID-19 symptoms should not be afraid to seek care, when needed, at a local hospital, he said.
Taylor said local hospitals are also capable of caring for Blair County Prison inmates if any inmate's condition gets to the point where hospitalization is required.
The outbreak of COVID-19 at the county prison is being handled well by its medical care provider, Taylor said in reference to Prime Care Medical.
While the prison reported 129 inmates testing positive for COVID-19 as of Tuesday, their conditions were being managed at the prison and none required hospitalization, Warden Abbie Tate said.
In response to a question from Commissioners Chairman Bruce Erb about a vaccination plan, Taylor said he expects the first vaccines to be made available locally to hospital and health care employees, plus emergency medical responders.
Pharmacies are signing contracts, he said, to be in a position to vaccinate residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities. Police officers and firefighters will be among the next group to be vaccinated, he added.
The Blair County Convention Center and Sports Facilities Authority is meeting Friday to authorize a contract making the convention center available for use as a vaccination site.
"We'll be ready to implement our plan as soon as they're ready with the vaccines," Taylor said.
Mirror Staff Writer Kay Stephens is at 814-946-7456.