January 26th, 2021 by WCBC Radio

The Allegany County Health Department reported 80 new COVID cases in Allegany County and two additional deaths, bringing the county’s cumulative case count to 6,095 with 176 fatalities.  The current case rate in Allegany County is 41.39 cases per 100,000 population, while Maryland’s state average is currently 35.26 cases per 100,000 population.  Allegany’s positivity rate is at 9.33%, while the statewide average is 6.84%. 

 

The Allegany County Health Department continues to vaccinate residents age 75 and older and has also begun vaccinating K-12 educational workers.  Clinics for licensed childcare providers will commence following the K-12 group.  County health officials explained that Allegany County – like other jurisdictions in the state – is still in Phase 1B of the vaccination rollout due to the limited amounts of vaccine coming into local health departments. 

 

In a press release on Monday, the Maryland Department of Health said that Maryland “continues to receive approximately 10,000 doses per day from the federal government – a far lower amount than is needed to meet full demand.”   

 

“We share the public’s frustration,” said ACHD Public Information Coordinator Brenda Caldwell.   “Our goal is to get our entire county population vaccinated as quickly as possible, but that can only move as quickly as supplies come in.”  Caldwell added that every jurisdiction is different, and each is progressing independently based on the demographics of and size of their populations.  “In rural western Maryland, we have more older residents per capita than the metropolitan areas, which means it will take a little longer for us to vaccinate everyone in those age categories.”

 

The health department has also announced some additional vaccination appointments available for those 75 and older.  To register for one of the available appointments, visit health.maryland.gov/allegany. 

 

Due to the current forecast of inclement winter weather on Tuesday, the Rawlings vaccination clinic has been canceled for January 26.  Those individuals who had appointments scheduled on that day have been automatically rescheduled for next Tuesday, February 2, in their original timeslot.