Valley City (CCHD) Free COVID-19 testing events for the VCSU and Valley City communities are being held this week from 1-2 p.m. at the W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse, “The Bubble.” Rapid testing events will be held

These are WALK-IN testing events. Colder temperatures have moved operations indoors. If you wish to be tested, please park your vehicle and enter through the west entrance. Handicap parking spaces and access are available at the east entrance. Preregistration at testreg.nd.gov is encouraged; one only needs to register once.

 

Face masks are required waiting in line at the test site. Those who need assistance should use the east entrance, others can use the west door. Register online at testreg.nd.gov. No need to registered more than one time.

City County Health District Administrator Theresa Will says over 100 health care workers, law enforcement and emergency personal have received the COVID-19 vaccine, with more vaccines arriving weekly.

In a news release from City County Health District Office in Valley City, it said,“Just before Christmas the first COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Valley City. Barnes County, like all counties in North Dakota will be following the state plan for the distribution of the vaccine.
Phase 1A identifies the first people to receive the vaccine, which includes health care workers and long-term care residents.

By the week of January 25th the expectation is to be able to move to Phase 1B (in order of priority) which includes people age 75 and older, people age 65-74 with high risk medical conditions, child care workers and workers employed by preschools or kindergarten through grade 12 (e.g. teachers, aides, bus drivers, principals, administrative staff, custodians, nutritional services, etc.).

The City County Health District (CCHD) will inform the public as to when various groups will be able to access vaccine, and provide instructions for registration, using the CCHD website. The state has established the priority list.

Sheyenne Care Center, is part of Phase 1A which is presently being completed. They received their own vaccine for both employees and residents. CHI Mercy Health also received their own vaccine for distribution to employees. Thrifty White will be giving vaccine to Maryvale and Bridgeview. CCHD is presently completing vaccinations for CCHD employees, Legacy Place, Emergency Responders and will be vaccinating Open Door staff and residents the weeks of January 4th and 11th.

CCHD Administrator, Theresa Will aays “Our staff at CCHD is trained and ready to provide COVID-19 vaccinations as fast as we are able to obtain the vaccine.  We’ve given 195 doses to date. Our county continues to receive vaccine from the North Dakota Department of Health in quantities of less than 100 per week and are administered as quickly as possible each week,” Will notes.

Dr. James Buhr, Barnes County Medical Director Adds, “We are fortunate that these two vaccines were developed so quickly and that they are safe and 95% effective.  I feel privileged to have been part of the Pfizer study myself. I encourage everyone to get vaccinated for COVID-19,” Buhr emphasizes.”